Things You Should Know Before Buying a Refurbished Laptop

The back to school season is here. This means that a lot of students would want to buy new laptops for online classes, assignments and studying. People who have been working from home might also need an upgrade. Buying a laptop is a hassle. Not everyone can be well-versed with what they want and sometimes, being unaware of what might be a fitting machine for them, they make the wrong choice. The scope of making a wrong choice increases when buying a refurbished laptop.

The current laptop market is experiencing price turmoil due to the Global Chip Shortage. Devices are selling at a higher price than usual and there is a shortage in the market. Keeping all of this in mind, going for a refurbished laptop seems like a better option. However, there are a few things that you need to know before you buy a refurbished laptop. Knowing these things and keeping them in mind will help you choose a better pre-owned or refurbished laptop.

Display

The display is where you spend most of your time when working on a laptop. Therefore, while choosing a laptop, make sure that the display is working and has no faults. To start with, look for colour bleeding. If the sides of the display panel are emitting light when the display is off, it means that the display is colour bleeding. Try avoiding that. Continuing with it, avoid displays with scratches or marks on them. It might not seem like a big deal at first, but does become bothersome after a while. It's better to go for a clean display that suits your work.

Keyboard and Trackpad

A keyboard gets most of the work done on a laptop. While going for a refurbished laptop, make sure all the keys on the keyboard are responsive and well-fitted. Some models of laptops have faced issues with the keyboard as a result of a Bios update, make sure you do not go for such models. If you are someone who types or needs to type a lot, then it is important to get a comfortable keyboard that does not make you compromise on your speed and efficiency. A trackpad is equally important in a laptop. It is not possible to carry a mouse always, therefore, the trackpad needs to be responsive and smooth. Having all the Windows precision drivers are a plus, but those can be downloaded later as well from the official website of the manufacturer.

The Hinge

The hinge of the laptop is what makes it and keeps it sturdy. While buying a refurbished laptop, it is important to know if the hinge is smooth or not. The hinge holds the whole laptop together and, in turn, is an important part of the build. A laptop with a strong hinge will last you longer. A strong hinge will also keep the display from flopping around when the laptop is being carried. Lose hinge can damage the display and even result in it breaking.

Hardware

Before buying a laptop, it is very important to know what you are looking for. There are multiple categories of laptops. If you are a gamer, then your focus should be on the processor and the GPU of the system. If you are an editor or creator, then the primary focus should be the quality of the screen and the resolution of the display. Music producers should look for laptops with separate ports for the microphone and the headphone jack.

Battery

Laptops are not meant to be used in a single place. They are portable devices. However, this requires them to have good battery life, and a lot of people might have concerns about battery life when it comes to refurbished laptops. The battery performance and the backup should be tested before getting a new laptop. The quality and condition of the charger are also very important. The battery along with the charger should be in a good condition.

These were the things that you should know and look out for while buying a refurbished laptop, but why should you go for a refurbished laptop?

Warranty

One of the most important things to look at while buying a refurbished laptop is the warranty. If the device is under warranty, then you won't have to worry about any issues arising prior to the purchase. Any and all issues can be fixed by the company service centre, and you do not have to run around with the device. Make sure the device that you are buying is under company warranty.

Reasons to go for Refurbished Laptops

There are multiple reasons to go for a refurbished laptop over a new one. Firstly, the Global Chip Shortage is playing a major role in keeping the supplies low and prices high. It is not wise to rush into a purchase. Secondly, laptop tech is advancing every day, resulting in the launch of new models on a regular basis. This does not mean that laptops that are a year or two older are not good devices. You can get a good deal on slightly older devices that will come with more value for money than a new laptop in the same price range. Laptops that came out in 2020 or even 2019 can offer a good value for money currently. Try getting your hands on one of them.

In the end, it can be said that keeping the current market situation in mind, it is a good option to go for refurbished laptops from trusted platforms rather than investing in a new device.