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How to differentiate a new Macbook Pro to a refurbished one?
- Thread starter qsb5
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Check the number of cycles the battery has gone through. If i remember right, coconutbattery will tell you that.
http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/
http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/
Good idea!
According to this thread https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/399319/ I should be able to tell by the serial number since refurbished MBPs start with "RE". But then again, it was refuted by someone else with a refurb macbook. I just wanted to double check if there was anyway to know just by looking at the serial number.
You can do the same from the Finder:
Apple Menu, About this Mac, More Info, Hardware, Power, Cycle count
No, not by looking at the serial number. Also, the battery idea isn't reliable, since refurbs can be sold with brand new batteries.
Refurbs appear and disappear from the Refurb Store all the time. Many remain only a few minutes before being bought. That doesn't prove anything.
So in other words, there is no way of knowing whether it is a refurb or not? Gosh, this sucks.
Exactly. But what does it matter? Refurbs are sold with warranty and are in like-new condition. Some have never been used. In some ways, they've been through a more thorough quality control process than new ones. Refurbs are great deals.
I am fairly certain that its not a refurb. I have been on Apple's refurb site every day for the last 2 months. I am out of work, so I have been monitoring throughout the day. There have been no i5's on the site yet.
Don't refurbs come in plain brown boxes compared to the glossy white boxes? You could ask to see the box? Or if you can't meet the person in person to check it out, he could photograph the box with serial # sticker and the actual serial number on the machine. You can also put a serial number into the apple website to check warranty status. I think it will show you the date the machine was registered if it ever was....but I'm not sure it would show refurb status.
You can tell by the box. Refurbs come in a plain brown box. If it's a sealed white box with handle and artwork, you can be pretty sure it's new. However like others have mentioned, a refurb is just as good as new anyway.
My primary concern would be whether the seller is trying to pass off his own used notebook as new. Look for signs that its been repackaged. As recently as the i5's release was though, it's probably a moot point. Just examine it closely.
My primary concern would be whether the seller is trying to pass off his own used notebook as new. Look for signs that its been repackaged. As recently as the i5's release was though, it's probably a moot point. Just examine it closely.
Actually all the refurbished MacBooks & MacBook Pros have distinctive serials as opposed to retail, most Retailed non-refurb start with a W and a number following for most of my recent MBPs (retail) are W8.
all of the refurbs either had a Z or are all numbers.
other than that practically identical.
all of the refurbs either had a Z or are all numbers.
other than that practically identical.
I work from home and check the site at least 2-3 times daily as I'm looking to jump on a good deal through the refurbed store. Haven't seen one yet, so I highly doubt he's selling a refurb i5.
Do you know if Apple treats them the same as their iphones where they pretty much completely replace the hardware, minus the screen?
I agree. My 2008 came in excellent condition. Appeared brand new.
All I'll ever buy is refurbs from Apple.
Who are you paying full price to?
If you're buying from the Apple store, then you'll only get a refurb if you specifically buy a refurb.
Clock speed of processor is one way to tell. The cheapest 13" came with a C2D at 2.26Ghz and the new ones start at 2.4Ghz.