How to Decide Whether a Second-Hand Mac Is Worth Buying?
Getting a MacBook might be something on your list, but what if you cannot afford a brand-new model and do not believe that saving enough money is an option?
A second-hand Mac is one of the available solutions to the problem. Sure, you would be getting a used device that might come with certain disadvantages, but the costs ought to make up for them.
At the same time, there are many sellers offering second-hand MacBooks, meaning that you might be in a bind trying to determine which one to choose.
Moreover, even if you find a decent-looking Mac, it is still not enough to judge it by just looking at the pictures. No, there are certain things you need to do. Before you spend money on the device, ask yourself these questions.
A second-hand Mac is one of the available solutions to the problem. Sure, you would be getting a used device that might come with certain disadvantages, but the costs ought to make up for them.
At the same time, there are many sellers offering second-hand MacBooks, meaning that you might be in a bind trying to determine which one to choose.
Moreover, even if you find a decent-looking Mac, it is still not enough to judge it by just looking at the pictures. No, there are certain things you need to do. Before you spend money on the device, ask yourself these questions.
Is the Seller Legit?
By this, we mean that there are sites like eBay where well-established sellers with great reputations offer used goods. Purchasing a MacBook from such a seller would make more sense than looking through local ads and picking a random person.
Since established sellers care about their reputation, they are unlikely to scam buyers due to potentially negative feedback.
Since established sellers care about their reputation, they are unlikely to scam buyers due to potentially negative feedback.
How Good is the Laptop’s Body?
You can expect a few scratches here and there if you are purchasing a used laptop. However, you should still check the laptop yourself if possible. The pictures online might not tell the whole picture.
The seller might try to hide obvious damages by putting stickers, so keep that in mind as well. Also, do not hesitate to check for irregularities, such as loose or missing screws and hinges that might indicate unauthorized tinkering with the hardware while trying to fix something. Computer component placement irregularities are easy to spot if you know what you are looking for.
Lastly, despite the MacBook working fine, do not discard the possibility of it dropping on the ground too many times and causing internal damage that might shorten the laptop’s lifespan.
The seller might try to hide obvious damages by putting stickers, so keep that in mind as well. Also, do not hesitate to check for irregularities, such as loose or missing screws and hinges that might indicate unauthorized tinkering with the hardware while trying to fix something. Computer component placement irregularities are easy to spot if you know what you are looking for.
Lastly, despite the MacBook working fine, do not discard the possibility of it dropping on the ground too many times and causing internal damage that might shorten the laptop’s lifespan.
Is the Keyboard Working Properly?
Do not neglect to test the MacBook’s keyboard. Check every key and try different shortcut combinations to make sure that the keys are responding.
Other than the keys, you should also try the trackpad and see whether it functions while you try to pinch-zoom, two-finger scroll, three-finger swipe, and other gestures that the trackpad should respond to.
Other than the keys, you should also try the trackpad and see whether it functions while you try to pinch-zoom, two-finger scroll, three-finger swipe, and other gestures that the trackpad should respond to.
Is There Dust Inside?
An old laptop is bound to have some dust inside it, but it does not mean that you should ignore the vast amounts of filth that accumulated over the years. If the previous owner fails to clean the dust themselves, you can use it as leverage to negotiate the price.
On the other hand, there might be too much filth for you to handle yourself. Think whether you will need to pay someone with experience to do the work for you.
Keeping the dust inside will spell trouble for the MacBook’s performance since the dust clogs internal hardware, particularly the fans. Overheating and loud noises become more or less inevitable. That is why it is necessary to pay attention to the potential dust problem.
Pro tip: If there are noticeable overheating issues despite cleaning the dust inside, consider getting a cooling pad.
On the other hand, there might be too much filth for you to handle yourself. Think whether you will need to pay someone with experience to do the work for you.
Keeping the dust inside will spell trouble for the MacBook’s performance since the dust clogs internal hardware, particularly the fans. Overheating and loud noises become more or less inevitable. That is why it is necessary to pay attention to the potential dust problem.
Pro tip: If there are noticeable overheating issues despite cleaning the dust inside, consider getting a cooling pad.
What Is the Drive’s Condition Like?
Replacing a MacBook’s drive is an option, but it is not an option for every model due to incompatibilities between the hardware and the laptops themselves.
Overall, Macs have pretty lackluster drives as far as total available storage goes. Therefore, it is recommended to find out what the disk’s condition is like and to check it thoroughly.
Overall, Macs have pretty lackluster drives as far as total available storage goes. Therefore, it is recommended to find out what the disk’s condition is like and to check it thoroughly.
Does the Battery Last Enough?
Do not expect a second-hand laptop to have a long-lasting battery. It is one of the most common issues that you will have to face if you go with a used MacBook.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that you should not check the battery’s condition before you commit to spending money on a computer.
See how the battery fares when you run a couple of resource-heavy applications. If the battery drains too soon, it is a red flag, and you should probably look elsewhere since purchasing such a MacBook likely means needing to have the charger plugged in all the time.
Finally, check whether the charging cable is actually working and how long it takes for the battery to reach 100 percent.
Nevertheless, it does not mean that you should not check the battery’s condition before you commit to spending money on a computer.
See how the battery fares when you run a couple of resource-heavy applications. If the battery drains too soon, it is a red flag, and you should probably look elsewhere since purchasing such a MacBook likely means needing to have the charger plugged in all the time.
Finally, check whether the charging cable is actually working and how long it takes for the battery to reach 100 percent.
Are Ports Functioning?
Last but not least, check whether all the laptop ports are working properly. Mount different accessories and devices. Try charging your smartphone or tablet.
You will need functioning ports for MacBook accessories. For example, backing up Mac data requires an external hard drive or a USB flash drive, and not having a working port on the laptop makes it quite challenging to back up the data.
Replacing ports is not usually a thing as far as laptops, and MacBooks, in particular, go. Therefore, if you notice that a second-hand Mac has problems with its ports, it would be better to avoid purchasing it.
You will need functioning ports for MacBook accessories. For example, backing up Mac data requires an external hard drive or a USB flash drive, and not having a working port on the laptop makes it quite challenging to back up the data.
Replacing ports is not usually a thing as far as laptops, and MacBooks, in particular, go. Therefore, if you notice that a second-hand Mac has problems with its ports, it would be better to avoid purchasing it.
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