If you’re willing to exercise a little patience rather than rushing out to buy a shiny new Apple product on launch day, then Apple’s refurbished store has always been an excellent option. Typically, there will be around a three-month wait between a product launch and the first refurbished models appearing on Apple’s website.
Other companies offer their own alternatives, such as Amazon Renewed and Walmart Restored, but it’s important to understand the different standards and warranties that apply…
Apple Certified Refurbished
Purchasing from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store typically yields a 15% discount on products that look identical to new ones. Specifically, Apple guarantees the following:
– Complete inspection and testing by Apple
– A brand-new exterior casing ensures there are never any marks or scratches
– A brand-new battery provides the same battery life as a new unit
– All original accessories and cables come included
– Apple’s standard one-year warranty applies in precisely the same manner as a new product
– Eligibility for AppleCare+ remains unchanged
The sole practical difference is that products are shipped in a plain white box instead of the original packaging.
Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed can offer more competitive pricing, but it’s worth noting that you don’t receive the same guarantees regarding condition:
– Inspection and testing performed by the seller, not by Apple
– Used exterior shell, so anticipate marks and scratches (see below)
– Used battery, only guaranteed to exceed 80% of original capacity
– Accessories might not be authentic Apple products
– 90-day Amazon warranty, compared to Apple’s 1-year warranty
As for marks and scratches, Amazon provides three quality-tier options:
– Premium/Excellent: No signs of cosmetic damage when viewed from 12 inches away
– Good: Light scratches, barely noticeable when holding the device 12 inches away
– Acceptable: Scratches that are clearly visible and palpable
Walmart Restored
is considerably less specific than Amazon about what you receive for your money:
– Inspection and testing conducted by the seller, not by Apple
– No guarantees regarding cosmetic condition; only promising “like-new performance and reliability”
– No details on battery condition beyond the aforementioned information
– No information provided about accessories
– Warranty comes from the seller rather than Apple’s standard one-year guarantee
The seller warranty lasts one year for the Restored Premium tier, and 90 days for Like New, Good, and Fair tiers. The company does not specify precise definitions for each tier.
Digitio’s Take
If you desire a product indistinguishable from new in both condition and Apple warranty, Apple’s refurbished store is clearly the best choice.
Amazon Renewed, however, can provide substantially better pricing, so if you’re willing to accept the trade-offs outlined above, this may represent a good bargain. For instance, if you follow our guidance to save money by upgrading to the iPhone 17 Pro over this year’s model (where the only sacrificed accessory is the cable), there are appealing offers:
– 1TB iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange $1,214 (Reg. $1,499 new) – all-time low
– 1TB iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue $1,215 (Reg. $1,499 new) – all-time low
– 1TB iPhone 17 Pro Silver $1,208 (Reg. $1,499 new) – all-time low
– 512GB iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange $1,164 (Reg. $1,299 new) – all-time low
– 512GB iPhone 17 Pro Deep Blue $1,170 (Reg. $1,299 new) – all-time low
– 512GB iPhone 17 Pro Silver $1,171 (Reg. $1,299 new) – within $1 of all-time low
Regarding Walmart Restored, I would be concerned about the extreme vagueness of the promises, though you do retain the option to return them if unsatisfied.