Antonio Villas-Boas/Business Insider
This 2016 MacBook Pro was previously used, but when I reviewed it, it felt just like a new laptop
Me? I went for the 2016 model. And no, it's not a brand new, unsold 2016 MacBook Pro that Apple had left over. It's a previously used and refurbished unit I bought from Apple's little-known Refurbished Mac store.
It's easy to see why someone wouldn't want a previously used device; it begs the question as to why the previous owner returned it. Was it defective? What was wrong with it? Why wouldn't previous owner want to keep it?
All that matters is whether or not the device still works properly and whether you're getting some kind of discount because the device has, indeed, been used before.
I saved $450 by going with the 2016 MacBook Pro I bought from the Refurbished Mac store. And if its working and aesthetic condition is anything to go by, I'd say Apple does very good work at making sure refurbished devices look good and work as if they were new.
Check out a used, 2016 MacBook Pro and how it stacks up against a 2017 MacBook Pro that costs $450 more: