Buying used MacBook Pro?

[jason1204]

I would like to purchase a used MacBook Pro (2015, 15 inch model) but I am not too sure if that is a good idea. MacBook Pro lineup tends to last longer but is buying a 1.5 year item a good idea, even if it is functional and does not have any cosmetic problem?

I am paying $1350 for the used MacBook Pro with AppleCare until early 2019. Battery count in 400s. Another concern is although there is AppleCare protection, it would be voided if there is a water spill or if it has been opened by a non-authorised service center right? How do I check for such things?

Could someone perhaps write a checklist of things I should go though?

 

[eddjedi]

I'm on my sixth Mac, and five of them were bought used. There is an element of luck involved in buying anything, there are plenty of people on here who bought new from Apple reporting issues. I would buy used with 2+ years of remaining AppleCare over new without any day. Like buying anything second hand, just use your head and wait til you find one in nice condition that's been looked after (or if damaged, priced accordingly.)

 

[ZapNZs]

With AppleCare, I think it is a reasonably safe investment. With AppleCare+, it's even safer given it covers water damage and accidental damage.

If you use the battery a whole lot, you may be able to get a free replacement battery/keyboard/trackpad out of it since AppleCare covers a replacement once your battery hits 80% capacity!

The MBP has water sensors in it that change color from white to red when activated. IMO, if you are near an Apple Authorized Service Provider, you could meet at that location, have them run MRI on the system (and the VST, if a dGPU model), and quickly check the most visible sensors underside for any indicators of water damage. This of course depends on whether the Seller is agreeable to this, of course - but chances are they would feel better about an AASP opening the caseback than they would someone they dont know. How individual AASPs would treat this in terms of charges, I do not know - ones you visit and lot and provide business to are IMO more likely to do this all free of charge, and a few in my area do this for anyone free of charge (presumably because this, in the long run, brings them more repeat customers as they have a loooottttttt of repeat customers that only go to them for service/sales.)

If not a possibility, you can always run Apple Diagnostics on the system from anywhere you have an internet connection.

 

[Hanson Eigilson]

I would absolutely consider a used mbp15" especially the 2015 model over the newer ones, probably want to check battery capacity, cycle count and run a diagnostic before buying.

 

[Fishrrman]

If it's a 2015 model, I'd either "buy new" (Apple still sells the 2015 design "brand new" in the 15" form factor), or... buy an Apple factory-refurbished.

If you DO buy used, MAKE SURE the previous owner does this:
- shuts down the machine IN YOUR PRESENCE
- reboots it IN YOUR PRESENCE
- deauthorizes it before you take possession.
WHY you want to see this done IN YOUR PRESENCE:
You want to be sure that no firmware/EFI password is set...

(some have bought "used" MacBooks, and later discovered them to be... stolen)

 

[newellj]

If it's a 2015 model, I'd either "buy new" (Apple still sells the 2015 design "brand new" in the 15" form factor), or... buy an Apple factory-refurbished.

If you DO buy used, MAKE SURE the previous owner does this:
- shuts down the machine IN YOUR PRESENCE
- reboots it IN YOUR PRESENCE
- deauthorizes it before you take possession.
WHY you want to see this done IN YOUR PRESENCE:
You want to be sure that no firmware/EFI password is set...

(some have bought "used" MacBooks, and later discovered them to be... stolen)

Agree on all that but that's not going to check on an EFI password, I think? That's a very good step, and one that the former owner/seller might very easily forget. Don't you need to go into the startup/recovery utilities and see it nulled out?