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 offers their own alternatives, like Amazon Renewed and Walmart Restored, but it’s important to understand the different standards and warranties that apply …
Buying from Apple’s Certified Refurbished store gets you a typical discount of 15% on a product that will be indistinguishable from new. Specifically, Apple guarantees all of the following:
Literally the only difference you’ll see is that products are supplied in a plain white box rather than the original packaging.
Amazon Renewed can offer more competitive pricing, but it’s worth being aware that you’re not getting the same guarantees as to condition:
As for marks and scratches, Amazon offers three tier quality tiers:
Walmart Restored is a lot vaguer than Amazon on what you’re getting for your money:
The seller warranty is for one year on the Restored Premium tier, and 90 days on Like New, Good, and Fair tiers. The company isn’t specific about its definitions for each tier.
If you want a product indistinguishable from new in terms of both condition and Apple warranty, then it’s clear that Apple’s refurbished store is the place to go.
Amazon Renewed can, however, offer significantly better pricing, so if you’re willing to accept the compromises listed above, you may consider this a decent deal. In particular, if you’re opting to take our advice to save money by upgrading to the iPhone 17 Pro instead of this year’s model (when the only accessory you’re sacrificing is the cable), there are some attractive deals here:
As for Walmart Restored, I’d worry about the extreme vagueness of the promises, but you do have the option of returning them if you aren’t happy.
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Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!
