You've found the laptop you want, and it comes in three or four grades at different prices. It's tempting to assume the cheaper ones work less well. They don't. The grade only tells you how the device looks, and once you know what each one means it's an easy choice.
At a glance
Every grade works 100% and comes with the same 1-year warranty. Premium looks like new, Excellent has very light marks you'd only notice up close, Good has light marks you won't see once the screen's on, and Fair shows clear signs of use. For most people, Good is the best value. Premium is the one to buy as a gift.
What every grade has in common
Whatever the grade, every refurbished device is professionally tested and cleaned before it's listed, and backed by our 1-year warranty. On laptops and tablets graded Premium, Excellent or Good, the battery is tested and healthy for everyday use. Refurbished grades also come with 14-day change-of-mind returns. So when you compare grades, you're comparing looks and price, not how well it works.
Premium
Premium is our best grade and the closest you'll get to new. Every Premium unit is refurbished at our own facility to a like-new finish, so the screen is flawless and the body shows no signs of use. It's the one to buy as a present, for client-facing work, or simply if you want it to feel new when you open the box. You'll find them in our Premium refurbished laptops.
Excellent and Good
These two are where most people land. An Excellent laptop has very light signs of use that you'd only notice up close, and the screen looks perfect when it's on. A Good laptop has light scuffs or small marks from normal use, and any marks on the screen disappear once it's switched on.
We usually point people to Good. The marks tend to be on the lid and the base, where you don't see them while you're working, and the money saved can go towards more RAM or a newer generation. If the model you want is available in both, it's worth comparing, because the gap between Good and Excellent is sometimes smaller than you'd expect.
Fair
Fair is the lowest-priced way into a fast machine. It has clear signs of use, such as scratches or small dents, and on a laptop you may see marks on the screen even when it's on. The battery works but may not last as long as the higher grades. If that doesn't bother you, Fair is great value for a desk PC, a workshop machine or a home server. If you'll stare at the screen all day, step up to Good.
Desktops and monitors
On desktops and mini PCs, the grade describes the case, and every port and button works on every grade. Plenty of people put a Good-grade mini PC behind a monitor where nobody will ever see it. On monitors, Premium, Excellent and Good have no dead pixels, while a Fair monitor may have an occasional one. Browse our mini PCs and monitors by grade on each listing.
Open Box and Brand New
Some listings say Open Box or Brand New instead of a grade. Brand New is exactly that, new in the original sealed box. Open Box means the device is unused and only the box has been opened.
Refurbished vs used
A used or second-hand device is sold as it is, usually with no warranty and no way of knowing what you'll get. A refurbished device has been tested, cleaned, honestly graded on how it looks and comes with a warranty and returns. That's what makes it safe to buy without seeing it first.
People sometimes ask for a photo of the exact unit before they buy. We sell too many units to photograph each one, which is why every grade is described line by line on the product page, and why you have 14 days to change your mind.
From our desk: grades aren't standard across the industry, so one seller's Excellent can be another's Good. Compare the descriptions rather than the names.
So, which grade should you pick?
Good for most people, Premium for a gift, and Fair when looks really don't matter. Whatever you choose, it's professionally tested and cleaned, with a 1-year warranty, 14-day returns and free shipping on most orders, or pickup from us in Hallam. If you're still choosing a model, start with our laptop buying guide or browse our refurbished laptops.
