Refurbished MacBook Air from the Apple Store

[rosyapple]

Has anyone had any experience buying refurbished MacBook Air 2019 from the Apple Store? Sadly, I'm in urgent need of a computer within the next 3 weeks and I'm thinking of buying an 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD from Apple Store which hopefully will tide me over until they release a new 13 inch MBP with scissor keyboard (if they even release any).

Do you know whether they replace the keyboard with a new one? I don't want to get a refurbished laptop only to have even more problems with the keyboard (than it already is). I will also be buying AppleCare. I'm in Europe so it'll cost about 1,300 euros excluding AppleCare.

 

[Weaselboy]

I don't believe they sell refurbs at the Apple Store. You will need to order it from apple.com.

 

[mj_]

The keyboard is not going to get replaced if it ain't broken. You don't have to worry about that though. I twill break either way and whether or not it's been used for a couple of days before has no effect whatsoever on when exactly the inevitable is going to happen. Plus, you get the full 4 year keyboard replacement program benefits from the day of your purchase so you don't have to worry about that.

However, like @Weaselboy said you will have to purchase your MacBook Air online. Apple is not selling refurbs in their retail stores.

 

[rosyapple]

Thanks for the reply, y'all. I'm so used to ordering Apple products online from apple.com that I call apple.com as Apple store as well . I should have been more specific, I know that I can only order refurbished laptops from Apple Online Store.

With the upcoming conversion to ARM, i'm not so sure how to proceed now. If I buy a refurbished or even a new one, it would be "obsolete" in 1 - 2 years. Then again, first generation ARM could be iffy.

 

[Weaselboy]

If I buy a refurbished or even a new one, it would be "obsolete" in 1 - 2 years. Then again, first generation ARM could be iffy.

Even if they came out with an ARM MacBook next month, I suspect they would continue to support the existing Intel MB lines for a few years so I don't think you would be say sitting at the two year mark with something unusable.

 

[AustinIllini]

Even if they came out with an ARM MacBook next month, I suspect they would continue to support the existing Intel MB lines for a few years so I don't think you would be say sitting at the two year mark with something unusable.

This for sure. The MBA is a solid device which will last quite a long time. Refurbs are usually a good choice if you get them direct from Apple.

 

[mj_]

With the upcoming conversion to ARM, i'm not so sure how to proceed now.

You do realize that there is no upcoming transition to ARM, right? It's nothing but unconfirmed unspecific wildly speculative rumors that hold about as much validity and reliability as Apple's current feature release schedule right now. That's all.

 

[Gary171]

Has anyone had any experience buying refurbished MacBook Air 2019 from the Apple Store? Sadly, I'm in urgent need of a computer within the next 3 weeks and I'm thinking of buying an 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD from Apple Store which hopefully will tide me over until they release a new 13 inch MBP with scissor keyboard (if they even release any).

Do you know whether they replace the keyboard with a new one? I don't want to get a refurbished laptop only to have even more problems with the keyboard (than it already is). I will also be buying AppleCare. I'm in Europe so it'll cost about 1,300 euros excluding AppleCare.

I bought a refurbed MacBook Air from Apple a month ago and love it. No issues - looks and works like it's brand new.

 

[KPOM]

I currently own refurbished 12” MacBook (2017) and 13” MacBook Pro (2019) models. They are indistinguishable from new devices. Apple replaces the battery and makes any necessary fixes before selling them. I highly recommend buying refurbished Apple devices.

You might consider the base 13” Pro if it is available. It has the most up-to-date keyboard and a quad-core processor.

 

[AustinIllini]

You do realize that there is no upcoming transition to ARM, right? It's nothing but unconfirmed unspecific wildly speculative rumors that hold about as much validity and reliability as Apple's current feature release schedule right now. That's all.

This and add to the fact you're not going to want one of the first ARM MacBooks when they exist. That's a major transition you're going to want to ride out.

 

[KPOM]

This and add to the fact you're not going to want one of the first ARM MacBooks when they exist. That's a major transition you're going to want to ride out.

I think the MacBook Air or a resurrected 12” MacBook are the likeliest first ARM Macs. The A13 and A12X already perform similarly on benchmarks to the 1.4GHz quad-core chip used in the 13” MacBook Pro, both for CPU and graphics tests. Particularly in the Air, with a fan, I can see these performing well enough in sustained use even with a “Rosetta” operating in the background.

 

[AustinIllini]

I think the MacBook Air or a resurrected 12” MacBook are the likeliest first ARM Macs. The A13 and A12X already perform similarly on benchmarks to the 1.4GHz quad-core chip used in the 13” MacBook Pro, both for CPU and graphics tests. Particularly in the Air, with a fan, I can see these performing well enough in sustained use even with a “Rosetta” operating in the background.

I'm not particularly concerned about the performance, I'm more concerned about the software effects of the move to ARM.

And keep in mind the first notebook which ships will ship with the first and only supported version of macOS which supports ARM. I'd be concerned about bugs for that alone.

 

[KPOM]

I'm not particularly concerned about the performance, I'm more concerned about the software effects of the move to ARM.

And keep in mind the first notebook which ships will ship with the first and only supported version of macOS which supports ARM. I'd be concerned about bugs for that alone.

When Apple switched to Intel (completed in about a year), Steve Jobs said they had been running OS X on Intel in the lab since day 1. I assume they have been running macOS on ARM for quite a while now. I still think the 12” MacBook epitomized Steve Jobs’s vision for the Mac. Intel didn’t cooperate. The Ice Lake chips demand 9W for full performance. But no iPad or iPhone has had active cooling ever.

I’m guessing ARM means losing Boot Camp, but not necessarily, since Microsoft is doubling down on Windows on ARM.

 

[AustinIllini]

When Apple switched to Intel (completed in about a year), Steve Jobs said they had been running OS X on Intel in the lab since day 1. I assume they have been running macOS on ARM for quite a while now. I still think the 12” MacBook epitomized Steve Jobs’s vision for the Mac. Intel didn’t cooperate. The Ice Lake chips demand 9W for full performance. But no iPad or iPhone has had active cooling ever.

I’m guessing ARM means losing Boot Camp, but not necessarily, since Microsoft is doubling down on Windows on ARM.

Got it. Just to clarify, I meant basically don't count on Apple back supporting previous versions of macOS on ARM.

 

[Erehy Dobon]

.

 

[AustinIllini]

My guess is that ARM Macs have been running clandestinely in their labs for several years, perhaps since Sierra or High Sierra, A10 or A11 SoC.

If the ARM Mac ever does see the light of day, it will probably fill the space of the discontinued fanless MacBook.

It's probably not Apple's call. It really depends on the success and growth of Windows on ARM, including a well-featured MS Office suite, not something largely crippled. Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator on ARM would likely be highly desirable as well.

I can see a world where, at least in the near term, the MacBook Air, Macbook, and one iMac will have an A chip.

I don't see Apple trying to compete with Xeon processors.