Refurbished PC: the guide to buying one well

A well-chosen refurbished PC is often the best value for money on the market: solid hardware for half the price of new, and an eco-friendly choice. But 'refurbished' covers the best and the worst alike. Here's how to avoid getting it wrong.

Refurbished, second-hand, new: don't get them mixed up

Second-hand: sold as-is by a private seller, with no checks or warranty. Refurbished: recovered (often from businesses), tested, cleaned, repaired if needed, with the operating system reinstalled and a warranty. New: never used, full price. Serious refurbished kit comes very close to new in reliability, at a second-hand price.

Why aim for a refurbished business-grade model

The smart choice is the business ranges coming back from company fleets: Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, HP EliteBook / ProBook. These machines are built to last (reinforced chassis, indestructible keyboards, easy maintenance) and largely under-used in office work. For €400–550, you get something far more solid than a consumer-grade new PC at the same price.

The 5 criteria that really matter

• 16 GB of RAM minimum. 8 GB is barely enough today and will limit you quickly. 16 GB is the right balance.
• An SSD (256 GB or more), never a hard drive. This is what makes the machine genuinely fast. Refuse any PC still fitted with a mechanical HDD.
• A recent processor generation. Aim for an Intel Core of at least the 8th generation (or an equivalent Ryzen) — this is also the requirement for Windows 11.
• The battery's real condition. On a laptop, ask for the remaining capacity. A battery at 60% of its capacity won't last long — that's negotiable or replaceable.
• Windows 11 compatibility. Windows 10 is no longer updated: make sure the machine officially supports Windows 11 (TPM 2.0).

Understanding grades A, B, C

Sellers grade the cosmetic condition (the appearance, not the performance):

• Grade A: like new, minimal signs of use. The most expensive.
• Grade B: micro-scratches, light signs of wear. The best compromise in almost every case.
• Grade C: visible marks, scuffed corners. Perfect if looks don't matter to you and budget comes first.

Important: the grade says nothing about performance. A grade C can be just as fast as a grade A. Don't pay for a grade A if you couldn't care less about a few scratches.

Pitfalls to avoid

• No warranty. A genuine refurbished machine comes with a warranty (often 6 to 12 months). Without a warranty, it's second-hand in disguise.
• A processor that's too old hidden behind an attractive price (4th–6th generation Core): excluded from Windows 11, slow tomorrow.
• A dead battery not mentioned on laptops.
• A non-genuine operating system: insist on a properly licensed Windows.
• 'Like new' with no technical detail. A serious seller states precisely the RAM, SSD, CPU generation and battery condition.

What budget for what use

• Office work, internet, email (the majority of needs): €300–450 for a recent ThinkPad/Latitude, 16 GB, SSD. More than enough.
• Versatile use (photo editing, multitasking, working from home): €450–650, aim for a more recent CPU and a comfortable 16 GB.
• Refurbished desktop for the home: from €250–350 with an SSD, ideal as a family computer.