Back Market offers refurbished MacBooks from across the price spectrum, but are they worth it? I got a MacBook Pro M1 and tested it out.
I remember when people used to scoff at refurbished tech. Used phones or computers were like rolling the dice: you never knew what you were getting.
Well, the times certainly have changed. And in this economy, the prices on refurbished tech are looking more and more tempting. Consumers are challenging the idea that we all need to buy brand new phones and laptops every few years, and in response, the market for refurbished tech has blown up.
Having never purchased a refurbished product myself, I was very curious as to how the experience would go with a new (used) laptop. So, I connected with the folks at Back Market and acquired a $750 MacBook Pro M1 from 2021 to test out as my main driver for a few weeks.
I’ll say right now: it wasn’t a perfectly seamless experience, but buying brand new tech rarely is, either. Here’s how it went, and what I’ve learned from the process. MacBook Pro M1 (14-inch)
The MacBook Pro M1 is still a competitive laptop in 2025, and very affordable as a refurbished device.
Dell 15 DC15250 Intel i7 13th Gen 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 15.6-inch Laptop:
$430 (save $270)
Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 6 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM 14-inch Laptop:
$818 (save $421)
Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 Intel 3 128GB SSD 8GB RAM 14-inch Laptop:
$249 (save $180)
Dell 14 Premium Intel Ultra 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 14-inch 2K Laptop (Platinum):
$1,000 (save $550)
HP OmniBook X Flip Intel Ultra 7 512GB SSD 16GB RAM 16-inch 2K 2-in-1 Laptop:
$600 (save $600)How Back Market works
MacBook Pro M1 (14-inch)
The first thing you should know is that Back Market offers different tiers of products: Fair, Good, Excellent, or Premium condition, with the prices scaling accordingly. If you’re wondering what Fair condition looks like, it will have some visible signs of use, but all products have to meet a minimum standard. You won’t get a laptop with a broken display or loose keyboard.
If you’re committed to a refurbished laptop, embrace that you’re not getting an brand new, pristine device. So what if there’s a little bit of wear and tear? It gives it character, and as long as everything under the hood is working, it makes little difference. Besides, most devices have very little imperfections, anyway. The MacBook I received was virtually indistinguishable from a new one.
