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Any Tips or Guide to look out for things while buying Used Macbook Air?

Boyd01 said:
Never had to deal with this myself, but if the computer had be enrolled in Apple's MDM (mobile device management) system, depending on the settings, I think the only way to remove that is through the company that originally set it up. I don't think erasing will remove it, there have been multiple threads here where people found this out too late, after purchasing.

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Hence the step:
Fishrrman said:
Go to system settings, and use the "erase all content and settings" option to wipe the drive and restore it to "moment zero". Then set up a new account (for demonstration purposes) with a username and password known to you.
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From what I’m aware of, this should trigger the MDM enrollment.

Retro-ADE-1.png


Documentation

it-training.apple.com it-training.apple.com
 
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RE MacCheetah's post above:
"From what I’m aware of, this should trigger the MDM enrollment."

When you see that, your reply to the seller should be, "thanks, but no".
And then head for the door.
 
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Also as an Apple MDM manager at my organization, here is a terminal script you can run to check for enrollment in Apple Business Manager/School Manager:

sudo profiles renew -type enrollment

You need network access to do the check, it should come back with an error if it's not enrolled in ABM, if it doesn't, or if an enrollment window opens, it's MDM locked.
 
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JMStearnsX2 said:
I just purchased a refurbished Air, M1 with 16GB RAM and 2TB SSD. In really good condition, 190 battery cycles @ 91% capacity, small scuffs on the bottom.
Paid $699, just to give you an idea on the price.
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So the one I am eyeing has 71 Battery Cycle Counts at 93% Battery Health Status is not a bad deal right now?
 
Fishrrman said:
Ask for the owner to do this in your presence before you give your money:

Go to system settings, and use the "erase all content and settings" option to wipe the drive and restore it to "moment zero". Then set up a new account (for demonstration purposes) with a username and password known to you.

Then, take it into your hands, and AGAIN use the erase all content and settings option, and see if you can get it back to "moment zero" again.

If it can do that, might be worth spending money on.
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you could do that with my MacBook Pro and still shouldn’t buy it tbh
What else could happen but the process you laid out to work? What would be the take away and what does this test for?
Genuinely curious

Edit: it was pointed out below
 
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marcusalwayswins said:
So the one I am eyeing has 71 Battery Cycle Counts at 93% Battery Health Status is not a bad deal right now?
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I'd say it's on the high side, for the United States anyway. Looks like the entry models (8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) are going for around $300-$400 here. Not sure what they are going for where you live.

The battery health sounds good though at 93%.
 
Isamilis said:
Some of them:
  • check the speakers, it should be sounded solid on low and high tone and volume
  • check the ports (usb c and power plug). It should be instantly connected (usb and power - in orange/green light) and the connection is stable even the laptop was moved
  • check the keyboard. I avoid the “tired” keyboard, showed with lots of oil on its keys and “soft” feeling when pressed. Also check, are all keys has same feeling or few of them start unresponsive.
  • check the screen hinge. It shouldn't be too loose nor too tight. You should be able to open the screen without lifting the macbook
  • check the battery CC, but more importantly the battery life (especially if you can’t replace battery in authorized service on your area)
Click to expand...
Exactly what I would do.
Also I’d check the display brightness and colors. With a white screen on full brightness it should be a uniform white picture. My used 2017 MacBook Pro is a little dimmer in the lower third and has blueish spots in the middle from it pressing on the keyboard. But it should also display other colors correctly. We have a Mac with a red spot on the screen because some of the pixels are stuck but it doesn’t show up unless the screen is showing black.
I’d also check if the trackpad sounds and feels the same across, especially in the corners and at the edges.
Edit: the speakers, too. Check if they are the same volume and clear, even at higher volumes. New Mac’s have great speakers so it would be shame to miss out on them.
 
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marcusalwayswins said:
The seller is not U.S based so we can rest all the theories of it linked to some University or Education Program to Rest
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Worldwide, the Mac could be enrolled in an MDM system. Not just educational. Also any business. You really do need to check this if you can't tell us who is the seller.

Ps. Your battery seems fine at 93%.
 
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So the one thing that I have still not been able to understand is, when the battery health status says 93% what does it mean? when someone charges the MacBook Air it will never get charged to 100% is that what it means ?
 
marcusalwayswins said:
So the one thing that I have still not been able to understand is, when the battery health status says 93% what does it mean? when someone charges the MacBook Air it will never get charged to 100% is that what it means ?
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Health status 93% means that when the battery is fully charged it is holding 93% of the charge that a new battery is designed to hold. Note that the health status % will vary up and down a bit as well as slowly reducing over time. Battery chemistry is not exact.

You should be happy with 93% for a 4 year old battery which has probably been mostly used connected to a power source.
 
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gilby101 said:
Health status 93% means that when the battery is fully charged it is holding 93% of the charge that a new battery is designed to hold. Note that the health status % will vary up and down a bit as well as slowly reducing over time. Battery chemistry is not exact.

You should be happy with 93% for a 4 year old battery which has probably been mostly used connected to a power source.
Click to expand...

So will the battery get charged to 100% when kept for charging or not?
 
marcusalwayswins said:
So will the battery get charged to 100% when kept for charging or not?
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If you charge the battery it will get to 100% of the charge it is capable of holding. But that charge will be 93% of the design charge - batteries age due to use and time and this is expressed as battery health.

So 100% of what it can do. This is 93% of what a new battery can do.

So two numbers:
1) Current charge level as % of current maximum attainable - from zero to 100%.
2) Battery health (Maximum Capacity in System Settings): the current maximum attainable as percent of design capacity.
 
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gilby101 said:
If you charge the battery it will get to 100% of the charge it is capable of holding. But that charge will be 93% of the design charge - batteries age due to use and time and this is expressed as battery health.

So 100% of what it can do. This is 93% of what a new battery can do.

So two numbers:
1) Current charge level as % of current maximum attainable - from zero to 100%.
2) Battery health (Maximum Capacity in System Settings): the current maximum attainable as percent of design capacity.
Click to expand...

So as a user I cannot see what is happening in the background it is just that my battery will get drained a tad earlier than the new one's that is what it means right in Real Life scenario?
 
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