Maria Diaz/ZDNET
ZDNET's key takeaways
Second-hand retailers like Back Market are great places to shop for refurbished gadgets at lower-than-retail prices.
The refurbishing process is often a thorough inspection that involves conditioning and checking functionality.
It's ultimately a worthwhile deal if you want a like-new gadget without contributing to e-waste.
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I'm no stranger to refurbished products. While buying refurbished or renewed isn't always my first go-to, I did purchase a refurbished 2019 Apple iMac in 2020 that still gets daily use.
Buying refurbished, especially with a warranty, is a great way to save money. It's like buying a used car or secondhand furniture; you may not know the whole history, but whether it's worth the risk depends on the buyer.
Also: Tariff-proof tech? Back Market's refurbished devices keep prices down
I swapped my iPad Air for a refurbished 10th-generation iPad from Back Market almost a month ago, and the experience has been enjoyable. I already have another 10th-generation iPad at home, which isn't refurbished, so comparing the two was easy.
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