Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Question about refurbished pricing with the potential M5 release...
- Thread starter peanutbutter47
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My experience has been that refurbs rarely (if ever?) offer more than a 15% discount on the current new price of the same Mac. This can get pretty far out of sync with reality on a recently-discontinued computer. For example, B&H Photo had a "blow out" sale on 2014 Mac Mini's shortly after the 2018 Mini was introduced. I picked up a higher-spec model at B&H for about $550 (new). Looking at Apple refurbs, they were still selling the exact same computer for about $1000.
When I got my base m4 Mini about a year ago, the newest ones in the refurb store were still M2 models at about $600 but a new m4 was $530 at a B&H Black Friday sale (and it had 16gb while the refurb was only 8gb). I saw similar deals at other large Mac retailers.
Have not been in the market for a laptop for quite some time, so they might not follow the same pattern (although I'd be surprised). If you can wait until Black Friday, try comparing refurb prices to new models that are on sale at the big retailers. You can usually get better deals that way.
Now, I have nothing against Apple refurbs, have bought many and they were always "like new" - my main machine is a top-spec 2018 Mini refurb. It was about 15% cheaper than the same model new, but when you get into the higher-spec models, that can be a significant amount of money.
When I got my base m4 Mini about a year ago, the newest ones in the refurb store were still M2 models at about $600 but a new m4 was $530 at a B&H Black Friday sale (and it had 16gb while the refurb was only 8gb). I saw similar deals at other large Mac retailers.
Have not been in the market for a laptop for quite some time, so they might not follow the same pattern (although I'd be surprised). If you can wait until Black Friday, try comparing refurb prices to new models that are on sale at the big retailers. You can usually get better deals that way.
Now, I have nothing against Apple refurbs, have bought many and they were always "like new" - my main machine is a top-spec 2018 Mini refurb. It was about 15% cheaper than the same model new, but when you get into the higher-spec models, that can be a significant amount of money.
apple's refurbished pricing is only impacted if apple (1) continues to carry this product and (2) discounts the MSRP of the product. IE, when apple releases a new macbook air, they might keep the m4 macbook air around for $100 cheaper and the refurb will be 15% off that.
Unfortunately apple does not tend to keep older versions of MBP around.
Unfortunately apple does not tend to keep older versions of MBP around.
what i meant was comparing the new price of an M4 v. M5. the M4 has been on sale new for as low as $1299. The new M5 starts at $1599 retail. When the M5 starts being discounted, how will that affect pricing on the M4?
seems like yes is the answer. i just ordered a base model M4 off refurb for $1269. it had previously been about $1350.
just ordered a refurb base M4 off apple for $1269. they used to be around $1350. my 2011 badly needs replacing, and with the M6 promising great things, i think this is a great option to tide me over and transition into the M-series with one year warranty, apple care possibility, current security, and other benefits. i had it shipped to a tax free store in NH, so saved that as well.
That's a given, no?
M5 replaces M4
But M5 doesn't replace M4 Pro which is what OP was asking.
perhaps, but why ask about that version when it won't be releasing until 2026, and the base M5 just came out? i suppose that is what threw me off.