Apple fans seeking a cheaper MacBook can currently buy a refurbished 2017 model from around £150 on Wowcher, hundreds less than a brand-new device. Two 13-inch options are available: the MacBook Air for £159 (down from £450) and the MacBook Pro 13-inch 2017 for £189 (reduced from £349).
By contrast, a new MacBook Pro from Apple retails from £1,999, while the Air starts at £1,299. Both Wowcher laptops are Grade B refurbished, powered by Intel Core i5 processors with 8GB RAM, and designed for lighter tasks such as web browsing, school or university work, emails, documents and general admin.
Specs and suitability
The devices come with 128GB SSD storage, while some Pro models offer up to 256GB. The MacBook Pro features a Retina display, while the Air has a 13.3-inch screen, with both offering a compact, portable design.
Buyers should note that 2017 MacBooks are older machines and are not compatible with some newer software or the latest macOS versions. Demanding tasks such as heavy video editing may exceed their capabilities, so they are better suited to affordable everyday use rather than intensive creative work.
Each refurbished laptop includes a compatible charger, a full-size keyboard, trackpad, and ports including USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt. The Air also features MagSafe 2 and an SD card slot. As Grade B devices, they are fully functional but may show moderate cosmetic marks from previous use.
Alternative options and reviews
BackMarket offers the same refurbished 13-inch 2017 MacBook Air for £169, reduced from £999, in “fair” condition, with good (£183) and excellent (£199) options. Argos sells the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15.6 Pentium 8GB Chromebook for £219, down from £349, with up to 10 hours of battery life and an anti-glare screen.
The refurbished MacBooks have been rated highly on Wowcher. One shopper said: "Good condition and works perfectly." Another wrote: "I've had a great experience buying my new MacBook through Wowcher. I was considering taking out a new EE contract. But I didn't need to. Buying a refurbished MacBook has met my needs and I'd recommend others doing the same."
A third gave a five-star review, writing: "Good condition, easy to use, I bought it as present for my grandson. He has had pleasure using it." Some shoppers noted minor critiques about the older model. One BackMarket customer said: "I ordered a refurbished MacBook Air 13 inch (2017) with 128GB of storage but I was sent one with a higher spec and 256GB of storage. Working really well so far, although slower than a new model as expected, and definitely worth the price."
Another commented: "I went for the fair condition and it's banging for the price. The 2017 version doesn't run pages but I work on Google Docs so I'm laughing. It's not the fastest and I'm not running crazy things in it. For a basic unit that will serve my needs I'm so happy." The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13-inch 2017 remain available from Wowcher.
