Buy Used Mac Desktop

Let's cut to the chase: Buying used gear can save you money but can be risky as heck. That certainly applies to eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace purchases. With eBay purchases, you generally won't be able to see the unit (or units) until they arrive at your door. The potential for outright scams is high.

buy used mac desktop

One of the more interesting challenges in buying used MacBook Pro machines is understanding which model year you're buying. When buying a used car, you always want to know its model year, but oddly enough, many Mac resellers (both the commercial ones and private ones) seem to gloss over the production year in favor of specs.

That said, you need to do a certain amount of OS calculus. According to Apple, the new version of macOS (called Monterey), which was released in October 2021, supports MacBook Pros and Airs going back to 2015, as well as iMacs and Mac Minis going back to 2014. If you're looking to buy a used MacBook or iMac from these years, chances are they're running macOS Mojave. If that's the case, be warned: Apple's support for Mojave ended on October 22, 2021. This means that while you can still use your MacBook or iMac for everyday tasks, you won't be able to receive software, firmware, or security updates. Big Sur supports MacBooks and iMacs going as far back as 2013, so if you're ok with using a slightly older version of macOS, you can pick up an older Mac on-the-cheap and still get regular software and security updates.

While Apple has never officially published their timetable policy for ending support for older Mac devices, the general rule has been a maximum lifespan of about 7 years post-release. So, you can assume that certain models will drop off the OS support list each year. You can check if the used Mac you've got your eye on is supported with the Big Sur and Monterey compatibility lists. This way, you can get a better idea of how long you'll be able to use your older Mac and plan for when you'll need to buy another one.

As mentioned above (and as you should know if you're braving buying a used Mac locally), About This Mac is a small screen located under the Apple menu. Have the seller take a photo of that screen and text it to you. That should give you model, serial number, amount of RAM, OS currently running, and type of storage. If any of those specs bother you, stop right here.

It used to be that you could check the S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drives. With Apple's new APFS and SSDs, S.M.A.R.T. is pretty much obsolete. I prefer to use Disk Utility to run First Aid on a drive to see if any errors show up. Errors on the drive could be caused by a bad drive (which is replaceable) or bad drive controller chips (which are not). I'd recommend walking away from any machine that fails the First Aid scan. If the seller doesn't want you to run a scan, run away.

My recommendation is to only buy a used machine from a commercial seller who you know will honor returns. These include Amazon's Renewed program, OWC, and Apple Certified Refurbished machines. When you get your machine, you'll have seven to 30 days to fully test it out. Make sure you know your return period. Once you get your machine (or machines), load them up fully and test them rigorously.

When it comes to Amazon, you can do a search for used MacBook Pros by model year, but the company doesn't list them that way. Instead, it lists the model number of the Mac, which makes it harder to know what you're looking at.

Now, let's compare these used/refurbished models with a new 2020 purchase. A 2019 i5 13-inch MacBook Pro with 256GB and 8GB of RAM is $1,299. A more ideal, longer-lasting configuration with 16GB RAM takes the machine up to $1,499.

For a professional like me, used is probably not worth it. As we've seen, there's about a three hundred dollar savings buying used from a reputable dealer, but your selection of configurations is less than you'd have if you bought new, straight from Apple.

Time to give this Mac a whirl. Make sure the machine you want to buy starts and macOS loads all the way to the desktop picture. If macOS is not installed on this machine, use the bootable drive you brought with you (the one with macOS on board). Hold down the Option key once you hear the startup chime and select the external startup drive.

Every Mac, regardless of model or age, will eventually become obsolete. That means it will no longer be supported by Apple, and you won't be able to install OS updates and security patches. For a used Mac to be a good value, you want one that puts that obsolescence date as far in the future as possible. It's a good idea to not invest in a used Mac that is more than three years old, because Apple tends to support its computers for about six years. Also, keep in mind that Apple is moving away from Intel processors. As Macs with Intel chips are phased out in favor of Apple's own silicon, your used Intel-based Mac may start to encounter obsolescence sooner than you expect.

Check out Apple's Certified Refurbished website for refurbished Mac minis, iMacs, and more. Apple also explains what goes into its refurbished Macs. Other sources for used Macs include the Mac of All Trades website, the Other World Computing sales website, and the Amazon Renewed storefront.

People are buying Mac's used where the previous owner didn't know or clear the machine properly before selling it, so what occurs is the next owner can't update OS X or programs because their AppleID doesn't match the previous owner.

We strive to help individuals, families, students and businesses upgrade their Apple laptops, iOS devices, or desktop computers by offering to pay competitive prices for their used Apple products -- including Mac Pros, iMacs, iMac Pros, Mac Minis, MacBooks, MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, iPhones, iPads, iPad Pros, iPods, Cinema Displays, Thunderbolt Displays & Apple TV's.

Shop at Usedmac.com in the way that is most convenient for you: at our facility, by phone, by mail, by fax, or through our website. Whichever way you choose, no matter the size of the sale, we're here to help you. We have a wide selection and unbeatable pricing on refurbished Apple products.All used models are tested by our Apple Certified technicians. We provide everything you need to help you make the right choice.

Typically, Apple will not replace a laptop's chassis while undertaking the refurb work. As such, you cannot expect the device to be in the same condition as a new computer. Remember that someone has already used it before you, to some extent.

All our ratings are frequently updated. When the value of a product evolves a lot we update it daily to provide the most accurate value possible - so you can check the fair value when buying and selling new or used Apple device.

It takes more work, but eBay is definitely the safer way to sell a used MacBook than Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. It also exposes you to a much wider audience of potential buyers, meaning you might fetch a higher price -- though you also have a lot more competing sellers as well.

Apple's not the only trade-in option. Best Buy accepts used MacBooks in its trade-in program, although you'll need to mail in your machine because Best Buy has temporarily suspended in-store trade-ins due to the coronavirus outbreak. I entered the details for my 4-year-old MacBook Pro on Best Buy's site and was told it's worth $461 -- not a small sum but still $59 less than Apple's quote.

Buying a refurbished Mac is different than buying a used, resold one. With the latter, owners are simply reselling their Mac with any existing problems it may have. Think of this scenario as buying a used car from a stranger. You really don't know what you're getting into problem-wise until you fire it up and after your wallet is drained.

Refurbished is different. The Mac is still pre-owned, but it was returned to a professional because of an issue or traded in for a newer model. Any malfunctioning parts are replaced, the product is tested to ensure everything works, and it's repackaged for resale. Think of this scenario as buying a used car from a dealership.

Other World Computing: OWC specializes in used computers and tends to shy away from smaller Apple devices. The good news is the company has a great reputation and its prices are generally lower than that of Apple's, plus there's a two-week return policy.

PowerMax: PowerMax is a Premier Partner with Apple for Macs, iPads, and iPhones, and it provides a 120-day warranty for used Macs. The site is harder to navigate and use than something like the Apple Refurbished Store, though, so some patience is required.

While some risks may be associated with buying a used Mac Pro, such as potential hidden damage or issues, these risks can be mitigated by conducting your research. If you're comfortable with these risks and looking for a budget-friendly option, a used Mac Pro may be the perfect choice for you. Don't miss out on the opportunity to join the ranks of satisfied customers at Techable who have upgraded their setups with a used mac computer tower.

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