MacBooks are great, and it is no surprise to see more and more people buying them instead of desktop PCs or laptops from manufacturers other than Apple.
However, given how much Macs have to offer, it should not come as a surprise that their price can be a bit off-putting for some people.
When someone is reluctant to invest money in a brand new MacBook model, they are more likely to consider a second-hand device. While used goods come with disadvantages, they are not necessarily a bad thing to spend your money on.
Everything You Need to Know Before Buying a Second-Hand MacBook
If you plan to get a second-hand MacBook, do not rush at the first opportunity you find. Take some time to go through all the ads you can find. And when you meet the seller, make sure to ask yourself certain questions before spending your money.
Are There Noticeable Damages?
When you get a second-hand Mac on your hands, the surface should be the first thing you want to check, especially if the photos in an ad were poor quality.
A small scratch here and there is not the end of the world, but noticeable damages are a significant red flag. Some sellers try to act smart and hide these scratches with stickers, so be wary of the trick.
If you do not like what you see, you can reconsider purchasing the MacBook. Or, at the very least, use its looks as leverage for bargaining.
How Long Does the Battery Last?
When the MacBook’s battery is not charging or charging too poorly, a replacement battery is more or less a must to get.
The odds of a second-hand Mac having a lackluster battery lifespan are relatively high. Try running some resource-heavy applications to determine the situation. If the battery runs out too quickly, you might want to reconsider purchasing such a laptop.
Do All the Ports Work?
Mount different devices into all the available ports. External hard drives, USB flash drives, keyboard, mice, and other devices that you might have. You want to confirm that all the MacBook ports are functioning properly. Otherwise, you will need to take the MacBook to a service store and have the ports fixed.
What Is the Hard Drive Like?
The hard drive (or solid-state drive) condition is also important. Too much clutter on an older Mac is not surprising, especially if the owner did not bother getting rid of unnecessary junk themselves. You can use cleanup utility tools to delete unwanted files later.
What you want to focus on is whether the drive is not causing performance issues. Sometimes, trying to launch an application causes the computer to make a loud noise. In addition, the screen might freeze, or you might see a spinning beach ball. These issues can be the result of poor drive quality.
Is the Keyboard Functioning Properly?
It should be a no-brainer to try every key on the keyboard to confirm that they are working as intended. Besides clicking on individual keys, try different keyboard shortcuts and see if the MacBook system responds to these shortcuts the way it should.
Problems with the keyboard are not necessarily too bad because you can get an external keyboard and use that instead. However, you still want a MacBook that comes with as few problems as possible when spending money on it.
How Long Does It Take for the MacBook to Load?
Expect to restart the MacBook regularly if it is a second-hand model. Memory leaks are imminent, and they will distribute RAM incorrectly much faster than on a new laptop.
Restart the MacBook and see how long it takes for it to load. If there are too many startup applications, you can disable them after purchasing the device. However, if the loading time is slow because of a reason other than the startup items, it should signal that there are problems with the hardware.
Is the MacBook Overheating and Making Loud Noises?
Overheating and loud noises should not prevent you from purchasing the MacBook. More often than not, Mac owners do not bother cleaning the dust inside because it is risky since you need to take the laptop apart to clean it thoroughly.
Too much dust inside clogs the internal fans and prevents them from cooling the system. After a thorough cleaning, whether you do it yourself or hire someone else, the MacBook should not overheat as much. You can also invest in a cooling pad to deal with the problem further.
Conclusion
All in all, the tips mentioned in this article should work as a great reference for purchasing a second-hand Mac. Remember that you are going to invest money in a pretty expensive device, so make sure to check it thoroughly. Otherwise, your investment will turn out to be a waste.
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