The best refurbished MacBook for most people is a MacBook Air, and where you buy it matters as much as which model you pick. The 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 cost $1,099 refurbished from Apple, and Amazon sells the same model new for $1,099 currently.
Apple Certified Refurbished Macs come with a one-year warranty, while the renewed MacBook Air below comes with 90 days on Amazon, so compare the price and the cover together. The picks below cover a renewed MacBook Air, a renewed MacBook Neo and the cases where a new Mac costs about the same.
Note: We earn a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases made through the links on this page.
Best Refurbished MacBook Picks Compared
| Product | Price | Discount | Why we picked it | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 When New Costs About the SameMidnight | $1,099$1,299 | 15% OFF | Best new alternativeAn M5 chip with 16GB of memory, 512GB of storage and a one-year warranty. | Check on Amazon |
 A Renewed M4 MacBook Air Costs LessSky Blue | $1,029 | Current price | Best renewed MacBook AirAn M4 chip with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. | Check on Amazon |
 A Renewed M4 MacBook Air Costs LessStarlight | $1,049 | Current price | Best renewed 15-inchA 15.3-inch display with an M4 chip and 16GB of memory. | Check on Amazon |
 A Renewed MacBook Neo Saves a LittleSilver 256GB | $624.99 | Current price | Cheapest renewed MacAn A18 Pro chip with 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. | Check on Amazon |
Apple Refurbished Comes With a Full Warranty
Every Apple Certified Refurbished Mac goes through full functional testing, gets genuine Apple replacement parts where needed and is cleaned and inspected. It ships in a new white box with all its accessories and cables, with free shipping and returns.
Each one carries Apple’s standard one-year limited warranty, the same as a new Mac, and you can add AppleCare on top. On November 15, a refurbished 15-inch MacBook Air with M5 cost $1,269 from Apple against $1,499 new, and a refurbished 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro cost $2,549 against $2,999.
A Renewed M4 MacBook Air Costs Less
The 13-inch MacBook Air with M4, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage sells for $1,029 through Amazon Renewed. It is one generation older than the M5 model, with the same 16GB of memory and up to 18 hours of battery life.
Amazon Renewed MacBooks are restored to factory settings and sold in Premium, Excellent, Good or Acceptable condition. This model carries a 90-day limited warranty, a quarter of the cover you get from Apple’s refurbished store.
For a bigger screen, the 15-inch MacBook Air with M4 and 256GB of storage sells for $1,049 renewed. Its 256GB of storage fills up faster than the 512GB on the 13-inch model above.
A Renewed MacBook Neo Saves a Little
A renewed MacBook Neo with 256GB of storage sells for $624.99 on Amazon. The new model costs $689 on Amazon, so check the gap before you give up a full warranty for a small saving.
The MacBook Neo has an A18 Pro chip, 8GB of memory and a 13-inch display, with up to 16 hours of battery life. Its 8GB of memory is the main limit, so pick a MacBook Air if you keep many apps open at once.
When New Costs About the Same
The 13-inch MacBook Air with M5 is a MacBook where new and refurbished prices sit close together right now. A new one comes with a full one-year warranty and the 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage that suit most people for years.
Apple rates it for up to 18 hours of battery life, and it weighs 2.7 pounds. Our comparison of the 14-inch MacBook Pro M6 vs M5 covers the step up if you need more power.
Check the Seller Before You Pay
Refurbished Macs from other sellers vary in testing, parts and warranty, so read the warranty and return policy before you pay. Check how long the cover lasts and whether it includes the battery.
For a used MacBook from a person, make sure the seller signs out of their Apple Account and erases the Mac in front of you. Apple pays up to $795 for a MacBook Air through its Mac trade-in program, which can lower the price of a new Mac bought from Apple.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date and time indicated and are subject to change.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
