A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro has been cut to £149 on deals website Wowcher, offering a budget-friendly alternative for Christmas shoppers who balk at the £1,999 price tag of the newest model. The 13-inch Core i5 128GB laptop, which first launched in 2011 with a price of £999, is a refurbished unit that may show signs of wear but is fully tested, according to the retailer.
This older model lacks the features found on more modern MacBooks, although it remains a solid option for everyday tasks. The newest MacBook Pro, equipped with an M5 chip and 16GB RAM, starts at £1,999, making this Wowcher deal a way to own an Apple laptop for a fraction of the price, albeit with compromises on top speed and quality.
Features and Condition
Its 8GB RAM makes this 2011 MacBook Pro a decent option for streaming videos. MacBooks are favoured for their slim and lightweight design, which suits taking them on the go, such as for university, work commutes, or away days. Apple has a helpful information page to help identify MacBook Pro models and provide more details on their specifications.
For shoppers with reservations about buying second-hand, Wowcher assures that every refurbished device is fully tested and "everything works perfectly." However, it notes there may be "a few signs of wear-and-tear," so the device likely won't have the shiny look of a brand new MacBook, which could impact Christmas gift-giving plans.
Alternative Refurbished Deals
Shoppers seeking more cheap deals on Apple MacBooks can find refurbished models elsewhere too. Amazon Renewed has more than 150 pre-owned options, all professionally inspected, tested, and cleaned prior to sale, with prices starting from £300 for a MacBook 12" Core M3 256GB from 2017.
On second-hand retailer Back Market, the bestselling professionally refurbished model is the MacBook Pro M1 Series, which first launched in 2020. With prices starting from £521, shoppers can choose the condition, screen size, memory, processor, battery, storage, and colour to suit their preferences and budget.
Alternatively, for those who prefer a new laptop, there are cheaper options than Apple. The top-rated choice at Argos is the Samsung Galaxy 11in Celeron 4GB 64GB Chromebook, priced at £159 and described as "a practical, portable option for study, browsing and staying connected," recommended by 93% of shoppers.
Customer Feedback on Refurbished Items
Back at Wowcher, while the MacBook Pro deal has no individual reviews, dozens of shoppers have shared their experiences of purchasing refurbished tech products from the site on Trustpilot. One person wrote in a recent review: "Always great offers. Just purchased a refurbished iPad. Excellent condition. Hundreds of pounds cheaper."
Another customer shared: "Purchased a refurbished MacBook Pro in 2023 at an unbeatably 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. Have just ordered a brand new 7" screen smartphone at an unbelievably low price - lower than a replacement LCD screen on my current mobile."
A third shopper praised: "Very fast delivery of a Chromebook that I was expecting to be a bit shabby for the price but looks and works really well. I was drawn to the deal as it was so inexpensive and who doesn't need an extra device? Under £100 for a refurbished Dell Chromebook around five years old with all necessary plugs etc. and cover."
However, not everyone was as impressed, with one person feeding back: "I bought an Apple Watch. It arrived with no box, instructions or the special charging cable. On top of the price, I had to pay a further £11.98 for postage and the charger."
A different reviewer said: "I ordered a refurbished Chromebook; I paid £11.99 for speedy next-day delivery. The Chromebook itself is great, but it came four days late."
Meanwhile, someone else wrote in a five-star review: "I've been looking for a new laptop for a while. There were so many amazing deals on Wowcher that I finally bought one. Refurbished is cheaper but also good for the environment."
