Wowcher has cut the price of a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Core i5 128GB to £169, a 66% saving on the original retail price. The device first launched in 2013 at £1,249, and while it lacks the latest features, the discount of more than £1,600 compared to a brand-new MacBook makes it an attractive option for budget-conscious students.
Affordable alternative to new MacBooks
Apple's newest MacBook Pro 14.2-inch with an M5 chip and 16GB RAM costs £1,804 on Amazon. For students heading to college or university this autumn, the Wowcher deal offers a more affordable way to handle everyday tasks and research, provided they can accept older specs.
The refurbished model includes 8GB RAM and a retina display, delivering sharp visuals suitable for streaming and entertainment. Its slim, lightweight design makes it a favorite for university life and frequent travelers.
Refurbished quality and customer feedback
Wowcher assures that every pre-owned device it sells is rigorously tested and "everything works perfectly," though there may be "a few signs of wear-and-tear." Customer reviews on Trustpilot are largely positive, with one buyer saying: "I have ordered a few laptops from Wowcher and they say refurbished, but they arrive as if they're new. Brilliant deals." Another added: "Purchased a refurbished MacBook Pro in 2023 at an unbelievably reduced price! As a MacBook user for over a decade and a half, I am impressed with the quality of the product - as good as new."
However, not all feedback is glowing. One customer noted: "Got a refurbished iPad as a second iPad so not really expecting anything great. Would not look to repeat, all too often I put it down because it takes too long to load a page, or I can't access an app because the iOS doesn't support it and won't accept the latest update."
Other options for second-hand and new laptops
Amazon Resale offers over a dozen used MacBook Pros starting at £509.77 for a 2020 model. Back Market has a 2015 MacBook Pro for £176. For those preferring brand-new devices, Dell's Chromebook 11 Laptop is priced at £412.98, and Acer's Chromebook Plus 514 costs £549.99.
