MacBooks are some of the most sought-after laptops, especially among students. After all, these are premium laptops that look and feel great, plus they have powerful specs and bright, colorful displays. However, these are also pretty expensive products, especially if you're looking at the MacBook Pro models, which are generally more powerful. But if you absolutely want to have a MacBook Pro while bringing the price as low as possible, one option is to buy a refurbished model. There are a few places where you can buy refurbished MacBook Pro models, which lets you save some money without giving up the premium feeling of a MacBook.

The problem with looking for refurbished laptops is you may find a limited selection of configurations, and finding the latest models is especially tough. As such, you may have to settle for some older models, but they can still offer a great experience. Here are some of the places you'll probably want to look at if you want a refurbished MacBook Pro.

Amazon

Amazon is the go-to destination for all kinds of products, and you can find refurbished products there too. Many refurbished or renewed products are backed by the Amazon Renewed Program, so you can return them for a refund within 90 days if it's not up to your standards. The products are also inspected to meet certain requirements, such as the battery having at least 80% of its original capacity, no visible blemishes at arm's length, and included compatible — but not original — accessories.

The big problem here is the limited selection. It can be very hard to find specific models, plus many of these are sold by third-party sellers on Amazon, who you may or may not trust. Since they're backed by Amazon, you should always be able to return them if something is wrong, but it's something to keep in mind.

At writing time, we've managed to find a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Pro chip for $1,580, and that includes 512GB of storage, so it's a pretty nice deal. There's also the 2022 13-inch model with an M2 chip for $949 and the 2021 16-inch model with an M1 Pro chip for $1,479, which is a massive discount. These prices will undoubtedly fluctuate, and you might want to hunt for more deals on the Amazon Renewed page.

  • MacBook Pro 2023
    Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2023)

    The latest 14-inch MacBook Pro is a powerhouse for creative professionals, with top-tier specs courtesy of the M2 processor and an excellent display. It has a pretty big discount if you buy it renewed.

  • Apple MacBook Pro M2 2022
    MacBook Pro M2

    The 2022 MacBook Pro 13-inch has the classic MacBook Pro design, but it still features solid performance and a solid screen that looks good anywhere. This renewed model also a nice discount that makes it much more appealing.

  • MacBook Pro 2023
    Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)

    The 2021 MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chipset is still a very powerful machine with a fantastic display, and you can save a ton of money on it with a renewed model on Amazon.

Apple

If you're looking for the widest selection of MacBook Pro models available, especially recent ones, there's no better place than Apple's own store. The company also sells its own refurbished Macs, and if you go that route, you get a one-year warranty. They're also Apple certified, so they're cleaned and inspected to make sure they're fully functional. Plus, you get all the accessories included.

The biggest benefit to buying from Apple is definitely the selection, though. You can already find all the latest MacBook Pro models on there, including the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip as well as both the 14-inch and 16-inch models with M2 Pro and M2 Max. Both will net you a nice discount from the official price, though admittedly, some sales can sometimes make these cheaper at other retailers too. You can also find even older models if you want to save some extra money and you're willing to give up some performance.

  • MacBook Pro 2023
    Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2023)

    The 2023 MacBook Pro models have powerful M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, and they offer some of the best performance you can get in a laptop of this class, with unrivaled battery life in their segment. You can save quite a bit by buying a refurbished model.

  • Apple MacBook Pro M2 2022
    MacBook Pro M2

    The MacBook Pro 13-inch with an M2 processor may not be the flashiest option, but it definitely offers very good performance, and it has a fairly bright display that makes it one of the top choices for a premium laptop.

Swappa

Swappa is an online community for buying and selling used electronics of all kinds, including phones, cameras, and of course, laptops like the MacBook Pro. Swappa is neatly organized, so you can easily find the specific MacBook Pro model you're looking for, then see users who might be selling it. It's an entirely user-focused experience, so you deal directly with the seller, and compared to marketplaces like eBay, fees are much smaller, which ultimately leads to lower prices.

You can already find some listings for the latest models around, including both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro that launched in early 2023, as well as the 2022 13-inch version. Prices vary a lot depending on the seller, and they'll definitely change over time, but currently, we're seeing a MacBook Pro 13-inch model with 512GB of storage for just $979, and that's pretty good. As for the more powerful 2023 models, the 14-inch version is going for as low as $1,535, while the 16-inch variant currently starts at $1,751.

  • MacBook Pro 2023
    Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2023)

    The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023) models adopt the same exterior chassis first introduced in 2021. They offer boosted M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 support, HDMI 2.1 compatibility, a notched display, and more.

  • Apple MacBook Pro M2 2022
    MacBook Pro M2

    The 2022 MacBook Pro features a classic chassis, packing a Touch Bar and Apple's M2 chipset. It's available in Space Gray and Silver finishes.

Back Market

Another great place to find a refurbished MacBook Pro is Back Market, which is a website specializing in selling pre-owned and renewed products. The products available go far beyond MacBooks, but that's a pretty big focus. Each product is labeled as either Fair, Good, or Excellent condition, and you can easily see the prices for each one on a given product. The products on Back Market are also tested to make sure everything is in working order, and the battery is at least at 80% of its original capacity.

At writing time, however, there aren't many great deals to be had if you want something decently new. All the models available still come with Intel processors. However, they are pretty heavily discounted, so if you really want that premium MacBook Pro feeling for a lower price, it's worth taking a look. You can check out the 2019 16-inch model below, but you might want to keep an eye on the list of available options to see if newer models show up.

MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (Intel, 2019)

This 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, so it offers a pretty good experience. It's currently going for as low as $493 in Fair condition, which is far below its original price.

Best Buy

Best Buy is a very popular place for buying electronics, and the MacBook Pro is no exception. Admittedly, the selection of proper refurbished laptops here is limited, but Best Buy also sells pre-owned and open-box products, which can get you a nice discount over buying them new. This will depend on the model you're getting, of course, and for newer ones, it's definitely tougher to find a good deal. Still, there are some good finds here if you look, and it might pay to stay tuned for more models to become available.

Right now, we're seeing the 14-inch MacBook Pro available in Open-Box Excellent condition for $1,791, which is a solid $200 savings compared to a new model. An even better deal is the 16-inch model with a 1TB SSD, which is going for $2,187 instead of the usual $2,699. As for the smaller 13-inch MacBook Pro, it's going for as little as $1,031, a solid step down from the $1,299 MSRP, though admittedly, we've been seeing this model discounted fairly often. If you want to keep an eye out for more, you can check out all the listings for open-box and refurbished MacBook Pro models on Best Buy.

  • MacBook Pro 2023
    Apple MacBook Pro (M2, 2023)

    An open-box MacBook Pro at Best Buy can get you some sweet savings, making it a much more enticing laptop compared to its full price. Laptops come in a few grades for their condition, but even one in excellent condition can come with a big discount.

  • Apple MacBook Pro M2 2022
    MacBook Pro M2

    An open-box MacBook Pro 13-inch can save you nearly $300 compared to its MSRP at Best Buy. It's true that new models are often discounted, but this is still cheaper than that, and you're not going to be missing out on much with the models in Excellent condition.

ItsWorthMore (IWM)

Similar to Back Market, IWM specializes in selling used products, and while they're not necessarily labeled as refurbished, the laptops here are certified to meet certain requirements. All the essential components should be in working order, and for many products, you can choose what condition you want them in to fit your budget and needs. You also get 30-day returns and a one-year warranty should anything go wrong.

You can save quite a bit of money here, too. For example, we found the base 14-inch MacBook Pro in Excellent condition for $1,632, which is well over $300 off its official price tag. The 16-inch model can be had in Very Good condition (meaning you might see some scratches and dings) for $1796, and that's over $700 off. As for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the lowest we've found was $1,041, which is still a nice discount, but it's only in Good condition, so an option like Best Buy might be better here. Of course, you can keep an eye on all the listings if you want to find a different configuration or wait for other models to appear.

Mac of all trades

Another place focusing on selling used and refurbished products is Mac of all trades. This website focuses specifically on Apple products, and while the selection isn't quite as wide, there are still some deals to be found. Right now, we're seeing the 2022 13-inch MacBook Pro starting at $1,075 in Good condition, which saves you a little over $200 compared to MSRP.

If you want something more powerful, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 processor starts at $2,250, which is $250 off its usual price. And if that's still too much, plenty of older models are still available, too, including those with M1-series processors or even Intel models from a few years ago.

These are some of the ways you can save some money by buying a refurbished or used MacBook Pro. Many of these sites offer solid deals compared to the official pricing you get buying these products new. Of course, buying refurbished or used products can have its caveats, but these marketplaces include a one-year warranty and returns within 30 days, so you don't have to worry about getting something that's not up to snuff.

If the MacBook Pro isn't necessarily what you're looking for, or you'd rather buy them new, check out our list of the best Macs you can buy right now.