For almost a decade, Apple has quietly operated its own second-hand store, offering iPhone, iPad, Mac and more at a lower, discounted price. But is it still worth it, compared to other second-hand retailers on the market, and following Apple's price hikes that included the refurbished store of products they've already sold once.
My Apple Certified Refurbished Experience
In March 2025, I was shopping for my first ever iPad, still unsure what my use case will be for the device, and if I'd regularly use it. Because of my uncertainty, I turned to the second-hand market, to find a good deal on a modern, up-to-date iPad.
At the same time, Apple had just announced the new iPad (A16), the successor to the 10th generation iPad, that released in 2022. The new iPad launched at £329, in the same form-factor, colours and with the same display as the previous 10th generation model.
As a result, I was less compelled to buy this device, but was also reluctant to scale-up to the £599 iPad Air or £999 iPad Pro. So, I turned to Apple's Certified Refurbished store for the recently discontinued 10th-generation iPad.
I found that just a day after iPad A16's launch, its predecessor was on the refurbished store for just £229. I bought it that evening, and it was delivered the next day.
Unboxing
All devices from the Certified Refurbished store are repackaged in an Apple-branded refurbished box. Instead of a large image of the product you've bought appearing on the front, the box simply read 'iPad' with a small 'Apple Certified Refurbished' label at the bottom.
Apart from the box, the rest of the experiences feels just like opening any brand new Apple Product. The box has the same pull tabs, the iPad had the same paper wrapper, it has a brand-new Apple cable and came with new instruction manuals.
Apple made sure to deliver the same unboxing experience on their refurbished models, as they do with their latest, newest devices.
Device Condition
The iPad was in pristine condition. No scuffs or marks on the Aluminium frame, no dents to the body, and no scratches on the screen. It was as if the iPad was brand new, because, it sort of is.
Apple says that all refurbished iPads receive a "new battery" and "new outer shell."
This means battery health is at 100%, and the physical parts of the device that you interact with, are brand new. Apple does not explicitly mention if the display is new, but it was in perfect condition.
This process also applies to refurbished iPhones sold on the store. The company does not say if refurbished Macs, Apple Watches, AirPods or accessories receive new outer shells.
The Outcome
My experience was overwhelmingly positive. I received an iPad that was 30% off from the Apple Store, with free, next-day delivery, in perfect condition with a new box and accessories. Surely this makes the Certified Refurbished store a no-brainer for your next Apple purchase?
When Refurbished Goes Wrong
About a year prior to my iPad purchase, a family member bought an M1 MacBook Air from the Apple Certified Refurbished store, for about £700.
At the time, the latest MacBook Air was the M3, starting from £1,099. The last generation M2 Air was also still available, from £999.
Whilst the M1 MacBook Air is a good device, with Apple Silicon and the latest software updates, it uses the old intel-era design that was first unveiled in 2018.
For an extra couple-hundred pounds, and potentially less from retailers such as Amazon, they could have got a device with a larger, brighter screen, the new chassis design, better battery life and more modern silicon.
Unboxing
The unboxing experience is the same as when I received my refurbished iPad, arriving in an Apple refurbished white box, with a brand new Apple charging cable, power adapter and quick-start guide.
The screen was in perfect condition, and no marks or scratches were present on the body of the device. Again, the MacBook appeared to be brand new.
Battery Issues
Despite a good start, after setting up the Mac, the battery was draining fast. You could plug the MacBook in, charge it to 100%, then watch the battery drain in minutes before dying at around 20%.
This is not a good experience, considering the device still cost £700.
Repair Process
It was easy to get in contact with Apple Support, explain the problem, and have a kit sent to the house for a repair. The repair kit took a couple of days, and was just a simple box to put the MacBook into.
The delivery service picked it up from the doorstep, and shipped the MacBook off to an Apple Certified repair shop.
About a week later, the MacBook was delivered back to the house, in perfect working condition. The battery issue was fixed, and the MacBook looked and worked as if it was new again. As the device was recently bought and covered by Apple's Warranty, all repairs were free of charge.
The Outcome
Whilst the M1 MacBook Air reached the same outcome as the 10th generation iPad, it was a hassle and an annoying experience to buy a £700 laptop from Apple, for it not to work properly. Plus, shopping around at third-party retailers, such as Amazon, you could have found a better deal, for a brand-new unit.
Despite this, the M1 MacBook Air still receives regular daily use 2 years later, with no other issues.
How Do Other Refurbished Stores Compare To Apple?
Apple's refurbished store is the best place to buy a second-hand device, if you want the lowest risk and a device in pristine condition. Though you may encounter some issues, Apple's customer support service will help to resolve your problems and you are unlikely to be left with a broken device.
The only downside, is that the official store has higher prices, with better deals elsewhere.
Amazon Renewed
Amazon is a globally trusted brand, that sells new and official Apple products on its website. The company also offers its Amazon Renewed programme, though sellers are third-parties so the device does not come from Amazon itself.
This increases the risk of issues, such as non-genuine parts, damage and battery issues. You also lose the Apple unboxing experience, and may not receive official Apple accessories with the device.
Amazon does however, offer the 'A - Z Guarantee', which they say "protects you when you purchase items sold and fulfilled by a third-party seller."
Sellers also have statistics, for example, Amazon seller DISCOUNT-DIRECT is selling the original Apple Watch Ultra for £255 in 'excellent' condition. The account has fulfilled over 100k orders in the past year, and has been on Amazon for 10 years. These long-term statistics help to increase trust in the seller and the probability that the listing is genuine.
CeX
Dedicated retailers to the second-hand market, such as CeX in the UK, have physical locations you can visit. This is a great opportunity to view the device before you buy, so there are no unexpected scratches or imperfections on the device.
However, CeX and similar businesses primarily grade and condition devices, rather than refurbish them. This means parts have not been authorised as genuine and the battery has already been used, so expected battery life could be lower.
This is often the cheapest way to buy Apple products, because no money has been invested into refurbishing the device.
Apple Price Hikes
Apple's price hikes in June applied to both their main store and Certified Refurbished store.
Some devices currently available on the refurbished store reflect their old retail price, making the purchase harder to justify. For example, MacBook Neo launched at £599 in the UK, before increasing to £699. A refurbished unit now costs £599.
The 6th generation iPad mini, which launched in 2021 at £479, is being sold for £459. That's just a £20 decrease, or 4.2% discount, in 5 years. Amazon renewed sells the same device for £329.99.
The cheapest MacBook Air on Apple's refurbished store is currently £1,099, which was the price of a new one just a couple months ago.
Is Apple Refurbished Still Worth It?
Apple's Certified Refurbished store has become less appealing in recent months, as the company sells many of its used products, at their old retail price. This has increased the appeal of third-party secondhand resellers who, despite the increased risk, provide meaningful discounts.
For many buyers, the best value may now come from discounted new products from retailers, rather than the Certified Refurbished store. However, Apple's secondhand store remains one of the safest ways to buy a used Apple device if you're looking at buying refurbished.
Last August, I bought a brand-new M4 MacBook Air from Amazon for £799. This is £300 cheaper than the second-hand MacBook Air currently available on the Certified Refurbished store.
Before buying from the Certified Refurbished store, it is worth checking what retailers are offering, as you may find a brand-new device for a similar, or even lower, price.
