Best refurbished laptops 2025: how to buy second-hand options

Refurbished laptops and second-hand laptops can really make the most of your budget. Deals on new laptops are common all year round, but these discounts can pale in comparison to how much you can save by shopping at reputable used and refurbished laptop retailers.

We take a look at the best refurbished retailers from our survey of users, and the potential pitfalls to help you decide if a refurbished laptop or a second-hand model is really right for you, or if it’s worth spending extra to buy brand new.

Want to narrow down your laptop selection first? Browse our expert pick of the best laptops. 

Where can I buy a refurbished laptop in the UK?

Many retailers that sell new laptops also sell refurbished models. Their stock and prices will change regularly depending on the laptops that are returned and reconditioned. So you might need to be on the ball if you have a specific laptop in mind.

Best refurbished laptop retailers

We surveyed thousands of shoppers to discover the best second-hand tech retailers. We have results for 18 retailers. Only four second-hand tech retailers received our coveted Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) award. 

Dell Refurbished – Which? Recommended Provider

Lots of businesses lease Dell laptops, so when they return them Dell selects models for testing and refurbishment, before making them available on its website. Cosmetic imprefections may be present, but they do not affect performance.

In our survey, shoppers said they loved the range and availability of Dell Refurbished products, saying they were good quality and value for money.

As with any consumer electronics retailer, Dell can also help you responsibly dispose of your old computer when you buy your refurbished model under the WEEE regulations. For more information on this, see how to recycle electrical items.

Go to Dell Refurbished laptops

Samsung Certified Re-Newed – Which? Recommended Provider

Buying your Samsung device via Samsung Certified Re-Newed means you get a one-year limited warranty, just like its brand new models, as well as a new Samsung battery and 100% genuine parts.

Samsung was the joint-highest by customer score in our survey alongside The iOutlet, and is certainly a go-to if you're after Samsung tech. Customers gave it a full five stars in our survey for product quality, with common feedback being you wouldn't be able to tell the products were refurbished.

The catch here is availability, as these products can come and go on Samsung's website. They're most likely to be available after a new product launches, due to customer returns after upgrading to the latest models.

Check for any Samsung Certified Re-Newed laptops: Samsung's Galaxy Book and Laptops.

The iOutlet – Which? Recommended Provider

Laptops on The iOutlet are almost entirely focused on refurbished Apple MacBooks. 

In our survey, it's one of only two shops (alongside Samsung Certified Re-Newed) to get a full five stars out of five for customer service, and one of only three to get five stars for value for money (alongside Samsung and eBay Certified Refurbished). 

One responder said The iOutlet was 'easy to communicate with on the phone as well as via email'.

The iOutlet does more than 70 checks on the functionality of every device sold, with a 12-month warrranty included for peace of mind as well as free delivery. It's based in the UK, with a customer service team available via phone or email.

You can also use this retailer to sell your tech devices (either direct or through its partnership with Envirofone, which is also a Which? Recommended Provider). 

Go to Refurbished Macs and PCs at The iOutlet

Envirofone – Which? Recommended Provider

The Envirofone brand was given a renewed direct-to-consumer trade-in focus in September 2025, so is now aimed at those who have a device they want to sell on. It's partnered with iOutlet, another of our WRPs, which is where you will be taken if you go to the Envirofone website and explore its links to buy refurbished laptops.

For more information on why these brands are our Which? Recommended Providers, and to see our full results, go to best second-hand tech retailers.

Other refurbished laptop retailers

These popular second-hand tech retailers are also worth considering.

Amazon Renewed

Amazon Renewed sells a wide range of tech, including laptops. Amazon says all of the refurbished laptops and other tech it sells are professionally inspected by Amazon-qualified suppliers, and that this inspection includes testing and cleaning. Amazon Prime members get free delivery for relevant items.

This was the most-used source of refurbished tech by respondents in our survey, with 15% of second-hand purchases being with Amazon Renewed in the two years up to the survey. It achieved five stars out of five for its delivery service, likely thanks to the Amazon Prime subscription service, as well as five stars for the ease of using its website.

All laptops sold through Renewed come with a one-year warranty.

Go to Amazon Renewed

Apple Certified Refurbished MacBooks

If you’re buying a refurbished laptop directly from Apple, you’re likely to get one that’s in grade A condition. 

It might not have quite achieved a Which? Recommended Provider, but feedback from users in our survey was nonetheless highly positive, with it achieving at least four stars out of five in all areas, and even five stars out of five for the accuracy of its product descriptions. 

Apple doesn't specify the level of damage, but the company says all of its refurbished models go through a rigorous testing process that is of the same standard as used for brand-new models.

Go to Apple Certified Refurbished

BackMarket

Founded in Paris in 2014, BackMarket is a marketplace of refurbished devices, where professional sellers are required to meet BackMarket's quality standards for checks and refurbishments of the Verified Refurbished products they sell.

This includes laptops guaranteed to have a minimum of 80% battery health, with a 1-year warranty and 30-day returns.

It received four stars out of five in almost every area in our survey except for the amount of original packaging provided where it received three stars out of five. This probably won't bother most, but it might lower the resale price if you intend to sell the product on again down the line.

It grades the condition of products from 'Excellent' to 'Good' and 'Fair', with Excellent and Good both meaning the laptop screen is flawless. For Excellent, the body has almost no signs of use and for Good the body of the laptop may have some faint scratches that BackMarket says aren't noticeable at a glance.

Go to laptops on BackMarket

CeX

The Entertainment Exchange is probably the most well-known second-hand retailer due to having more than 390 high street stores in the UK. Unlike most rivals, the majority of devices it sells are second-hand, meaning they've been checked and graded but not necessarily been given the full 'refurbished' treatment.

What makes it stand out is its eye-catching offer of a five-year warranty on every device it sells, which far exceeds most rivals. However, while receiving a good 73% customer score in our survey, this still left CeX bottom by customer score of the 18 second-hand retailers surveyed.

It was the only retailer to only get three stars for value for money, so there's probably greater ways to save unless you value being able to pop along to a store on the high street.

Go to computing at CeX

eBay Certified Refurbished

This is eBay's 'shopfront' for products that have been professionally inspected, cleaned and refurbished by the manufacturer or a manufacturer-approved vendor to meet manufacturer specifications. Devices also come with a one-year guarantee.

Our survey respondents said it offers a superb range of refurbished products (even including appliances and furniture too), with products accurately described and most importantly great value for money, achieving five stars out of five based on user responses in all three of these areas, as well as for delivery/collection and the ease of using its website. 95% would recommend eBay's refurbished products to a friend.

Don't confuse these models with 'seller refurbished' or 'used' laptops, which might not meet the same standards. 

Go to eBay Certified Refurbished

Laptops Direct

Laptops Direct is a conventional online retailer, rather than a sub-section of an online marketplace. The models on offer here are typically newer, so you're usually getting something reasonably up to date in terms of specifications. This is reflected in the price; some models are priced not that far off the new equivalent. This means it's worth checking before buying to see whether the saving is worth it.

Laptop Direct got very consistent responses from users in our survey, achieving four stars out of five in every area, and a strong customer score of 80% overall.

The standard warranty is just three months, but it can be extended for a fee at the point of purchase.

Go to Laptops Direct

Laptop Outlet

Similar to Laptops Direct, these models will typically be newer and the prices may be close to the RRP of the equivalent new model. Typical warranty is a full year.

Laptop Outlet was slightly below mid-table by customer score in our survey, due to only receiving three stars out of five for product quality, retailer communication about collection/delivery and the ease of using its website. However, it's still useful as a refurbished retailer focussing on laptops, as many refurbished retailers focus on smartphones first, and laptops second.

You'll have to pay postage if you send a product back under warranty.

Go to Laptop Outlet

MusicMagpie

Set up in 2007 in the garage of one of its founders, MusicMagpie originally sold CDs and DVDs, before their current focus on tech.

Our survey users praised the service for the accuracy of its product descriptions and most notably it was the only retailer other than Samsung Certified Re-Newed to get a full five stars out of five for product quality from owners. On the flip side, similar to BackMarket, it's not the service to use if you want the most original packaging provided, as it received just three stars out of five in this area.

Its laptops come refurbished with a 12-month guarantee, and it has a particularly wide range of Apple Macs.

Go to refurbished computers at MusicMagpie

We'll help you choose the right model: see all of our laptop reviews.

Refurbished laptops vs second-hand laptops: what's the difference?

A refurbished, or reconditioned, laptop has usually been professionally restored by a manufacturer or retailer to be the closest it can get to an ‘as new’ condition. Refurbished laptops often come with warranties. 

Second-hand laptops can be sold by retailers or private sellers. You have fewer rights when buying from a private seller, so the adage of 'buyer beware' applies - but goods must be sold as described.

Refurbished laptops

• Refurbished laptops will always be sold directly by a manufacturer, retailer or professional reseller. Examples include Amazon Renewed, Apple Refurbished, Back Market, Dell, eBay Refurbished, Envirofone, Laptops Direct, Laptop Outlet, MusicMagpie, Samsung Certified Re-Newed and The iOutlet.
• They will either look 'as-new' (particularly if they were returned by their former owner shortly after purchase or are ex-display models) or be graded by quality (click to jump to what do refurbished laptop grades mean). So you will know what condition the laptop is in before you buy it.
• Prices for refurbished laptops will often be higher than on the second-hand market, as the laptops have been checked by professionals to ensure they're in working order and good physical condition.
• You're usually guaranteed a warranty of some sort on refurbished laptops, as it's being sold by a retailer.

Used or second-hand laptop

• You might be buying directly from the laptop's existing owner, meaning that transactions can be riskier.
• If you're buying from a retailer, check whether it runs diagnostic checks on the second-hand laptops it sells - many do. 
• If you're buying from a private seller, the warranty is likely to have expired unless the device is less than two years old.
• You can get a great price from a private seller, as they may not know how much a used laptop is truly worth or simply want to raise some quick cash after buying a new one. Online auctions often result in low final prices, too. That said, there are professional bargain hunters looking at auction sites all the time, which can keep prices higher.
• If it's a private seller, double-check what you’ll be receiving before you pay - for example, if not mentioned, does it come in its original box and does it have a charging cable? 

Find out more about buying a refurbished iPad.

What do refurbished laptop grades mean?

Grades shown on refurbished laptops determine what condition the laptop is in, and what types of damage or wear and tear (if any) you can expect.

Refurbished laptops typically fall into one of three categories – some companies list them as A, B and C, while others use words such as 'Pristine', 'Very Good' and 'Good'. It's important to check exactly what each seller means by their grading, as a mid 'B' grade might meannear-flawless at one retailer, but could mean considerable cosmetic damage at another.

Grade A refurbished laptops

The top grade is normally reserved for ‘open-box’ devices that have been barely used, typically because they were unwanted and returned to a retailer straight after purchase. 

The laptop is in visibly flawless condition, with barely any hint of scuffs, scratches or marks on the outer casing. Depending on the retailer, it may come in its original box and with all of its original accessories.

This is as close as you can get to buying brand new, and the cost will reflect that – although the cost is often closer related to the age of the device since launch.

Grade B refurbished laptops

These mid-grade laptops are more visibly used, but any damage is purely cosmetic. This might equate to minor scratches, but nothing that’s noticeable during normal everyday use. A laptop might not come with its original box or charger, but it should still come with a compatible charger. 

Grade B refurbished laptops can be 20% cheaper than a new model even when the product isn't that soon after its launch (although for high-demand products like MacBooks the difference may be less).

Grade C refurbished laptops

With the lower Grade C, wear will be heavier than a Grade B unit and there may even be visible dents and scratches. But the laptop will still be in full working order. 

You probably won’t get it in the original box, and it likely won't have its accompanying accessories, but it should still come with a compatible charger, depending on the retailer. These refurbished laptops can be more than a third cheaper than even an equivalent model that's not long after original launch.

Want to get a great deal on a new model? Our experts reveal the best laptop deals - only models that score well in our tests and are a genuinely good deal make it onto our shortlist.

Is it worth buying a refurbished laptop?

Oliver Trebilcock, Which? laptops expert and senior researcher, says:

Yes – provided you choose your model carefully, you can get more for your money with a refurbished versus a new laptop. However, the age of the model is important. 

For Apple MacBooks, Apple typically supports them for eight years from launch, so if you choose a model more than a couple of years old, your MacBook will have quite a limited lifespan for keeping it secure with the latest updates. If you want your MacBook to last years, we'd also recommend choosing a model with 16GB Ram, which became standard on all new base MacBook models from 2025 (this had been an option on MacBooks for some years).

For Windows, the main thing to watch for is that the laptop comes with Windows 11 – Windows 10 is at end of life, and lots of older laptops do not meet the requirements to run Windows 11. So check carefully before you buy. To future-proof, it's best to choose a model with 16GB Ram (especially for photo editing), but 8GB will suffice for general use provided you don't open too many apps or browser tabs at the same time.

With Chromebooks, there's less of an incentive to buy second hand as models are lower-price upfront. However, many Chromebooks have lower-spec hardware, so buying refurbished is an opportunity to buy a Chromebook with specs more in line with what you'd expect from a Windows laptop, at a considerably lower price.

It's also worth considering that buying a higher grade refurbished laptop isn't all about aesthetics. If a laptop is free from scratches, that probably means the previous owner took better care of it, avoiding the drops and heavy-handedness that could shorten a laptop's lifetime.

How to spot good (and bad) used and refurbished laptop deals

Shopping in the second-hand and refurbished marketplace can be a bit of a minefield. We've given some pointers on what to look out for. 

• Research the processor. For example, an Intel Core 5 or i5  or AMD Ryzen 5 processor on a new laptop is a good processor. But first generation Core i5s came out in 2009 and are nowhere near as powerful as modern i5s. If you're buying second-hand, make sure you check - cut and paste the processor's full name into a search engine of your choice.
• Look for detail. Has the seller included lots of images, so you can verify the laptop's condition?
• Positive reviews. Reviews can be faked, so make sure you check thoroughly. If, say, a seller on an online marketplace has had a spate of recent good reviews, but previously had poor ones, then steer clear as these may not be genuine. Look for a history of positive feedback.
• Is it too cheap? This means it's likely to be too good to be true, rather than the bargain you're hoping for.

What are the risks of buying a used or refurbished laptop?

Below, we've highlighted some of the most common frustrations with second-hand or refurbished laptops, so make sure you consider these before you hit the buy button. 

New Windows, old machine

Windows 11 demands a higher spec laptop than Windows 10. With Windows 10 end of life on 14 October 2025, users can extend their Windows 10 licence for one year only. Our advice is to avoid Windows 10, which is more likely to be an issue when buying second-hand from a private retailer. 

You can use our quick and easy Windows 11 compatibility tool to check whether a laptop you're interested in can run Windows 11.

Battery problems

If you’re buying a used laptop, it’s likely the battery has been around the block a few times, and the laptop may not last for long away from the mains. If you mainly use your laptop plugged in at home, this might not be a big deal. 

But if battery life is something you care about, check to see whether official spares are available or, at worst, check for compatible replacements. Consider when the laptop originally launched, as it's likely to have a better-performing battery if it's only two or so years from original launch.

Charging

Probably the most abused part of any laptop is the charger and the laptop’s charging ports. Plugged in and unplugged every day and stuffed into bags in a hurry, these are a common point of failure. If the seller of a second-hand laptop doesn’t show the state of the charging port or the charger, request images to see if it looks wonky or damaged. 

Spares are nearly always available, but are rarely cheap.

Will your refurbished or second-hand laptop still get security updates?

You should check the laptop is still getting security and feature updates and will do so for years to come. 

With Windows 10 end of life on 14 October 2025, it's essential you don't buy an older PC that isn't compatible with Windows 11. Head to our Windows 11 compatibility checker to find out whether the laptop you're interested in is likely to work with Windows 11.

Interested in a Chromebook? We've got an easy to use tool that shows you common Chromebooks that have either already stopped getting updates, or will stop getting updates within three years - you can also see our pick of the best Chromebooks.

Alternatively, you can look up when it will stop getting updates on Google's Auto Update Policy help page. 

What are my rights with second-hand or refurbished laptops?

Buying from shops

Your precise rights depend on whether you're buying from a shop or from a private seller. 

If you buy a refurbished machine from an online retailer, you’re covered by the Consumer Contracts Regulations. These regulations give you the right to change your mind for any reason and cancel the order – starting from the moment you order and ending 14 days from the day you receive the laptop.  

If you bought from an online or a physical shop, then you’re also protected by the Consumer Rights Act in the event that the laptop is faulty. Under that Act, you have a legal right to reject goods that are of unsatisfactory quality, unfit for purpose or not as described, and get a full refund – as long as you do it within 30 days from the date you take ownership of the laptop. 

After 30 days, you won’t be entitled to a full refund, although some sellers might offer you an extended refund period. Instead, you can ask for a repair or replacement - the retailer can decide which. 

Keep in mind, though, that while individual online product listings may not state the exact level of wear and tear, the website will probably have a detailed page explaining the type of wear and tear you can expect from the grade of product you bought. So make sure you check this before you buy.

Buying from private sellers

If you’re buying from a private seller, such as on eBay, the goods must be as described. However, there’s no obligation for the seller to proactively inform you of faults. 

On some sites, including eBay, potential buyers are encouraged to ask questions to get more information from sellers who haven't provided a detailed listing. 

If you find a fault that wasn’t disclosed but you also didn’t check for it before buying, you may be able to negotiate a solution with the seller. But they might not be under any obligation to help you or refund you.

Looking to buy a refurbished phone? Our expert guide explains all you need to know.

Can I get a warranty on a refurbished laptop?

The warranty on a refurbished laptop varies and can be as little as 30 days, but are more typically one year, or even up to three years. Warranties depend entirely on the retailer you buy from.

CeX offers an industry-leading five-year warranty on all products, while Apple supplies a one-year warranty with its officially refurbished products as do many other refurbished retailers. Some retailers also offer to sell you a warranty extension if you want extra peace of mind. 

Your rights under the Consumer Rights Act still apply: you still have a 30-day right to reject if the laptop isn't as described, fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality.

On a used laptop bought directly from the current owner, it’s unlikely you’ll get any warranty at all. The only exception to this will be if the laptop is still within its original manufacturer’s warranty.

However, the previous owner may have voided the warranty by either damaging the laptop or making modifications (such as changing the hard disk) not covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. 

It’s best to assume your laptop won’t be covered when you buy second-hand from a private seller. Always check with the seller before buying if you’re concerned and want more information about damage and modifications.

There’s always a small risk in buying refurbished and used products. But a little research about what you’re buying and a good look at detailed listings will help you understand what you’re likely to receive. 

Want to know more about buying a laptop? See all of our expert laptops advice.