Buy Used Macbook Air 13

This laptop is still a good choice if you need an expansive screen, want to run Windows apps on your Mac, need the fastest MacBook with Intel processors, or need a laptop that can be used with as many as four external 4K monitors.

buy used macbook air 13

Let's cut to the chase: Buying used gear can save you money but can be risky as heck. That certainly applies to eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace purchases. With eBay purchases, you generally won't be able to see the unit (or units) until they arrive at your door. The potential for outright scams is high.

One of the more interesting challenges in buying used MacBook Pro machines is understanding which model year you're buying. When buying a used car, you always want to know its model year, but oddly enough, many Mac resellers (both the commercial ones and private ones) seem to gloss over the production year in favor of specs.

That said, you need to do a certain amount of OS calculus. According to Apple, the new version of macOS (called Monterey), which was released in October 2021, supports MacBook Pros and Airs going back to 2015, as well as iMacs and Mac Minis going back to 2014. If you're looking to buy a used MacBook or iMac from these years, chances are they're running macOS Mojave. If that's the case, be warned: Apple's support for Mojave ended on October 22, 2021. This means that while you can still use your MacBook or iMac for everyday tasks, you won't be able to receive software, firmware, or security updates. Big Sur supports MacBooks and iMacs going as far back as 2013, so if you're ok with using a slightly older version of macOS, you can pick up an older Mac on-the-cheap and still get regular software and security updates.

While Apple has never officially published their timetable policy for ending support for older Mac devices, the general rule has been a maximum lifespan of about 7 years post-release. So, you can assume that certain models will drop off the OS support list each year. You can check if the used Mac you've got your eye on is supported with the Big Sur and Monterey compatibility lists. This way, you can get a better idea of how long you'll be able to use your older Mac and plan for when you'll need to buy another one.

As mentioned above (and as you should know if you're braving buying a used Mac locally), About This Mac is a small screen located under the Apple menu. Have the seller take a photo of that screen and text it to you. That should give you model, serial number, amount of RAM, OS currently running, and type of storage. If any of those specs bother you, stop right here.

It used to be that you could check the S.M.A.R.T. status of hard drives. With Apple's new APFS and SSDs, S.M.A.R.T. is pretty much obsolete. I prefer to use Disk Utility to run First Aid on a drive to see if any errors show up. Errors on the drive could be caused by a bad drive (which is replaceable) or bad drive controller chips (which are not). I'd recommend walking away from any machine that fails the First Aid scan. If the seller doesn't want you to run a scan, run away.

My recommendation is to only buy a used machine from a commercial seller who you know will honor returns. These include Amazon's Renewed program, OWC, and Apple Certified Refurbished machines. When you get your machine, you'll have seven to 30 days to fully test it out. Make sure you know your return period. Once you get your machine (or machines), load them up fully and test them rigorously.

When it comes to Amazon, you can do a search for used MacBook Pros by model year, but the company doesn't list them that way. Instead, it lists the model number of the Mac, which makes it harder to know what you're looking at.

Now, let's compare these used/refurbished models with a new 2020 purchase. A 2019 i5 13-inch MacBook Pro with 256GB and 8GB of RAM is $1,299. A more ideal, longer-lasting configuration with 16GB RAM takes the machine up to $1,499.

For a professional like me, used is probably not worth it. As we've seen, there's about a three hundred dollar savings buying used from a reputable dealer, but your selection of configurations is less than you'd have if you bought new, straight from Apple.

I just bought an used MacBook Air and wanted to restore to factory settings. I followed the instructions. Option + Power > Delete HD Then reinstall asked for apple I.D and password which OS X was purchased on, not my I.D. How do I reinstall?

After partitioning, quit Disk Utility and run the OS X Installer. If you're installing a version of OS X acquired from the App Store, you will need the Apple ID and password that you used. When the installation is done, the system will automatically restart into the Setup Assistant, which will prompt you to transfer the data from another Mac, its backups, or from a Windows computer. If you have any data to transfer, this is usually the best time to do it.

This online community is for buying and selling used electronics of all kinds. This includes various models of the MacBook Air. Swappa is organized in a very straightforward way, so you can easily find the specific MacBook Air you want and who's selling it. It's an entirely user-focused experience, so you deal directly with the seller. Additionally, when compared to marketplaces like eBay, it has lower fees. This means you should end up paying less when making your purchase.

Back Market specializes in selling refurbished and used items, including the MacBook Air. There's a fairly wide variety of models here, dating a few years back, but you can also find the 2020 Apple M1 version. Laptops here are tested to make sure everything is working properly, including all the components you'd expect to be fully functional. Plus, Back Market offers a 12-month warranty and money-back returns within 30 days.

Like Back Market, IWM is a website focused on selling used devices, and the MacBook Air is one of the options you can find. The conditions are also similar, with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty on the product. IWM also claims a thorough inspection of the devices to make sure they're usable, though you may find different conditions for each device.

If you're OK with going further back in time, Mac of all trades is a dedicated website for used and refurbished Apple products. Of course, refurbished MacBook Air models are included, and there are even models with the Apple M2 chip. And if you want an older MacBook Air for even cheaper, it's a valid option as well. Like other websites, devices are certified refurbished, and you get a one-year warranty.

It takes more work, but eBay is definitely the safer way to sell a used MacBook than Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. It also exposes you to a much wider audience of potential buyers, meaning you might fetch a higher price -- though you also have a lot more competing sellers as well.

Apple's not the only trade-in option. Best Buy accepts used MacBooks in its trade-in program, although you'll need to mail in your machine because Best Buy has temporarily suspended in-store trade-ins due to the coronavirus outbreak. I entered the details for my 4-year-old MacBook Pro on Best Buy's site and was told it's worth $461 -- not a small sum but still $59 less than Apple's quote.

Why buy a new Apple laptop when you can save a bundle on a gently used MacBook Air? At OWC, you can find a previous generation MacBook Air and even a current generation model at a fraction of the price!

Packing incredible performance in a light and portable size, MacBook Air and MacBook models are must-haves for a life on the go. Saving thousands with a new, refurbished, or used model from OWC is a budget-savvy choice for anyone.

A computer is an investment, and OWC is here to ensure you get the most out of it. Every pre-owned Mac from OWC is fully inspected and tested by our Apple Certified technicians. And every used MacBook and MacBook Air also includes a 90-day limited parts and labor warranty with a 14-day money-back guarantee. With time and security on your side, you can make the best decision for your needs. 041b061a72