A refurbished MacBook can last for years and costs much less than a new one. The two big decisions are Air or Pro, and how much RAM and storage. Here's how to choose.
MacBook Air: light, silent, all-day
The MacBook Air with Apple silicon (M1 and later) has no fan, so it's completely silent. Recent 13-inch models have a 13.6″ Liquid Retina display, MagSafe charging, two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports and a headphone jack. It's ideal for study, office work, browsing, video calls and light photo editing – and it's easy to carry. Shop MacBook Air
MacBook Pro: more screen, more ports, more power
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple silicon add a brighter Liquid Retina XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion, and extra ports – HDMI, an SD card slot, three Thunderbolt ports and MagSafe. Pro chips (such as M1 Pro) and the fans let them sustain heavy work like video editing, coding and large photo libraries for longer. Shop MacBook Pro
How much RAM?
- 8GB – fine for browsing, email, documents, streaming and schoolwork.
- 16GB – a better choice if you keep lots of apps and browser tabs open, or edit photos.
- 32GB or more – for heavy video, music production or software development.
RAM can't be upgraded later on Apple-silicon MacBooks, so choose for how you'll use it in a few years, not just today.
How much storage?
256GB suits most people who keep files in the cloud. Choose 512GB or more if you store lots of photos, videos or large projects on the laptop. Storage also can't be upgraded later.
What to check on a pre-owned MacBook
- Apple silicon vs Intel. M-series MacBooks (2020 onwards) are faster, run cooler and have much better battery life than the Intel models before them.
- Battery health. We show the minimum battery health for each option and don't sell below 80% on our website.
- Activation Lock. The previous owner's Apple ID must be removed, or you can't set the Mac up. Every pre-owned Mac we sell has had its accounts removed and data erased.
- Grade. A Very good or Good grade can save money on a MacBook that works exactly the same – see the grading guide.
Quick picks
- Student or family laptop: MacBook Air, 8GB or 16GB, 256GB.
- Small business, lots of tabs and spreadsheets: MacBook Air or 14-inch Pro, 16GB, 512GB.
- Creative work: 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, 16GB or more.
Every pre-owned MacBook we sell comes with a 12-month Techsite warranty and 30-day change-of-mind returns, plus a FREE laptop bag while stocks last, and tracked NZ-wide delivery – free on orders of $99 or more. See all MacBooks & Macs.