Best Buy Open Box - 51 Charge Cycles w Minor Wear

[RetroGamer360]

Earlier today I picked up a 16" M4 Max 48GB 1TB MacBook Pro that was marker as Excellent condition. The price was $723.00 off of new so thought it was a good deal. When I got home I noticed that it had 51 charge cycles; however, when I ran the serial # on Apple's website and it showed the in service date as April 4, 2025. The outside of the laptop and screen were smudgy and there appears to be minor wear to the finish along the edge of the case where someone's wrists would rub. My questions are:

- Does 51 charge cycles represent a lot of use?
- Does Best Buy reset the Apple warrantee on open box products?
- Is the $3,276 still a reasonable price given the prior use?

Thank you!

 

[raythompsontn]

Is the $3,276 still a reasonable price given the prior use?

B&H Photo sells that item new in the US for $3599 so the $723 dollar price savings is not that great. Using the Payboo card and B&H will pay the sales tax saving another $200 to $350. That would drop the price to less than what you paid for used, to get a new machine. It pays to shop around.

 

[Gix1k]

Knowing the return policy is 14 or 30 days on a laptop, it was used hard to be cycled 51 times in that period. That with the signs of wear at $3200, I'd return it. Hunt FB MP or here for a better deal. Just my opinion.

 

[G5isAlive]

Let me put it this way... my almost 2 year old M3 max 16" 48 gb 1 tb MBP that I use a few times a week has 31 cycles on it. 31. and I wouldn't call it like new.

I doubt they can reset the apple warrantee.

My guess is it was a display model.

You can get the same model from the Apple refurbished store for $3399. comes with a 1 year apple warrantee. I would trust that more than what you just described.

 

[kevintech]

Let me put it this way... my almost 2 year old M3 max 16" 48 gb 1 tb MBP that I use a few times a week has 31 cycles on it. 31. and I wouldn't call it like new.

I'm guessing you leave your MacBook plugged in most of the time?

 

[G5isAlive]

I'm guessing you leave your MacBook plugged in most of the time?

I travel a fair amount so half and half

 

[smirking]

That service date can't be right unless that unit was heavily abused for 24 hours straight to perform high intensity benchmark tests and then stuffed back into a box 2 seconds after they were done.

If they really did cycle it dozens of times in only 1+ day, I'd definitely return it. That battery lived a very hard life on its first day. How hard you push a battery is related to its expected longevity though you really can't predict the lifespan or health span of any single battery.

 

[arw]

Apple Support explained it this way to me: If the item is not sold directly to the customer, the date you see on their serial checker website (and is locked into their system) is the date the device first went online (and hence automatically connected to their registration servers).
So if the device was used offline (or with a firewall I guess), it could very well be in use since November 2024.
Given the number of charging cycles, I'd suspect at least 2 months.
A cycle is actually that, a full charge and discharge. So it definitely takes some time to accumulate 51.

Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops - Apple Support

Learn how to determine the number of cycles your Mac laptop's battery has.

support.apple.com

To narrow it down, you could check the manufacturing date of the device and battery with tools like coconutBattery.

No comment if the price is reasonable but at least you should still be eligible for AppleCare.

 

[RetroGamer360]

Thank you all for the feedback. My best guess is that this open box was an in-store display model for a time. It has the full Apple warrantee and I was able to add AppleCare+ for the extra peace of mind. I originally just found it odd to have 51 cycles if it hadn't been owner or activated by the prior owner. I would likely have purchased it elsewhere, such as B&H as has been suggested, but i had a $1200 Best Buy gift card.

I ran dead pixel tests, benchmarks, etc. and everything appears to be in order. I should be able to touch-up the minor cosmetic wear and so will likely keep it.

 

[raythompsontn]

so will likely keep it

Good for you. If you're happy then what the rest of us say is irrelevant. That gift card trumps everything else. Enjoy your new machine for years to come.

 

[smirking]

I ran dead pixel tests, benchmarks, etc. and everything appears to be in order. I should be able to touch-up the minor cosmetic wear and so will likely keep it.

Perfectly good choice, you save money and there's nothing really wrong with it.

The best part about having something with minor cosmetic wear already is that you don't have to be paranoid about accidentally marking it up.

A friend and I once bought the same car. I accidentally dumped a tall coffee in mine on the first day. His was still pristine after 4 years.

He told me, I wish I had just tossed a coffee in my car on the first day. Being paranoid about your car for this long sucks.