Back-to-School Tech Guide: Shop Affordable Refurbished Computers for Students

Finding affordable back to school tech for students is an ongoing challenge for educators and school districts. Laptops from the previous year can often be used again, but some laptops may need to be replaced.

How can you find budget-friendly laptops for students that give them everything they need while maximizing budgets? Refurbished laptops are an excellent option for schools to find the balance between performance and affordability.

A refurbished laptop is a pre-owned machine that’s been individually tested, repaired, and typically guaranteed to provide expected performance under warranty. In many cases, you can avoid paying a markup for a brand new laptop or the risk of using untested, used laptops.

So, how can you find the best refurbished back to school tech? We’ve put together this comprehensive back-to-school tech guide to help teachers, administrators, parents, or students find the right refurbished laptops at the right price.

Refurbished Laptops vs. Used Laptops: What’s the Difference?

Before drilling down into why refurbished laptops are ideal for students, what exactly are refurbished laptops? Are they the same as used?

Used laptops are any type of pre-owned laptop and are often sold on aftermarket websites. Typically, used laptops haven’t been tested, refurbished, or even reformatted. As a result, used laptops don’t have a warranty or any guarantees of performance and can contain malware.

So, how do refurbished laptops vary? A refurbisher acquires pre-owned laptops from a range of sources, and a comprehensive refurbishment process begins, including:

• Securely wiping all data
• Physically cleaning the interior and exterior
• Initial testing of all components
• Repairing or replacing defective or damaged components
• Installing a new operating system
• Additional testing and any necessary repairs
• Ensure performance benchmarks are as expected for the model
• Make the unit available for sale

You can see how this detailed process varies significantly from a used laptop, which is simply sold as-is by the previous owner. Ultimately, refurbished laptops provide students with dependable machines so they can focus on their studies rather than dealing with technical problems.

Why Choose Refurbished Over New for Student Laptops?

New laptops come directly from the manufacturer, but you’ll pay more as students to be the first owners. Additionally, new laptops are not individually tested; a few computers are tested for an entire production run, and the results are expected to apply to every laptop.

Above, we’ve explored the thorough refurbishment process that every laptop goes through. As such, refurbished computers are always an appealing option for anyone looking for their next machine, but why are they such a great choice for students?

Let’s break down why refurbished laptops are such an appealing option for education:

• Make the most of your budget: Refurbished laptops sidestep the factory-new markup and the risk of untested used machines while providing the necessary performance. Additionally, you can take your budget further and buy laptops with better specs than spending the same amount on new laptops.
• Prioritize sustainable tech choices: Supporting sustainability and a circular economy is critical for every industry, including education. Refurbishment saves laptops from ending up in a landfill and gives pre-owned devices a longer lifespace before they’re recycled.
• Don’t miss out on a warranty: A common myth about refurbished laptops is that you won’t get a warranty, which is expected for new laptops. However, reputable refurbishers stand by their work with an extended warranty, often up to 12 months. Your district can avoid unnecessary costs thanks to these warranties.

What to Know Before Buying Refurbished Computers

Choosing refurbished tech helps you make the most of the school’s budget without sacrificing performance or warranties.

However, buying refurbished computers has a few unique differences compared to shopping for factory-new machines — let’s break them down so you can make the best decision for your students.

Carefully Read Each Listing

A factory-new listing is usually one product page that represents a large quantity of new computers. However, that’s rarely the case with refurbished computers — one product page might just be for one specific computer.

Of course, it’s common for product pages to represent more than one laptop, like if the refurbisher sourced dozens of the same model and refurbished them.

Rather than only looking at specs and prices, you also need to look for condition ratings, any disclosed issues, and the grade of the machine. Otherwise, you might be surprised by what you receive. Avoid that by carefully reading every detail on the product page.

Evaluate the Seller

When buying new, you might buy directly from the manufacturer, a big box retailer store, or an eCommerce site you already trust. However, the refurbished industry is a secondary market that often lacks the trust built up by other retailers.

Unfortunately, anyone can call themselves a refurbisher, even selling untested, used computers. That’s why looking closely at the specific seller before purchasing is critical. A few things to consider include:

• Do they have any certifications? A Microsoft Authorized Retailer (MAR) has undergone a comprehensive assessment process by Microsoft that evaluates nearly every corner of their operation. The result: buying from a MAR gives you a strong chance of having a great experience.
• What is their overall reputation? Look at third-party review websites to learn more about the experiences of past customers. While the reviews they host are still valuable, it’s worth visiting sites like TrustPilot or Google Maps to learn more.
• Is there a warranty? Not every refurbisher offers a warranty, so double-check that you’ll get one with your next purchase. Not only do warranties save your school money if there are any issues, but they also showcase that the company stands behind its work.

Look for Sales and Discounts

Even though refurbished laptops at normal prices are more affordable than brand-new equivalents, you can take that savings further by looking for sales. Back to school deals are often available before the school year begins to help educators and students find the tech they need without overspending.

You can also look for discounts refurbishers offer outside the typical timeframe for back-to-school specials. Keep an eye out for discounts and other sales if any laptops need replacement throughout the year.

How to Find the Best Refurbished Laptops for Students

Now that you know how to buy refurbished, how do you hone in on the right machine for your students? It’s time to dive into how to find the best laptops for students when browsing refurbished machines.

Any tech guide for students should focus on what students need, not what other consumers might want. So, what type of laptop do students need throughout the school year to have the best learning outcomes? There are plenty of tech specs to consider, which are:

• Performance and CPU: Overall performance depends on all components working together. The CPU is the computer's brain, which significantly affects total performance. A mid-range CPU with fewer cores than other options should be sufficient for students.
• Storage: Internal storage determines how much data a student can have on their laptop. Students often don’t usually work with larger files, so less storage is fine. Additionally, be aware that Solid State Drives (SSDs) offer better performance for installed applications than Hard Disk Drives (HDDs).
• Battery life: You don’t want students tethered to walls all day, so models with a higher battery life can improve the student’s learning experience. Make sure to prioritize refurbishers who tested and possibly replaced batteries as well.
• Memory: Also known as RAM, memory significantly impacts performance. However, for most students who work with web browsing and word processing, 4-8GB of RAM will be more than enough. Double check that they won’t be doing anything that requires more, like video editing.
• Graphics: Student laptops don’t usually require a dedicated graphics card, as integrated graphics are often all that’s necessary. However, make sure that nothing in the expected school year requires a graphics card, which may be necessary in digital arts classes.
• Brand: There are many similarities between brands, so the most important aspect is choosing one with an established reputation for offering reliable laptops, such as Dell, HP, and Lenovo. These brands have decades of experience manufacturing dependable machines.

Most students will have similar needs as a business laptop, capable of word processing, web browser, and watching videos. You won’t likely need higher end laptops for students — an affordable mid-range laptop that balances the above specs should be sufficient in most situations.

Find Excellent Back to School Deals with Refurb.io

Buying factory-new laptops is cost-prohibitive for many school districts, and even if it’s within the budget, you’ll likely end up overpaying due to the brand-new markup. Instead, prioritize refurbished computers that help you take your budget further without sacrificing performance and warranties.

Refurbished computers are individually tested, repaired, and performed as originally designed. Back to school deals and ongoing discounts help you take your budget even further.

Refurb.io is an industry-leading refurbisher with a proven track record of offering high-quality refurbished laptops and desktops at a fraction of the price of new machines. We are a Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR), offering a 12-month warranty on every computer we sell.

We also offer a 5% off back to school deal to help districts, teachers, and parents ensure students are prepared for the new school year. Ready to find the right affordable laptops for students? Shop great deals on back to school products today with Refurb.io!