Laptops packed with the power of playing AAA titles are usually expensive—irrespective of the brand. With high-end gaming laptops, you are sure there will be no motion blur, freezing during a gaming session or shutting down of your game because you have run out of RAM. Used or best refurbished gaming laptops presents budget gamers the opportunity of owning some of these high-end machines without having to bore a hole in their pockets.
The acceptance of refurbished or used gaming laptops has grown in the last decades and manufacturers and independent retailers are working to close the demand gap. Therefore, the growing number of refurbished laptops and choose between used and refurbished laptops can be tricky. However, this article will not only provide you with the difference between both of them but also suggest some of the best you should consider when you are ready to buy.
What is a Refurbished Gaming Laptop?
A refurbished laptop is one that has been previously used. However, they are sanitized and defective parts changed so they are fit for resell. Refurbishing can be done by either the manufacturer or authorized refurbishing firms. Furthermore, the product undergoes series of testing to ensure all its parts are free of defects.
What is a Used Gaming Laptop?
Unlike the refurbished, used gaming laptops do not undergo any form of checks. They go straight from the previous owner to the shelves. There is usually a huge discount on used laptops owning to the fact that you may need to spend some money to do the refurbishing yourself.
Why should You Buy a Refurbished Laptop?
Refurbished or used gaming laptops are always a fraction cheaper than the new ones. Unless you earn thousands of dollars, you may never be able to afford new gaming laptops. Interestingly, most refurbished laptops will look so new that no one will know they are refurbished unless you tell them. Exhilarating, right?
What to Look Out For In Refurbished Gaming Laptops
One critical part of buying a refurbished laptop is to make sure that they come with a warranty. While they may look good on the outside, there may still be a few flaws on the inside. Buying a gaming laptop with warranty can save you a lot of stress.
A warranty ensures that the laptop can be repaired or replaced if faulty or your funds refunded if it doesn’t meet your expectations. Luckily, some of the popular retail stores have a form of warranty to help you get the best value for your money. One of such warranties is the 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Where to Buy Refurbished Gaming Laptops
There are lots of places where you can buy refurbished laptops. Refurbished laptops at Walmart is becoming a popular option. However, Amazon remains a major force to contend with when it comes to refurbished or used gaming laptops.
Review of the Best Refurbished Laptops of 2021
Having clarified the difference between refurbished and used, let us now look at some of the best gaming laptops in this category. Here we examined price, graphics card, the storage and virtual memory, as well as the quality of the display. Here is our verdict.
Acer Predator Helios 300 Gaming Laptop – Best overall
The first reason why anyone would want to go for a refurbished laptop is because of price. This one is less than $1,000. However, it comes with all the features of a premium gaming machine including the 8th generation core i7. It runs on 6 processors with a speed of up to 4.1GHz which ensures a smooth, lag-free playing time. The graphics processor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 with 6GB dedicated GDDR5 virtual RAM. In terms of display, you will be getting a full HD display on a 15.6 inch screen—but that is not all.
The screen also has a refresh rate of 144Hz which gives you unrivaled clarity that helps you to stay above any competition. The backlit keyboard also helps you to stay in control irrespective of the lighting condition of your playing environment. With this product, you will be getting an average of 7 hours of battery life which makes it suitable for outdoor gaming. However, Acer Predator Helios 300 has its own shortfalls including the large weight of 5.51 pounds and its low storage memory (256GB). The good news is that the memory can be expanded, thanks to the extra empty accessible slot for 2.5 inch hard drive or SSD.
Pros
- Comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card
- Runs on 6 processors
- High processor speed of up to 4.1GHz
- Full HD display with high refresh rate
- Backed by 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee
Cons
- Price can still be a problem for budget gamers
- High weight can mar outdoor gaming experience
- Storage memory is very low
Acer Nitro 5 – Best for RAM size
One of two things will happen when you run out of virtual memory during a gaming session. Your game begins to lag as your system tries to recover some space by automatically closing other background programs or your game will come to an abrupt end. Either ways, it is a painful experience. With Acer Nitro 5’s 8GB RAM, you are almost certain that this will never happen. This refurbished gaming laptop comes with the 9th generation Intel core i5 processor which gives you a processing speed of up to 4.1GHz. Embedded within the laptop are two stereo speakers for sound clarity and enhanced immersion.
Like most high-end gaming machine, Acer Nitro 5 comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card. In addition to that you will also get full HD display as well as red backlit keyboard that keeps you in charge of your controls irrespective of the lighting condition of your environment. This is one of the refurbished gaming laptops that is budget-friendly. However, it has only 256GB storage memory which is considerably low. Its 5.51 pounds weight can also limit outdoor use. With up to 5 hours of battery life it will be a whole lot of fun if you can overlook the weight.
Pros
- Large virtual memory
- Comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics card
- High processor speed
- Full HD display
Cons
- Low storage space
- Slightly heavy
- Runs on only 1 processor
ASUS ROG Zephyrus S Ultra Slim Gaming Laptop – Best for RGB backlit keyboard
The presence of a backlit keyboard is crucial for dealing with poor lighting condition. However, RGB backlight helps you to customize the lighting of your keyboard so that you can distinguish the buttons for your controls from the rest. In addition to the RGB backlit keyboard, ASUS ROG Zephyrus comes with the 8th generation core i7 with a speed of up to 3.9GHz. Also, you will get the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card with Max Q design and 6 processors. These hardware combine with 8GB RAM to give you unrivaled speed and processing power.
Your games will load faster, thanks to the solid state drive. This refurbished gaming laptop also offer full HD display which gives you the clarity to see your opponents from very far away. The slightly low weight (4.63 pounds) of this PC make it suitable for outdoor gaming. However, its low battery life of roughly 3 and half hours can deter that dream. Inasmuch as I has a higher storage memory (512GB) than many competitors, it is still suboptimal for heavy gamers. Thankfully, it is backed by Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Pros
- RGB backlit keyboard for poorly-lit environment
- Comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card
- Large virtual memory
- Runs on 8th generation Intel Core i7
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Price may still be too high for budget gamers
Further reading:
Best gaming laptop under 600
Best gaming laptop under 800
Best gaming laptop under 1500
HP Omen 15 – Best for storage space
If you are a heavy gamer, you need a large space to carry all your titles. With HP Omen 15, you will get 1TB of storage space. This means you can carry all your favorite titles wherever you go. It comes with the 7th generation core i7 which can deliver up to 3.8GHz speed. This combines with the 8GB RAM to make sure you never run out of memory. You will also be getting an immersive sound experience, thanks to the Bang & Olufsen dual speakers.
HP Omen 15 comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 which works with the Full HD IPS anti-glare screen to deliver unrivaled image clarity. You will see your opponents before they see you. Another area this laptop shines over some of its competitors is by having USB 3.1 as well as a HDMI port which gives you the power to project your game onto a larger screen. At 4.5 pounds this is one of the refurbished laptops that is easy to carry around—and you will also get around 5 hours of battery life.
Pros
- Large storage space and RAM
- Runs on 7th generation Intel Core i7
- Comes with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050
- Backed by 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee
- Multiple USB 3.1 ports
Cons
- Price is not entirely budget-friendly
- Graphics card is not the most recent in the GTX series
- Lacks solid state drive which ensures faster game load
HP Omen 17 – Best AMD graphics card
AMD graphics card deliver great picture quality which gives you an immersive gaming experience as well as helps you to see your enemies from far away. Also, the full HD IPS anti-glare screen is 17.3 inches which gives you a wider viewing experience. HP Omen 17 refurbished laptops also packs other great features including 1TB storage memory to accommodate all your favorite titles. This refurbished laptop also trumps others on this list by having 12GB RAM which ensures you never run out of memory or experience lag or any kind—and this can be expanded to 16GB.
With HP Omen 17 you will get a cool red backlit keyboard which keeps you in total control even in an environment with poor light. However, this refurbished laptop also has its own flaws including a massive weight of 8.22 pounds. You may also have a problem with battery life which some testers estimate to be roughly 2 to 3 hours. This automatically limits outdoor gaming. The processor speed is only 2.8GHz which is far lower than most of the competitors. Nevertheless, if you are looking for solid and rugged refurbished laptops, HP Omen 17 will easily catch your attention.
Pros
- Large storage space
- Comes with 12GB RAM which is expandable to 16GB
- Offers full HD display
- Cool red backlit keyboard
Cons
- Massive weight of 8.22 pounds
- Low battery life
- Processor speed is just 2.8GHz
- Not entirely budget-friendly
HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop – Best refurbished gaming laptops under 500
While it is hard to find refurbished gaming laptops under 500 dollars that is capable of playing triple-A games, HP Pavilion presents you with a machine that can fill that space for a little above 600 dollars. It runs on the 8th generation Intel Core i5 with a processing speed of up to 4.0GHz. This combines with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 to deliver amazing video performance that will keep you glued to your screen for long hours. The 15.6 inch screen offers Full HD IPS anti-glare display for immersive viewing experience—but that is not all.
You will also get 1TB of hard drive with 128GB solid state drive which is important for fast game load. The HP Pavilion weighs 5 pounds which can be pretty difficult to carry around. However, those that don’t mind the weight will get about 7 hours of battery life. One thing that this refurbished laptop has been able to do is to make all the triple-A features available to budget gamers. Thankfully, it is also backed by 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.
Pros
- Presence of hard drive and solid state drive
- Processor speed can reach 4.0GHz
- Highly budget-friendly
- Long battery life makes it suitable for outdoor gaming
Cons
- Large weight can limit outdoor use
MSI GS75 Stealth Gaming Laptop – Best for NVIDIA graphics card
If you are hunting for the most recent NVIDIA graphics card, the MSI GS75 Stealth Gaming Laptop will be one of your best pick. By going for the used version of this laptop, you will be saving about 1,000 dollars. This laptop comes with the NVIDIA RTX 2080 which is one of the most recent in the series. It makes use of 6 cores and runs on the 8th generation Intel Core i7. Although used, it is still in a good condition. It has 32GB RAM which is more than enough for multitasking and to keep your game running seamlessly without lags.
Another important feature of MSI GS75 Stealth gaming laptop is the per key RGB keyboard which allows you to customize the lighting of your keys so that you stay at the top of your game in environments with poor light. However, before buying used gaming laptop you need to consider its weight of 5 pounds which may make it difficult to carry it around with ease. The battery also lasts about 2 hours which can limit your outdoor gaming experience.
Pros
- Comes with 32GB RAM
- Runs on 8th generation Intel Core i7
- Integrated with the most advanced NVIDIA graphics card
- Per key RGB backlit keyboard
Cons
- Battery lasts roughly 2 hours
- Large weight can limit outdoor use
- Highly expensive for a used laptop
- No form of warranty offered
ASUS ROG Strix Scar II Gaming Laptop – Best for processor
The kind of processor that comes with refurbished laptops will determine its performance. ASIS ROG Strix Scar II comes with hexa-core 8th generation Intel Core i7 which has a speed of 3.9GHz. This combines with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 to deliver flawless gaming experience. You will also get IPS type full HD display with a refresh rate of 144Hz. It also has 16GB RAM to ensure you don’t experience any form of lag irrespective of the game title that you are playing.
The RGB backlight keeps you in control irrespective of the lighting condition of your environment. Other cool features that comes with this refurbished laptop that will add value to your purchase include the presence of hypercool pro thermal system, anti-dust technology, as well as ROG RangeBoost technology that offers 30% wider Wi-Fi coverage. However, the 512GB memory space may be insufficient for heavy gamers with lots of titles. Battery life is about three hours and the weight of 5.29 pounds can limit outdoor gaming.
Pros
- High processor speed
- Comes with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
- High RAM size
- Anti-dust and RangeBoost technology
Cons
- Low battery life
- Large weight and low battery life can limit outdoor gaming
- Not entirely budget-friendly
Razer Blade Pro 17 Gaming Laptop – Best for weight
Any gaming laptop that is lightweight quickly becomes a travel companion because it won’t weigh you down. Razer Blade Pro 17 weighs only 2.84 pounds making it one of the lightest gaming laptops in the market. Built using CNC aluminum unibody with high-performance vapor chamber cooling, this laptop is designed to outperform its competitors. It comes with 512GB SSD which is upgradable thereby making it possible for you to carry all your favorite game titles. It also has 16GB RAM which pairs well with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 and 144Hz screen refresh rate to ensure that you enjoy superior lag-free visuals.
The RGB keyboard backlight is customizable allowing you to set the colors of your controls so that you don’t get lost in poorly lit environment. To further enhance your security, this refurbished laptop comes with Windows Hello instant facial unlock. It runs on the powerful 9th generation Intel Core i7 processor with a speed of up to 4.6GHz. For those who can splash over 2,000 dollars on a gaming laptop, there is everything to love about Razer Blade Pro 17.
Pros
- High processor speed
- Biometric security
- Extremely lightweight
- Expandable storage space
- Customizable RGB backlight
- Comes with the most advanced NVIDIA GeForce graphics card
Cons
- Not for budget gamers
- Battery life is just about 4 hours
Buying Guide For The Best Refurbished Gaming Laptops
There are lots of factors to consider when you want to buy a refurbished gaming laptop. First, you have to be sure that the price is just right. Secondly, it needs to have a good graphics card and a high-speed processor that can handle AAA titles. When you are ready to purchase your refurbished laptop, here are some of the features you should pay attention to.
Warranty
Buying used or refurbished laptops can be risky since it is hard to tell its condition. A warranty serves as an assurance of some sorts. It makes it possible for you to get a replacement or a refund if the laptop fails to meet your expectation. When buying refurbished laptops from Amazon, it is important to make sure they are backed by 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. Also, you can learn a lot about the retailer by paying attention to reviews.
Video graphics
You have to choose between NVIDIA GeForce and AMD Radeon. Whichever you decided to go for, make sure that they are newer versions that can handle triple-A titles without lags or blurs. For NVIDIA, your benchmark should be the GTX 1050.
Processor
The type of processor that comes with a laptop will determine the kind of games it can handle. When you are buying refurbished laptops, the least you should aim for should be core i5. However, you should not look at the processor in isolation. Check the processor speed too. For triple-A titles, you would need a processor with a speed of over 2.5GHz.
Display Resolution
The quality of the display can determine how immersive a game would be. Blurry of grainy images can obscure enemies in the background making it difficult for you to spot them. If you must gamble on refurbished laptops, then, you have every reason to demand for Full HD resolution.
Hard Disk Space
Heavy gamers with lots of title will certainly need a lot of space. There are two types of drives; hard drives and solid state drives. The latter is usually smaller in size but ensures a faster game load. Either ways, you should aim for at least 512GB space. There are laptops that allows you to upgrade your storage space—and you should bear this in mind too.
Battery Life
The battery life of the various refurbished laptops on our list varies from two to seven hours for intensive use. While this is negligible if you are playing indoors, it can be a serious source of concern if you will be using your laptop outdoors most of the time.
Weight
It is difficulty to pack high-end hardware into a laptop and still keep the weight low. However, the weight of refurbished gaming laptops should be an issue if you love outdoor gaming. The heavier the laptop is, the more difficult it would be for you to carry it around.
Price
The main reason why a lot of gamers go for refurbished laptops is to help them get premium gaming machines at the least possible price. For this reason, ensure that there is a significant discount on the refurbished gaming laptop or you could as well go for a new one. Also, irrespective of the size of the discount, if it doesn’t have the necessary hardware that are needed for lag-free triple-A titles, the aim will be defeated.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What refurbished laptops mean
Refurbished laptops are previously used laptops that have been cleaned and defective parts changed so that they look like new ones.
- Can refurbished laptops be trusted?
Yes, refurbished laptops can be trusted especially if you are buying from reputable retailers or when they are backed by some form of warranties.
- Why buy refurbished laptops?
Refurbished laptops are usually cheaper than new ones. This makes it possible for you to buy high-end gaming machines at a low price.
- How long do refurbished laptops last?
They can last as much as any new laptop would last depending on how you use them.
- Are refurbished laptops good?
Yes, refurbished laptops are good and, with the right retailer, worth more than the money you pay for them.
- Which refurbished laptops should I buy?
This is solely at your discretion. However, pay attention to the qualities we listed on our buyer’s guide.
Conclusion
Buying refurbished laptops for the first time can be a scary experience. However, they can help you to get high-end gaming machines without having to break the bank.
Most refurbished laptops sold on Amazon are usually backed by 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee. This means that they have been tested to make sure that the look like new and are in perfect working condition. While refurbished laptops makes it possible for budget gamers to reach high-end gaming laptops, it is important to look beyond the price and consider other features which we have listed in our buyer’s guide. Our list of refurbished and used gaming laptops should give you a head start when you are ready to buy.
Further reading:
Gaming laptop under 700
Budget gaming laptop under 500 dollars
Check out other laptops for specific use