I love a good used gadget deal, and I have no issue buying stuff from places like Facebook marketplace for a good bargain, but when it comes to “refurbished” products you’re often getting nothing more than an exterior wipe-down of the device and a very limited discount versus buying the same thing new.
A lot rides on what exactly the refurbishment entails, but in general there are some products that I wouldn’t buy with a “refurbished” label slapped on them without some digging into what’s actually been done.
Laptops and Tablets With Worn Batteries
The number one problem with a refurbished laptop is the battery. Every other part of the computer could be pristine, and it wouldn’t matter if the battery was near the end of its life. It’s not the worst situation with laptop models that have an easy way to replace the battery, but modern thin-and-light laptops may have theirs glued in.
To make things worse, some refurbishers only replace batteries when they’ve actually failed, and not when they are close to the end of their lifespan. If I were to buy a refurbished laptop, I’d want a report on the battery condition from a battery test, or confirmation that the battery has been replaced with a new one. If not, I won’t touch it. I have the same rule for used laptops in general: I need to see the battery health stats first.
Solid-State Drives and Hard Drives
How exactly do you “refurbish” an SSD or hard drive? That would entail replacing the internal components that can wear out, and that’s more expensive than simply buying a new drive. If it’s the original drive manufacturer selling refurbished drives, that’s a different story. Since they have the means to repair and test the drive to the satisfaction of resale standards. However, I’d be hesitant to buy drives like these from a third-party refurbisher.
That also applies to refurbished devices like laptops and desktop PCs that contain drives. Indeed, most of the mini PCs and refurbished laptops I’ve encountered have brand-new SSDs in them, because the originals were close to their official write endurance limit. However, there’s no guarantee of this, so investigate whether you’re getting an old SSD or not. Also, cheap OEM SSDs are usually more likely to have low write endurance, so look up the quality of the specific drive if possible.
9/10
- Storage capacity
-
1TB, 2TB, 4TB
- Hardware Interface
-
M.2 (2280)
- Brand
-
Samsung
- Transfer rate
-
7,250MB/s read, 6,300MB/s write
Smart Home Devices and Security Cameras
My issue with buying refurbished smart home devices has nothing to do with the condition of the gear, and everything to do with privacy and security concerns. Buying new smart home and security devices from dubious no-name brands is risky enough, but I have no idea what’s happened to that camera or smart home hub before I bought it from a refurbisher. Does it have a compromised firmware image? Will it send footage or information about me to a malicious actor? In this case, I’d rather play it safe and go with something factory-sealed from a trusted supplier.
Is that a little paranoid? Maybe, but not so paranoid that I won’t pay an extra ten bucks for some peace of mind.
Routers, Modems, and Network Gear
Routers and modems are another product class that age poorly. Firmware updates stop, internal components degrade from constant heat, and old hardware can become security liabilities. Just like so many other solid state devices, there’s not really anything for a refurbisher to refurbish. They can blow out the dust, wipe it down, replace fans and PSUs, and then check that the router still works as intended, but I’ve had too many routers fail unexpectedly over the years to even bother with buying a used or “refurbished” one.
Apart from that, is the router still supported and secure? The same issues apply as above with smart home or security gear.
Headphones, Earbuds, and Wearables
Anything that spends time on or in your body is a hard “no” for refurb in my book. Sure, they might replace ear tips or straps, but you’re still dealing with sweat, skin oils, and possible moisture damage from previous use.
Besides, modern wireless buds are basically unrepairable, and the internal batteries can’t be replaced. The batteries will die long before the other components are likely to fail, so in my book this type of product is effectively disposable.
Even if a refurbisher promised that the wearable in question had been dipped in alcohol for 24 hours, I’d still be too icked out—but maybe that’s just me.
Drones, Cameras, and Gimbals
Again, the general exception I make here is when the kit has been refurbished by the original manufacturer, but drones, cameras, and gimbals are precise, sensitive, and complex machines. I’ve bought all three in used condition before for much lower prices than new, where I felt the risk was worth the asking price. However, from a third-party refurbisher for only a small discount? Count me out, thanks.
Power Supplies, UPS Units, and Chargers
Refurbished power gear is where I draw the hardest line. Power supplies and UPS units contain components that degrade quietly over time—capacitors dry out, surge protection ages, and calibration drifts. I’ve personally experienced my own backup power gear fail soon after coming out-of-the-box brand new.
9/10
- Brand
-
Bluetti
- Dimensions
-
16.5 x 11 x 14.4in
- Weight
-
62.4lbs
- AC Output ports
-
4 x 120V/20A & 1 x 120V/30A
My portable power station needed a warranty replacement three times, and every lead-acid UPS battery I’ve ever bought didn’t last more than a year or two. So understandably, I’m not keen on purchasing this sort of equipment in any condition other than brand new!
That said, these are largely my own hangups, and unless the fine print of the refurbished product’s warranty contains a trap, you’ll at least have some recourse if something goes wrong with some of these gadgets. That’s at least something you can’t say about buying cheap stuff from online classifieds!