Hi, I'm looking at picking up an M1 Mac Nini just for development purposes and I see Apple refurb has them at $589. This is a major discount, but it's major enough that it gives me fears of potential issues. I've always heard Apple refurbs are excellent, but I wanted to see about M1 Mini in particular. This machine should last me for many years so I don't want it have premature wear. Also, any way to see stock for their refurbs or just anyone who knows how often the Mini appears in the refurb store (base model)? I might be waiting until next week to buy it due to financial constraints. Thank You in advance.
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Refurbed M1 Mac Mini major discount - worth it?
- Thread starter retta283
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I'm on my second Mac mini from refurb store.
The first, 2018, was great & sold really quickly on eBay ( sold after finding the M1 was good).
The second, M1, 16, 1 TB is perfect, no problems.
Have had 3 months now.
There is a website that will advise when stock appears:
Watch Apple Refurb deals and save up to 40% - Refurb Tracker
With Apple Refurb, save up to 40% on Apple products. Refurb Tracker provides email alerts so you can be notified as soon as new refurbished Apple products are available.
refurb-tracker.com
Thanks for the site, I'll use this in the event they're gone when I go to buy. Maybe I'll get lucky and a 16GB model will be available, if I can get a discount I wouldn't mind at all going for the better config.I'm on my second Mac mini from refurb store.
The first, 2018, was great & sold really quickly on eBay ( sold after finding the M1 was good).
The second, M1, 16, 1 TB is perfect, no problems.
Have had 3 months now.
There is a website that will advise when stock appears:
CheersWatch Apple Refurb deals and save up to 40% - Refurb Tracker
With Apple Refurb, save up to 40% on Apple products. Refurb Tracker provides email alerts so you can be notified as soon as new refurbished Apple products are available.
My M1 16gb 1T has a 1 yr warranty and I added the Apple care to it. Love it and have had NO PROBLEMS.
where possible I always buy from the refurb store. In the main, these are not faulty devices rather returns within the 14 days just re-packaged. Never had any issues and neither will you outside of any issue that will happen regardless of whether it is new or a refurb.
Mac refurbs are usually sold at about a 15% discount which is also the case here. Have bought a number of them over the years and they're great, got a refurb top-spec 2018 Mini over a year ago and it's been perfect, the savings were substantial on such an expensive model. $589 is a good deal and I wouldn't hesitate to buy one, but not sure I'd call it a "major discount", it's what I would expect for a refurb.
Zero problems with my refurb 2015 iMac, 2016 MacBook Pro, or m1 Mini.
When I bought the Mini in May, I had to constantly check Apple's refurb page. Days and weeks could go by without any 16/512 models being offered. I checked morning, noon, and night. When the right model showed up I bought it immediately, and within a few hours it was sold out.
I haven't been checking lately but that's how it was a few months ago.
When I bought the Mini in May, I had to constantly check Apple's refurb page. Days and weeks could go by without any 16/512 models being offered. I checked morning, noon, and night. When the right model showed up I bought it immediately, and within a few hours it was sold out.
I haven't been checking lately but that's how it was a few months ago.
+1 for M1 Mac Mini. It's been great and a keeper. I check the refurbs almost daily and will post back here if I see 16/512.
Just bought a new mini costco for $599 so far so good . I am not a mac person, giving it a try because I cant upgrade pc to win 11.
Have a 2012 quad Mini (current computer), and 2007 24" Aluminium iMac. Both refurbs, and both still running fine.
Have done some routine maintenance on the Mini (new drives, clean out dust, replace battery, fresh thermal paste), and do get Apple's infamous Bluetooth glitch every so often.
But otherwise no significant issues in 8 years of running 24/7.
The Mini is by far the best value computer I have ever owned in more than 30 years of owning computers. Got it when Apple's prices were at a low, and separately the exchange rate was the best it had been in a long time.
Have done some routine maintenance on the Mini (new drives, clean out dust, replace battery, fresh thermal paste), and do get Apple's infamous Bluetooth glitch every so often.
But otherwise no significant issues in 8 years of running 24/7.
The Mini is by far the best value computer I have ever owned in more than 30 years of owning computers. Got it when Apple's prices were at a low, and separately the exchange rate was the best it had been in a long time.
It does seem like the Mini hardware is built to last, I rarely hear about minis completely failing. My Core Duo Mini was given to a buddy and has been on for the overwhelming majority of the last 15 years, next to no issues with it other than the drives dying out and needing a swap. I was amazed when I went into his shop this May and saw that old tank still powering his backroom computer.
I'm going to go for it, just not sure whether to wait for a 16GB model to appear. Since this is a development machine I think it would benefit from the extra RAM but I don't like paying near a grand for a brand new one.
You don't need to worry about getting lemons from the refurb store. I always buy from the refurb store if the model I need is available there.
@retta283, there's a 16/512 in the refurb store now (along with a bunch of other configs). Looks like most of what was added tonight include 10GB Ethernet option. The 16/512 is only a $100 savings though. Maybe a non-10GB Ethernet will pop up soon.
Refurbished Mac mini Apple M1 Chip with 8‑Core CPU and 8‑Core GPU, 10GB Ethernet - Apple
Apple Store Search Results
www.apple.com
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Probably not for long!
The 16 GB models don't seem to be sticking around. It's remarkable that after the M1's have been out this long that the refurb store's still not able to keep 16 GB models in stock.
I found that the 8GB model is actually quite capable and I was intentionally trying to overload the 8GB M1 MBP I was testing out.
Granted if you're doing a lot of video editing, get the extra RAM.
If you're just doing everyday computing, an 8GB M1 is more than capable.
I found they are running one with the 256GB and the 10GB for $849 as well, but that's even less of a savings over just buying a 16GB upgrade from Apple. I don't need the 10GB, nor do I really need a large hard drive as I store everything on externals with Minis.
This gives me hope though that a good config will appear soon though seeing these ones come up at the same time and having lasted long enough from your message to me seeing it. Thanks for the heads up on that one.
Hey about the pricing in the refurb store… it’s pretty simple. Everything in the refurb store is priced at 15% off the cost of the same item brand new. Occasionally when there are steep discounts on new inventory, the new item's sale price can get close or even undercut the refurb store’s price because the refurb store doesn't get adjusted. It always stays at 15% off full price.
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When I got my 2018 Mini last summer, it took a month of constant checking to find the configuration I wanted. Well worth the wait, it has been perfect.
A few years ago when Apple discontinued the 2014 Mini, B&H Photo was blowing out the 2.8ghz/8gb version for $500 new and I picked one up for a media server. At the same time, the refurb store was selling the exact same Mini for almost $1000!
A few years ago when Apple discontinued the 2014 Mini, B&H Photo was blowing out the 2.8ghz/8gb version for $500 new and I picked one up for a media server. At the same time, the refurb store was selling the exact same Mini for almost $1000!
I watch the refurb store, and as others said the 16GB M1s go real fast. Decide what you want in advance, and the moment you see it listed, smash that Buy button! I've seen them go within a minute or two of being listed.
I have not heard of any Apple refurbs being a bad deal as for as quality control. As for the M1 Mini, I have one and I have had great luck with it for the most part. There are some caveats - some monitors don't work well with it and some multi-monitor setups remain challenged as well. The challenge I have is the crazy amount of memory being used at any given time (most often demonstrated when using Safari). To rectify the latter, I use (sadly) Chrome for 90 percent of web browsing. I do minimal programming (as a student) but it works quite well (Python 3 with IDE). For me, the M1 Mini came at the right time as my 2015 MBP was starting to be problematic and I was going to jump ship given how Apple was getting stupid with its computer line-up. The M1 was a nice change and certainly does do well with its native apps and Rosetta counterpart apps.
Yes. I am happy Apple offers this. Just bought a refurb mini M1. 16GB/2TB/10Gb. $1376. Regular purchase price new with no discount is $1799. even though this particular mini may be replaced soon, this M1 with the memory and storage should last a good long time at this price over a re-designed one.