Out of all the different types of electronics, a refurbished laptop is one of the smartest purchases you can make if you’re looking to invest in an item that’s refurbished. As with all electronic purchases, it pays to do your research, however. To get you started, here are three reasons why a refurbished laptop can be a wise investment:
Refurbished Saves Money
Refurbished electronics can be quite inexpensive in comparison to electronics that are completely new. Most electronic retailers offer refurbished items for sale– even laptop retailers— but you’ll sometimes need to do a little digging to find the best deals. Outlet stores are also a great idea. Investing in a refurbished laptop can easily save you hundreds of dollars over the price of a new laptop.
When pricing refurbished models, make sure that your required specs are covered. If you’re going to be doing heavy gaming or video editing, you’ll need a laptop that’s powerful enough to support that whether it’s refurbished or not. Pay attention to crucial components such as the laptop’s RAM, processor and video card. Research various models and pay close attention to reviews and customer recommendations. Talk to other laptop owners before making a final purchase. The last thing you want to do is purchase a laptop that doesn’t fit your needs.
You’ll also often have to do a little extra searching in order to find refurbished items on most retailer sites and in most stores. Stores will always prefer to sell you the new models, of course, so you’ll often have to do a specific search for refurbished products or go to an outlet store that carries refurbished laptops. For Macs, especially, you may need to seek out an outlet retailer/site. Apple isn’t always upfront about offering refurbished laptops, but with some searching you can easily find access to the company’s outlet retailers.
Refurbished Laptops are Still Guaranteed
One of the best things about buying refurbished electronics is the fact that most retailers will still offer full guarantees and warranties on their refurbished products. Make sure to spring for the warranty if one is offered. If there isn’t one offered, you may want to check a different retailer. There is an inherent risk factor with buying refurbished, so it pays to be a little more cautious with such an investment.
Laptops are More Refurbished-Friendly
One of the reasons why a laptop makes a solid refurbished investment is due to the fact that laptops, in general, are more difficult to upgrade and rebuild. It’s more cost-effective for a laptop retailer to use parts to build a refurbished model than sell the parts individually. This helps ensure that retailers use high-quality individual parts for their refurbished models. The opposite is often true for desktop PCs.
According to Used-PCs.com, “Refurbished laptops also tend to be built with components that are easier to place inside refurbished PCs. Most laptops are built for efficiency and mobility rather than power, and this makes them ideal platforms for refurbished components that are widely accessible. Most purchasers of laptops also tend to want models that are cost-effective yet mobile. This encourages laptop retailers to make refurbished models highly accessible.”
With all factors combined, the evidence is clear. If you’re looking for a new laptop computer and are on a budget, it’s an excellent idea to consider purchasing a refurbished laptop. Shop around, check outlet retailers and remember that all-important warranty. It may take a bit of extra time to do the required research and find a laptop that’s perfect for your needs, but it’s entirely worth the effort.
