Apple Begins Selling Refurbished AirPods Pro 2 With Lightning Case in Select Countries

[MacRumors]

Apple in recent days began selling refurbished second-generation AirPods Pro for the first time in select European countries, including the U.K., Austria, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland.

Importantly, these are the second-generation AirPods Pro with a Lightning/MagSafe charging case, originally released in November 2022. Apple updated the second-generation AirPods Pro with a USB-C/MagSafe charging case and a few other changes in September 2023, but those are not yet available on Apple's refurbished store.

The refurbished AirPods Pro are discounted by approximately 15% compared to original pricing. Apple says all of its refurbished products undergo "full functionality testing" and are "put through a thorough cleaning process and inspection."

Keep in mind that there are often better deals available from third-party resellers, although deals in European countries can be harder to find. In the U.S., brand new AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case are currently on sale for $189.99 on Amazon, so U.S. customers should avoid purchasing these refurbished ones once available there.

Apple began selling refurbished third-generation AirPods earlier this year.

Article Link: Apple Begins Selling Refurbished AirPods Pro 2 With Lightning Case in Select Countries

 

[lars666]

My guess is that these are 100% brandnew units they just sell as "refurbished" to clear the inventory.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

USB-C “lint magnet” and “wobbly/broken tongue” alarmists rejoice… and get the precious Lightning version while you can. Buy 10 to cover you for the USB-D & E “enhanced lint magnet” years too. 😉

 

[jdavid_rp]

My guess is that these are 100% brandnew units they just sell as "refurbished" to clear the inventory.

maybe just opened ones returned in the 14 day window, and it’s more efficient to sell them as refurbished than returning them to get repackaged or something

 

[ApAx]

Refurbished units of an older model using a dying proprietary charging port that already has been replaced to the standard on the latest model, and the best they can offer is a 15% discount? Come on, Apple...

 

[retroneo]

Waxy nom noms

 

[Infodataset]

Cant wait for the new mag safe airpods

 

[msackey]

maybe just opened ones returned in the 14 day window, and it’s more efficient to sell them as refurbished than returning them to get repackaged or something

There is some repacking involved though as all Apple refurbished products come in a brown package with appropriate sized slots for the items. Unlike how some sellers sell returned items, these returns aren't just thrown into a box without thought about presentation. That wouldn't be Apple-like.

 

[Thisismattwade]

There is some repacking involved though as all Apple refurbished products come in a brown package with appropriate sized slots for the items. Unlike how some sellers sell returned items, these returns aren't just thrown into a box without thought about presentation. That wouldn't be Apple-like.

Even better: all my Apple refurb products (and I have a few!) have come in white boxes that you could only distinguish from the OG by tiny “refurbished” wording on the back at the bottom.

 

[Attirex]

Refurbished Air Pods? Ew, no.

 

[Mr. Dee]

With authentic ear wax to give you that real used muffled sonic acoustic!

 

[AMagicianNamedJOBs]

Refurbished is generally fine but I draw the line at wearables. The ick factor is overriding.

 

[WWPD]

Guaranteed to be at least 80% ear wax free.

 

[LFO8]

The Netherlands: "refurb Airpods Pro gen 2" Just €50 cheaper than buying brand new.... uh.. yeah.. no

 

[msackey]

Even better: all my Apple refurb products (and I have a few!) have come in white boxes that you could only distinguish from the OG by tiny “refurbished” wording on the back at the bottom.

Very nice! I bought some refurb stuff a while ago and they came in brown boxes. Interesting development!

 

[mikeyteh]

Just sell the USB-C case separately, damnit.

 

[CarAnalogy]

So…only for sale in the exact list of countries that forced them to sell all new products with USB-C, but allowed the sale of existing products with Lightning.

Am I reading into this too much or does this seem like a subtle screw you from Apple to the EU?

 

[CarAnalogy]

USB-C “lint magnet” and “wobbly/broken tongue” alarmists rejoice… and get the precious Lightning version while you can. Buy 10 to cover you for the USB-D & E “enhanced lint magnet” years too. 😉

Or just get one of those little packs of port covers. I have one around here somewhere. Never really found it to be worth it, but it works.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Just sell the USB-C case separately, damnit.

I actually don’t think they can. I don’t think your existing Lightning AirPods Pro 2 are exactly the same earbuds.

They didn’t want to call it this, but there’s more to it besides just the USB-C case. I have a feeling we will see more divergence than just the case in the future. This feels like one of those times they took the opportunity to make other improvements / changes that they didn’t talk about.

The main reason I say this is the ultra wideband lossless audio on the Vision Pro. There may be other undocumented changes.

I haven’t looked into it but I wonder if anyone has done any tests between the two cases.

 

[jonen]

Might be the minority here, but this makes me wish they offered some sort of recycling program. I'd take $20 for my old AirPods that are just waiting at the bottom of a random drawer...

 

[t0rqx]

My guess is that these are 100% brandnew units they just sell as "refurbished" to clear the inventory.

This and all the scratched up units that were sold.

 

[Robert.Walter]

maybe just opened ones returned in the 14 day window, and it’s more efficient to sell them as refurbished than returning them to get repackaged or something

Once open they can’t sell as new. So it’s either sell as refurb or scrap.

 

[mjs916]

There is some repacking involved though as all Apple refurbished products come in a brown package with appropriate sized slots for the items. Unlike how some sellers sell returned items, these returns aren't just thrown into a box without thought about presentation. That wouldn't be Apple-like.

Not sure about all of them. This is the box my MacBook Pro came in. Albeit this was packed in a brown box itself.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Might be the minority here, but this makes me wish they offered some sort of recycling program. I'd take $20 for my old AirPods that are just waiting at the bottom of a random drawer...

They do have a recycling program. But Apple will be pocketing that $20. You get to feel good about making Mother Nature slightly less annoyed. Win/Win!

 

[svish]

Wonder how many will be buying this. Refurbished, not much discount and has Lightning port.