Get a Like-New Refurbished MacBook Air for Under $US200

Getting a new computer can be pricey, but depending on your needs, you might not need a top shelf model to realise solid performance. Heck, if all you need to do is surf the internet, stream video, and use Google docs, a new machine is almost certainly overkill. A better choice: This refurbished 2017 MacBook Air, which looks and works like new, but currently only costs $US199.99 (discounted from its usual $US369 price).

Unless you’re a tech geek, buying a new computer probably isn’t the most fun item on your to-do list. Prices are high, even if you’re just looking for a machine to use for school or send emails. But you don’t have to pay store prices if you’re shopping for refurbished tech.

Get refurbished tech and pay less

Refurbished tech may sound like you’re settling for less, but this isn’t some computer you could pick up at a thrift shop. This MacBook has been tested and certified to look and work like new. The only sign that it’s not fresh off the shelves is that it might come in a generic box.

It helps that MacBooks generally have a long lifespan, especially those with solid state hard drives (SSDs) that don’t wear out like older mechanical drives. Moreover, this MacBook offers some features you won’t find even on a 2023 model — in 2016, Apple started streamlining out some of the ports on MacBooks, so many modern devices only have a pair of USB-C ports. This one was manufactured before that, so it still has two USB 3.0 ports, an SDXC-capable SD Card Slot, and a separate port for charging.

Also worth noting: Apple tends to continue to support its laptops with software updates for years — and this 2017 model can still run the most recent version macOS, Catalina, launched in October 2022.

This MacBook could be a match for someone who is performing lighter lift tasks like word processing, browsing the internet, and using low-intensity apps. It has 4GB RAM and an Intel® Core™ i5 processor, so it may not be up for intense art software or video rendering, but you can still pull up Excel and rock through a few spreadsheets. It does have a 128GB SSD, so you can keep files stored locally and install a good number of programs. And of course it will work with all streaming services, so throw on some Bluetooth headphones, and have yourself a little movie night.

Grab a MacBook Air for under $US200

Reduce e-waste with a budget-friendly refurbished computer that runs like new. Get a refurbished Apple MacBook Air on sale for $US199.99 (regularly $US369). Prices subject to change.