Skip to main content

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

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’ve been struggling to find a good deal on a laptop and just need something to get online, then you may want to consider grabbing yourself a refurbished laptop. There are usually a lot of options out there, including on some of the best laptops on the market, and most of the time, the issue tends just to be a cosmetic one rather than anything else. That means you can snag a good laptop while saving a bit of money, and most places that sell refurbished laptops offer some kind of guarantee, so you may not even be stuck with a computer that has issues if you end up receiving one.

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 $150

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 $119

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 $65

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.

Jennifer Allen
Jennifer Allen is a technology writer with over 15 years of experience in the field. During that time, she's spent the past…
30 early Black Friday deals for 2024: TVs, laptops, headphones
Digital Trends Best Black Friday Amazon Deals

Update 11/11/24: We’re officially on our way to Black Friday, and our coverage spans everything currently available at a discount. Check back regularly, as we’ll be adding to all of the best early Black Friday deals below as more and more deals pop up.

Black Friday may not officially be here yet, but early Black Friday deals have arrived, and they’re all worth shopping. We’re seeing plenty of great early Black Friday TV deals, early Black Friday laptop deals, early Black Friday smartwatch deals, and much, much more. Below we’re giving it all a home, and rounding up all of the best early Black Friday deals available right now. Scroll down through the aisle and don’t hesitate to make a purchase, as we’ve already seen pricing change several times and have even seen some deals disappear entirely.
SAMSUNG Galaxy SmartTag2 -- $21 $30 29% off

Read more
Black Friday 4K Monitor deals 2024: Save up to 43% on Samsung and LG
The 27-inch Dell S2721QS 4K monitor on a table.

Update 11/19/24: With Black Friday fast approaching, we’ve seen several 4K monitor deals end, as well as some price drops. Not to worry, however, as our coverage continues and we’ve refreshed all of the Black Friday 4K monitor deals with some new deals below.

A good 4K monitor is worth considering if you’ve had your eye on early Black Friday gaming laptop deals, early Black Friday Dell laptop deals, early Black Friday Apple deals, or early Black Friday Alienware deals. There are several of them going on right now, including monitors by Samsung, Dell, and LG. We’ve tracked down all of the best early Black Friday 4K deals available in the lead-up to Black Friday, so read onward for the details.
Samsung 32-inch ViewFinity S7 LED 4K monitor -- $329 $400 18% off

Read more
Today only: This 17-inch HP laptop is $280 off
The HP 17.3-inch Laptop with Microsoft Excel on the screen.

If you've had your sights set on getting an HP laptop, here's a limited-time offer you won't want to miss: a $280 discount from Best Buy for the HP 17.3-inch Laptop, slashing its price to an affordable $350 from its original price of $630. It's one of the most attractive HP laptop deals that we've come across recently, but you're going to have to be quick in completing your purchase because it's only available today. Once it's gone, we're not sure when you'll get another chance at this amazing bargain.

Why you should buy the HP 17.3-inch Laptop
The first thing that you'll notice about the HP 17.3-inch Laptop is its relatively large screen for an affordable device. It's right there in the name -- it's got a 17.3-inch display that features Full HD resolution. Whether you're working on projects or watching streaming shows, this screen will let you see everything with sharp details and vivid colors. The HP 17.3-inch Laptop maintains some sort of portability though, as it only weighs about 4.6 pounds.

Read more