Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. Deals

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Best refurbished laptop deals: How to find cheap used computers

By
Image used with permission by copyright holder

While some folks like to grab the best laptops on the market, that isn’t always the best option for most, and unless you’re really pushing your laptops to the limits, you probably don’t even need that power anyway. That said, if you do want to get some solid performance without spending a ton of money, then you may want to consider grabbing yourself a refurbished laptop rather than a brand-new one. They often tend to have minor issues that are cosmetic, and are usually refurbished by the manufacturer and provided with a guarantee, so you know that it works great. Not only that but going for a refurbished laptop is environmentally friendly since it helps reduce e-waste.

To that end, there are really great refurbished laptop sales that you can check out as part of Best Buy laptop deals, Dell laptop deals, HP laptop deals and Lenovo laptop deals. Alternatively, if you’re in the Apple ecosystem, take a look at these refurbished MacBook deals, or if you still want to go for something new, you could consider checking out these laptop deals instead.

Best Buy refurbished laptops — starting at $120

Best Buy’s refurbished laptops are — you guessed it — Geek Squad Certified and while they may not be free and clear of absolutely all cosmetic scuffs they are still exceptionally clean and always in working order. Some of them even come with additional software like virus tools, streaming access, like Apple TV+, and much more. Of course, the best part is that you can get a premium and fully upgraded model for less, often with more storage, more power, and more features than you would when buying a base model brand new. You’ve got some great options from Lenovo, Acer, HP, Dell, Gateway, and even Apple to choose from. The cheapest models start around $120 and increase from there. The best way to know what’s available is to head over and browse for yourself.

Dell Latitude — starting at $319

Dell sometimes discounts laptops and machines, for varying reasons, including clearance deals of the week to make way for new stock. That’s pretty much the case with Dell’s Latitude models with the cheapest coming in around $189 up to $229 and above. There are a lot of different models, each with individual specifications and features, so you’ll have to sift through the list, especially if you know what you’re looking for already.

Amazon Renewed laptops — starting at $50

Like most other e-tailers, Amazon offers a host of renewed and refurbished systems, but here’s where it gets juicy. Amazon typically runs them through a proprietary renewal process which allows them to offer many laptops and computers at an even lower discounted price. This is another instance where you’ll have to head over and browse for yourself just because Amazon’s inventory is so absolutely massive. You have Chromebooks and older machines starting around $30 to $70, with some more powerful laptops in the running beyond $200 or so. Definitely take a look before you buy new, at the very least.

Should you buy a refurbished laptop?

A refurbished laptop can be fantastic value for your money, but you need to look out for a few key things to make sure you don’t get ripped off. For instance, it’s vital that the refurbished laptop deals you check out are all factory refurbished, meaning the actual manufacturer repaired them. You’ll also want to make sure that the refurbished laptop has at least a 12-month warranty and that the refurbished laptop sales are from a reliable and reputable retailer.

If you stick to these things, then you should be safe. By following such ideals, you’ll ensure your refurbished laptop has been repaired by a company employee using factory parts, and the warranty means that if the same (or a different) issue pops up, you can have it repaired for free.

If you come across something that hasn’t been reconditioned in the same factory in which it was made but is still listed as certified refurbished, it’s still good to go. That tends to mean that it’s been as good as factory repaired by a professional who knows what they’re doing.

It’s sensible to stick to trusted retailers with a warranty and some form of guarantee as it avoids any chance of you accidentally buying stolen stock.

As always, remember to use common sense. If the refurbished laptop deals you’re checking out look too good to be true, they probably are. Make sure you buy from a reputable seller so you won’t be disappointed by your purchase.

Finally, as with all laptops, it’s a good idea to know what to look for. Check out our laptop buying guide and take a look at 11 common laptop buying mistakes you can easily avoid.

More Unmissable Deals

Topics
Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen
Deals Writer
Jennifer Allen is a technology writer with over 10 years of experience. She primarily writes about the best deals coverage…
The best 17-inch laptop deals from HP, LG, Razer, and more
An HP Omen 17 laptop on a desk.

If you're the type of person who prefers having a larger screen, then going for a 17-inch laptop probably makes a lot of sense. Unfortunately, there aren't a ton of 17-inch laptops on the market, and for the most part, you'll be looking among the ranks of the best gaming laptops to find yourself a solid option. That said, there are some budget-friendly ways to go, and you don't have to grab one of the best laptops with a high price tag to nab yourself a 17-inch laptop. Luckily, some of the best laptop brands out there make 17-inch laptops, so you're not having to rely on a generic brand.

To that end, we've gone out and found some of our favorite 17-inch laptop deals out there, including HP laptop deals, Dell laptop deals (and Dell XPS laptop deals), and gaming laptop deals.
HP 17.3-inch laptop — $360, was $550

Read more
This HP student laptop is on sale for over 50% off today
The HP Pavilion 15-inch laptop on a white background.

HP has some fantastic laptop deals for anyone looking to save big on a budget-friendly system. Right now, you can buy an HP Pavilion laptop for $400 instead of $900, so you’re saving a massive $500 off the usual price. If you need a new laptop but you don’t have much spare cash, this will delight you. Bear in mind that it won’t stick around at this price for long. Here’s what it has to offer at this super low price.

Why you should buy the HP Pavilion 15-inch laptop
HP is one of the best laptop brands around and perfect for anyone on a tight budget. With the HP Pavilion 15-inch laptop, you get great core specs for the price. That includes a 13th-generation Intel Core i5-1335U processor with 8GB of memory and 256GB of SSD storage. That’s basic stuff but it’s just fine for typing up documents, web browsing, or anything else basic.

Read more
This Alienware 14-inch gaming laptop deal cuts the price by $600
Forza Horizon 5 running on the Alienware x14 R2.

While there is a lot of interest in larger gaming laptops that come in 17-inch and 18-inch sizes, for many, having a smaller laptop is much better, especially if they are constantly on the move and don't want to be lugging around something massive. That's where the Alienware x14 R2 comes in quite handy; it's a small laptop that's slim enough to fit into pretty much any bag so that you can travel and move around without having to purchase a specific backpack or messenger bag to fit something bigger. Of course, being Alienware, its quite expensive, but luckily you can grab yourself the Alienware X14 R2 directly from Dell for just $1,400 rather than the usual $2,000.

Why you should buy the Alienware x14 R2
Probably one of the most important parts of any gaming laptop is the GPU under the hood, and in this case the Alienware x14 R2 has a relatively solid RTX 4060. That's a great card for 2K gaming at around 60-70fps, and while you probably won't be able to have the game in ultra graphical settings, you'll get somewhere between medium and high. Even so, it's a great option for those who prefer more casual or indie games, or even free-to-play games like Rocket League and League of Legends, since these games tend to be better optimized for more hardware than just the high-end stuff.

Read more