Refurbished Gaming Laptops: A Budget-Friendly Option for Gamers

Gaming laptops are always in demand as they provide a unique gaming experience, offering portability and power to give gamers plenty of options.

However, it can be hard to find budget gaming laptops due to the high demand and high-performance specs necessary for gaming. These factors mean gaming laptops are typically more expensive than other options, so what do you do?

The solution: refurbished laptops for gaming from a reputable refurbisher. A refurbished laptop has been previously pre-owned before being individually tested and repaired. The unit you receive will be restored to its original functionality, giving you gaming experiences at a much lower price.

Refurbished machines are worth considering for any gamer looking for their next machine. Let’s explore exactly what refurbished means, why it’s such a strong choice for gamers, and how you can find your next gaming laptop at the right price.

Why Choose Refurbished Gaming Laptops?

Cheap gaming laptops can be hard to find due to consistent demand, the resources necessary to run most games, and the laptop form factor being more expensive than desktops. Prioritizing new laptops means you’ll need to monitor sales and discounts. However, another more reliable way to find affordable gaming laptops is by prioritizing refurbished options.

A refurbished machine has been tested and repaired, returning to its original functionality. At the same time, you sidestep the costs of a factory-new laptop without trading the specs you need for gaming.

When opting for refurbishment, you’ll receive a machine that functions as if new at a much lower price, making it an ideal option for anyone looking for an affordable gaming laptop.

New vs. Refurbished vs. Used Laptops

Before diving deeper into why and how to choose an affordable gaming laptop, let’s quickly define the difference between several options on the market.

• New: A new laptop is fresh from the factory, and you’ll be its first owner. However, you’ll be paying factory-new markup compared to refurbished laptops — which isn’t always a guarantee of a better machine. New laptops are tested in batches rather than individually, so your new laptop may have never been verified to work as designed.
• Refurbished: Refurbished laptops were previously owned and then acquired by a refurbisher. Once acquired, technicians inspect, repair, test, and each laptop before it’s made available for sale. The laptop you receive will have been individually tested and repaired, giving you confidence that it will perform as expected — often even including a warranty.
• Used: A used laptop has been previously owned and is often sold by the owner with little to no inspections and repairs. A used laptop may have a virus, be poorly maintained, or not work as expected. These machines are usually sold on aftermarket sites and without warranties or guarantees.

You can see how refurbished options balance the savings of being previously owned with the capabilities and warranty of a factory-new laptop.

Key Benefits of Buying a Refurbished Gaming Laptop

Anyone exploring different options for their next laptop will inevitably ask — are refurbished gaming laptops worth it? There are a wide range of benefits available from refurbished computers; let’s quickly touch on a few of them:

• Environmentally friendly: Previously owned, repaired laptops help prevent the machine from reaching its end of life. Instead, they'll be put to work for several more years, extending the climate impact of originally manufacturing the device. Additionally, opting for refurbishment instead of new avoids putting more strain on resources required for manufacturing brand-new laptops.
• More bang for your buck: Refurbished options are perfect for anyone on a budget, like someone looking for gaming laptops for students. New laptops charge a premium simply because they’re new, while refurbished laptops remove this markup. Comparatively, you can buy a higher-end refurbished laptop for the same amount as a less powerful new model.
• Individually tested machines: Brand-new devices are not tested individually but undergo batch testing. This means only a few devices received any attention before being shipped out. With a refurbished gaming laptop, you’ll have confidence that your machine was tested and repaired by an experienced technician. As a result, you can be confident that your next laptop will work as originally designed.

How to Find a Budget-Friendly Gaming Laptop

We’ve broken down what makes refurbished laptops unique and why they’re worth considering for your next laptop, but how do you find the right one?

Learning how to choose a refurbished gaming laptop involves some of the same steps as buying a new laptop. Still, there are also several unique steps to consider to help find the right laptop in the refurbishment world — let’s explore them.

Understand Your Requirements

Gaming laptops have a wide range of specifications that directly affect their price, even in refurbished markets. At the same time, every video game has its own required specifications.

So, what types of games do you want to play? If you have specific titles in mind, look at their recommended specs and required specs, with required specs dictating the minimum amount of resources your laptop needs to have. If you prefer overall genres, you can do the same for leading games in the genres you like.

Once you know what you need, you can look at options. Reputable manufacturers to consider are:

• Dell has a reputation for balancing cost, capabilities, and dependability. Refurbished Dell gaming laptops take these savings even further, making them worth considering.
• HP is a long-time name in the desktop and laptop world, and its line of machines offers everything you need for intensive tasks such as gaming. HP ProBook models are business grade laptops which are often a great choice for gaming, as they have the right resources at an affordable price.
• Lenovo is another time-tested brand known best for its versatile and reliable laptops. While many of the company’s machines focus more on business users, they also offer a respected line of gaming laptops.

Compare your requirements to those of different refurbished laptops from these manufacturers, and you’ll likely find the perfect fit for your gaming needs.

Unlike brand-new models, the available inventory of refurbished laptops is always changing as units are sourced and sold. If you find a reputable company that doesn’t offer what you need, check back in a few weeks, and you might find exactly what you’re after.

Read Each Listing Carefully

When looking at new laptops, one listing usually represents a large inventory of that laptop model. This isn’t usually the case for refurbished laptops, as one listing might be for an individual laptop.

Why do they have individual product pages? While it does happen, refurbishers source laptops from a wide range of sources, offering a variety of models of laptops. Additionally, even when several of the same models are available, differences between the individual units may need to be highlighted with individual pages.

You’ll need to read the listing closely before buying a laptop so you’re aware of what you’ll be receiving. Your laptop may have cosmetic scratches or a different condition grade. Be aware of what you’re purchasing so there are no surprises when it arrives.

Evaluate the Refurbisher

As you start looking for the right laptop, you’ll likely come across several refurbishers with options that seem appealing. However, anyone can call themselves a refurbisher. So, when you start looking for where to buy refurbished gaming laptops, not every seller will offer the same quality results.

You may look at a refurbisher that mostly offers lower-grade laptops. In other cases, the seller might not even be a refurbisher; instead, they may sell used laptops with many problems.

While reviews and testimonials on the refurbisher’s site are worth reading, take the time to look through third-party review sites to learn about other customers' experiences. Google Reviews can be a great choice for reliable testimonials.

Be Aware of the Warranty

Does your chosen refurbisher offer a warranty with the laptop you’re considering? A common myth is that opting for a refurbished laptop means foregoing a warranty, but in reality, most reputable refurbishers include a warranty.

However, even if a warranty is included, the terms may vary between refurbishers. Make sure to read through what’s covered to make sure any defects are covered. One of the most important tips for buying a refurbished gaming laptop is to find a refurbisher that offers a comprehensive warranty.

Shop Refurbished Gaming Laptops at Refurb.io

Refurbished gaming laptops can be perfect for those who want to spend less than factory-new options. You’ll spend less, make an environmentally friendly choice, and still have the perfect laptop to power your gaming.

However, since anyone can say they’re a refurbisher, you may buy a substandard laptop from a seller who hasn’t done any inspections or repairs. It’s critical to learn more about the seller’s reputation and carefully read your laptop model's listing.

Refurb.io is an industry leader in refurbished devices, with various business and gaming laptops available. Ready to find your next machine? Browse our store today to find an affordable gaming laptop.