Why should I buy a second-hand laptop?

There are plenty of reasons to buy a second-hand laptop, but we should start with the obvious one: price. In theory, you should get more for your money from a second-hand laptop than a brand new one.

In theory?

Prices change and technology never stands still. For example, you can expect a mid-range laptop from 2017 with a processor like the i5-8350U to perform at about the same level as an entry level mobile i3 (e.g. i3-1115G4) laptop from just three years later.

Translation please.

A computer with a high retail price made a few years ago might not be any more powerful than a modern one released at half the price.

How do I know what to get then?

That’s the skill isn’t it? You have to be familiar with the basics of what you are buying. At a fundamental level, you need to know what processor (CPU) is in the laptop you’re interested in buying. It is a common trick for companies on eBay or Amazon to market their laptop as “An Intel i5 laptop” without specifying exactly which i5 is inside. Intel have been making i5 processors for over a decade. If you buy a laptop with an i5-430UM processor, you might think you’re getting a good deal – it’s an i5 after all. But that chip is 12 years old and performance is roughly half of the Celeron N4020, the processor found in the absolute cheapest laptops made today.

I don’t have time to learn all the processor names!

You don’t have to. Google the processor model number (the bit after i3 or i5) and just find out when it was released. Anything from the last three years should still be relevant today. Older than that and you’ll need to be wary.

What else should I be looking out for?

You should look for a laptop with enough RAM – 8GB should be your minimum. Think about storage – again, I would recommend 128GB as an absolute minimum and 256GB as a more realistic minimum – but remember that if you’re planning on using your storage for things like videos, photos, files and documents, you can usually add external storage later relatively cheaply.

What might be a problem to look out for in a second hand laptop?

Battery life will be a big factor. You can expect a second-hand laptop’s battery to last a shorter time than a brand new laptop. If you’re planning on leaving it plugged in all the time, that probably won’t be a problem, but if you want to use it away from the wall, you might run into difficulties.

Anything else?

The condition of the laptop won’t be brand new. Expect minor scuiffs and scrapes or even the odd dent. If you’re buying from eBay, make sure you can see photos of any damage before you buy. You can always contact the seller before you buy and ask about damage. There may also be other wear and tear issues, like worn keys or trackpads.

So I should never buy a second-hand laptop?

No, that’s not what I’m saying at all! But you need to be forewarned. If you buy a second hand laptop for £400 that performs the same as a brand new one for £800, you’ve done well. But if you get the performance of a modern-day £400 laptop, you should probably have bought a new one.

What does refurbished mean?

It means it is a second hand laptop, but the seller has restored some or all of it in some way. As the definition is fairly loose, be wary. Things like a good warranty (especially on the battery) help you to make a decision on how much you can trust the seller. Big companies often sell refurbished laptops and these are usually in very good condition, but will probably cost a little more than they would have done on the used-market.

How will I know how well a laptop performs?

Google again will be your friend. Google the model number of the laptop to try to find reviews of it from when it was new. It probably won’t be in that condition when it is second hand after a few years of use, but you’ll get a good idea of the best-case scenario. And I’ll repeat: Google the CPU too.

Any top tips?

• If you are buying on eBay, buy from reputable sellers with lots of positive feedback.
• Google the CPU model number to see when it was released. Don’t buy a laptop with a CPU from more than 5-6 years ago unless it’s really cheap.
• Don’t bother with second hand laptops that have Celeron processors unless they are exceptionally cheap. I’m talking sub-£50.
• I’d probably steer clear of second hand Pentium laptops too, unless they’re very new.
• Not all i5s are the same. Bear that in mind. Reread the top of this article if you don’t know what I mean by this.
• Expect a minimum of 8GB RAM (memory) and 128GB (or more realistically, 256GB) of storage.
• Don’t buy a laptop with a mechanical hard drive. Get one with an SSD.
• The CPU doesn’t have to be Intel – AMD make some great processors. Anything with Ryzen in the name – Google when it was released and take it from there. Same rules as Intel – AMD processors that are over 5 years old are probably not worth your time as a second-hand purchase.
• Check what accessories are included as replacement laptop chargers can be unexpectedly expensive.
• Don’t assume that buying second hand will always be cheaper than buying new. Check both.

What about Apple laptops?

Buying a second hand Apple laptop is a little different. You have far fewer models to choose from, which in many ways is a good thing as it helps you compare like-for-like, although you do need to know what generation of product you’re buying. Apple products do tend to hold their value on the second hand market, so expect prices to be higher than a second hand PC.

Apple have their own refurbished laptop website where they check and certify every laptop they sell. The downside? Don’t expect them to cost much less than new. For example, at the time of writing, the cheapest refurbished MacBook Air M1 was £850 – but is available for £1000 brand new. On eBay, the same one was available for £750 (but of course without the Apple certification or warranty).

What would you do, James?

If I’m being honest, I prefer to buy new. It’s not that I have pots of cash lying around, I just tend to use my laptops for a long time so I prefer the longevity of a new one. I am really careful about the specifications of a laptop too – I always try to buy something that I know will last. That usually equates to a strong CPU and enough RAM, neither of which are replaceable in most modern laptops. And as you might expect, I have had a few computers over the years and I tend to use different computers for different purposes. I use my desktop for work that demands power and my laptop for when I need flexibility and portability.

That doesn’t mean anything though. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over my years in technology, there simply is no one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone is very different and has different needs. If your budget is tight or you want to find a real bargain, it is absolutely the right call to investigate the second hand market. Just make sure you go in there armed with a little bit of information to help you know a great deal when you see it.

James