The deal saves more than £1,600 compared to buying a brand new recently launched device
As many students look to upgrade their laptops ahead of the new academic year, Wowcher has slashed the price of an Apple MacBook, saving 66% on the RRP. While Apple products are typically the higher end of the tech price range, shopping for older or refurbished models allows users to snap them up for less.
Currently, a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch Core i5 128GB is available for £169 on deals website Wowcher. This model first hit the shelves in 2013, when it was priced at £1,249 – and while it may not boast all the latest features, the saving of over £1,600 compared to buying a brand-new MacBook could make it a compromise worth considering.
Apple’s most recent MacBook Pro 14.2-inch, equipped with an M5 chip and 16GB RAM, currently carries a hefty price tag of £1,804 on Amazon. Given that many students heading off to college or university this autumn won’t have that kind of cash to spare, the Wowcher deal provides a more affordable alternative for everyday tasks and research, provided shoppers are willing to forego the latest speed and quality specs.
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MacBooks are a favourite among those constantly on the move, thanks to their slim, lightweight design, making them perfect for university life or frequent travellers. This refurbished Apple MacBook Pro model also comes with 8GB RAM and a retina display, offering sharp, vibrant visuals, so it’s a solid choice for entertainment like video streaming as well.
As for what customers can anticipate from a refurbished model, Wowcher assures that every pre-owned device sold on its platform is rigorously tested and “everything works perfectly”. However, it does concede that there may be “a few signs of wear-and-tear”, so it’s unlikely to boast the immaculate aesthetic of a brand-new MacBook, reports Wales Online .
Apple Macbook Pro 13inch Core i5 128GB
Enjoy a premium laptop experience with a refurbished Apple MacBook Pro, ideal for work, study, or creative projects.
Wowcher customers who have bought refurbished tech via the site have posted glowing reviews on Trustpilot. One customer said: “I have ordered a few laptops from Wowcher and they say refurbished, but they arrive as if they’re new. Brilliant deals.”
Another added: “Purchased a refurbished MacBook Pro in 2023 at an unbelievably reduced price! As a MacBook user for over a decade and a half, I am impressed with the quality of the product – as good as new.”
A third shared: “Very fast delivery of Chromebook that I was expecting to be a bit shabby for the price, but looks and works really well. I was drawn to the deal as it was so inexpensive, and who doesn’t need an extra device? Under £100 for a refurbished Dell Chromebook around five years old with all necessary plugs etc, and cover. I am happy – it works and looks good.”
And another praised: “Love the fact that you can afford to purchase refurbished high-end tech items at such an affordable price and value. I love shopping with Wowcher. The majority of items are of good quality also.”
That said, not all customers were thrilled with their refurbished purchases, with one buyer commenting: “Got a refurbished iPad as a second iPad so not really expecting anything great. Would not look to repeat, all too often I put it down because it takes too long to load a page, or I can’t access an app because the iOS doesn’t support it and won’t accept the latest update.”
Wowcher isn’t the only platform where tech lovers can snap up second-hand MacBook Pros at discounted rates. Amazon Resale, previously called Amazon Warehouse, provides more than a dozen choices starting from £509.77 for a 2020 Apple MacBook Pro at the time of writing.
A more budget-friendly – though older – option can be discovered on pre-owned retailer Back Market, where a 2015 MacBook Pro is on offer for £176. Meanwhile, for those who’d prefer to splash out on a brand-new laptop, there are countless alternatives that beat Apple on cost.
The most purse-friendly selection from bestselling brand Dell, for example, is the Dell Chromebook 11 Laptop at £412.98. Marketed as “optimised for educational excellence” with a MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor, it boasts dual-mic cameras and an anti-glare 11-inch HD display.
Meanwhile, the most competitively priced model from Acer is the Acer Chromebook Plus 514, retailing at £549.99. With a 14-inch Full HD narrow bezel display featuring an anti-glare coating, this laptop delivers up to double the speed, memory and storage of previous best-selling Chromebook models from 2022, and also comes with 12 months of Google AI Pro free of charge.