what to look for in a used macbook pro
2nd-mitt MacBook buying guide: 10 things to cheque
MacBooks are becoming increasingly price-prohibitive with each new release. The market for pre-owned MacBooks is booming with a lot of takers present. Merely you need to be careful. At that place are a lot of bad lemons out there.
This article can serve every bit a reference for all things to bank check before buying a 2nd-hand MacBook. It also gives yous costless access to Fixxo's guided MacBook QC tool to thoroughly exam a MacBook!
Manish Agarwal
Created:
May 23, 2021
Updated:
May 25, 2021
By the way, if you're still dislocated if information technology is worth buying a used or 2nd-manus MacBook (and other aspects of shopping in the Pre-owned section), you might discover this article helpful: Buying Used MacBooks? Everything you should know!
Notation: In Bharat there are broadly 3 avenues for buying used MacBooks:
- From individual sellers via Olx, Quikr, FaceBook, eBay etc. Slightly cheaper, no warranty, higher hazard
- From multi-brand second hand dealers: More reliable than the above, but be sure to verify the trustworthiness of the outfit.
- From Apple-exclusive vendors: Like Fixxo. Slightly higher price, products backed by warranty, lower risk.
This guide is especially useful if you're going with the first pick - ownership from private sellers. Even otherwise, the below data is useful for whatsoever buyer.
one. Identify the model, check the specs & configuration online
Earlier setting upward a coming together with the seller, be sure to know what y'all're ownership. Ask for the serial number or model number of the MacBook. Use everymac to lookup specs and model configurations. If you go the serial number, check its authenticity and warranty coverage with Apple here.
ii. Match the series number from different sources
When you meet the seller. Offset things first, verify the serial number. Note the serial number from all possible sources and ensure they're the aforementioned. This'll rule out any fishy business organization.
- Turn on the MacBook -> Most this Mac -> Note serial number
- Series number mentioned on the bottom hat of the MacBook
- Serial number mentioned on the box
- Serial number mentioned on the original purchase invoice (make sure to enquire for information technology)
If any of the to a higher place has a mismatch, check with the seller why.
Refer this article for detailed steps to find serial number etc.
iii. Visually inspect the device for any cosmetic damages
Examine the MacBook carefully from all sides. Look for any scratches, dents on the trunk. Ensure all rubber feet and all bottom chapeau screws are intact. Check the screen - the safety gasket shouldn't exist worn out. If information technology'due south a 2012-15 MacBook Pro, await for stains on the screen. Check the display console hinges - they shouldn't be too loose; the lid shouldn't casually fall off on its own.
While none of these are critical bug, they can be practiced bargaining chips in price negotiation.
4. Check the age of the MacBook
Information technology's difficult to effigy out the actual purchase date of the detail MacBook. But yous tin can easily find the launch date/twelvemonth of the model. From that, you tin make a reasonable assumption as to how quondam the MacBook really is. The older a MacBook is, the harder you can negotiate on toll. However, consider the flip side too: Older models -> More than miles on it -> More wearable & tear -> Shorter life expectancy.
At that place are a couple of ways to cheque the model launch year:
- In the "About this Mac" box, in the 1st row you can see the MacBook Identifier. This ordinarily includes the model launch year. Like "MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early on 2015) in image above.
- Sometimes, the year is missing from "About this Mac". In that case, re-create the series number from at that place and employ this link to observe.
5. Remove iCloud account from the MacBook
It is imperative that in that location is no iCloud lock on the MacBook. To sign out of iCloud account on the MacBook, inquire the seller to exercise the following steps: Click on the Apple icon () in the menu bar -> System Preferences -> Click "Apple tree ID" -> Click Overview in the sidebar -> Click Sign Out.
Signing out of the iCloud turns off all iCloud features on the Mac. Including the activation lock that is enabled by Find My app on the MacBook. This is nigh disquisitional.
half-dozen. Ensure there is no firmware lock
It's easy to miss or forget about the firmware lock. But it tin become a real headache for you later. If a MacBook has a firmware lock, it doesn't allow you lot to change/upgrade the SSD or kick from an external disk.
Close downwards the Mac and restart it - but as it powers on (you'll hear the startup chime), press and concur the option (⌥) key. If you lot're prompted for a firmware password, there's the lock! Ask the owner to turn it off and repeat the higher up check.
How to remove Firmware lock on a MacBook?
7. Wait out for model-specific known design flaws
Equally awesome as they are, a lot of MacBook models tend to have some or the other flaw. Information technology may exist a design defect or build quality related result or something else.
For e.thou. MacBook Pro 2016-17 models were notorious for keyboard issues due to the notorious butterfly keyboard design. At present, this doesn't mean that ALL MacBook Pro devices of the 2016-17 model would have the keyboard issue - in fact a very small percentage of them do. But as a buyer, you ameliorate be informed about the known defects of the model you're buying. And if possible, exam the device specifically for that defect.
Few examples of model-specific defects:
- Battery Consequence in MacBook Pro xv inch 2015
- Keyboard Issues in MacBook Pro 2016-17
- Display Bug in MacBook Pro Touchbar models
- Staingate Issue in MacBook Pro 2013-14
eight. Cheque the charging adapter
Ensure that the chargers are working. MacBook chargers, specially the older "Magsafe 2" adapters are quite vulnerable to wear and tear. Bank check the cable (connecting the adapter brick to the MacBook charging port) - the outer rubber tends to tear off. Which is not a deal billow really, simply still a bargaining fleck. Check the pins on the terminate of the cable - 5 pins, they should be golden, not black. If they've turned black, information technology's a red flag.
9. Run Apple Diagnostics
This should exist your last step, as it may be a little time consuming. While it may Not detect a lot of functionality-level issues, it's yet a good tool to detect any logic-lath or memory level problems.
To kickoff Apple tree Diagnostics (before known equally Apple tree Hardware Test):
- Disconnect all external devices and turn off the Mac
- Power information technology dorsum on and hold the D primal once yous hear the startup chime
- Select the linguistic communication you need and press the arrow push to run the test
10. Examination all hardware functions
Finally, get downwardly to the nuts and bolts of information technology. Test the speakers, bluetooth, wifi, keyboard, trackpad, camera. Bank check the battery, bank check all ports, etc, etc.
Now, we could list out how-to's for each test here. Instead we've only created a comprehensive guide to perform a hardware test on a MacBook. It helps you test each functionality step-by-stride, and finally generates a neat little study for the MacBook. We recommended you access this guide on the same MacBook that you're testing. It's free. Yous can give thanks us later!
MacBook QC Guide - by Fixxo
Source: https://www.fixxo.in/blog/second-hand-macbook-buying-guide-10-things-to-check
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