Best Refurbished Apple Devices for Students in 2025
The Apple Back to School 2024 promotion isn’t the only way to get the Apple devices you need for school at a discount, and you don’t have to wait until the Apple Back to School 2025 promotion starts either. The easiest way to get Apple devices for less is by buying them refurbished.
By going refurbished, you can get all the Apple devices you need for school this year at fairly cheap prices while still getting a high-quality device. Plus it is way better for the environment.
So, no need to feel bummed about missing Apple Back to School 2024 deals or waiting until whenever the Apple Back to School 2025 deal reaches your region; you can get the best refurbished Apple devices for college students anytime!
Here’s our list of the Best Refurbished Apple Devices for Students in 2025.
MacBooks
Best Refurbished Apple MacBook for High-Performance:
Refurbished Apple MacBook Air M3
The best Refurbished MacBook for students is undoubtedly the MacBook Air M3. We chose the Refurbished MacBook Air M3 over the MacBook Pro M4 because it is the perfect balance of price and performance, especially when you consider the average college student’s workload. The M3 chip can easily take on any task, including the heavy stuff like video editing, 3D rendering, etc., so there’s really no need to spend the extra $900-$1000 for the slightly faster processor or for the Pro model, unless your work involves more advanced processing.
With the cheaper price of the refurbished MacBook Air M3, you get the exceptional performance of the Apple M3, a long-lasting 18-hour battery, which will give you all-day battery life, 256GB and 16GB base storage configuration, an FHD webcam, a beautiful high resolution, a remarkable four-speaker sound system, all in a lightweight and portable body with a beautiful high-resolution retina display to seal the deal.
Talking about the display, the refurbished MacBook Air M3 comes in two display sizes. 13 inches and 15 inches. So if the bigger screen of the MacBook Pro is something you prefer, you can get it on a MacBook Air now.
The Apple MacBook Air M3 comes in 4 colors.
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Space Gray
- Silver
Best Apple MacBook for Students on a Budget:
Refurbished Apple MacBook Air M1
The refurbished MacBook Air M1 is the best MacBook for college students on a budget. For its cheap price, the refurbished Apple MacBook Air M1 offers incredible battery life, lasting up to 18 hours on a single charge, so you don’t need to worry about your MacBook dying on you in the middle of a school day. It features a high-resolution 13.3-inch screen, which is big enough for everyday tasks.
The MacBook M1 Air weighs in at just 1.29 kg, so it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to carry around. The MacBook Air M1 is equipped with 256GB of storage and 8GB of unified memory (RAM), both of which can be upgraded.
At the core of its performance is the reliable Apple M1 chip. Even today, the M1 chip still delivers impressive performance, capable of handling a wide range of student workloads with ease. The only downside of the refurbished MacBook M1 Air is its port selection. The MacBook Air M1 only supports two Thunderbolt/USB Type 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The Refurbished Apple MacBook Air M1 comes in three colors:
- Gold
- Silver
- Space Gray
Regardless of price, there’s a lot of productive tips and tricks you can use your MacBook for at school or work.
iPads
Best Refurbished iPad for High-Performance:
The Refurbished Apple iPad Air M2 2024
The Refurbished Apple iPad Air M2 is easily the best iPad for students. It strikes a good balance between high power and price on an iPad, especially if you’re a college student.
The refurbished iPad Air M2 (2024) checks all the boxes: all-day battery life, good quality front and back cameras, support for Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard, an excellent display, and the immensely powerful Apple M2 chip, which is more than enough for most tasks.
The Apple iPad Air M2 (2024) now comes in two screen sizes: 11 inches and 13 inches. So if you previously found the iPad Air too small, the new model offers an upgrade in size from the old 10.5 and 9.7 inch displays of the past. So, you’ll no longer need an iPad Pro to enjoy a larger screen experience.
The refurbished iPad Air M2 (2024) comes in four fun colors:
- Space Gray
- Starlight
- Purple
- Blue
Best Budget Friendly Refurbished Apple iPad
Apple iPad 10th Generation
For college students looking for a budget-friendly and capable tablet, the refurbished iPad 10th generation is an excellent choice. Its 10.9-inch Retina display (2360 x 1640) with 500 nits brightness offers a great viewing experience for reading and watching videos.
Powered by the A14 Bionic chip, it’s capable of handling typical student workloads, including research, note-taking, and even light creative tasks. It supports the 1st generation Apple Pencil and the excellent Magic Keyboard Folio, so you can switch to a more traditional laptop experience whenever.
Both battery life and camera performance are good enough for comfortable daily use. As for storage, unfortunately, it comes with minimum and maximum configurations of 4GB RAM, 64GB, and 256GB. Both the iPad Air M2 and iPad 10th Generation are stacked with awesome iPad features.
The Refurbished iPad 10th Generation comes in four colors:
- Blue
- Pink
- Yellow
- Silver
AirPods
As a student, refurbished Apple AirPods can be extremely beneficial, not just because of how cheap they are. AirPods can effectively separate you from the rest of the world either through music and/or noise cancellation which can be super helpful when studying. With a pair of refurbished AirPods, almost anywhere can become distraction-less, allowing you to focus on your studying.
Best Over-Ear AirPods
Refurbished Apple AirPods Max
The AirPods Max are Apple’s highest-end over-ear AirPods. Thanks to some great refurbished deals, most students are getting them for a lot cheaper than buying them brand new. Sound quality is very good; they’re comfortable, have great battery life, have an excellent transparency mode, and, best of all, amazing noise cancellation to help you tune out noise. Also, they’re really portable and easy to carry around.
Refurbished Apple AirPods Max come in 5 colors:
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Orange
- Blue
- Purple
There are tons of interesting and useful AirPods features you’ll find out about if you’re getting a pair for the first time.
Best In-Ear AirPods
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
The AirPods 4 with Active Noice Cancellation are a great choice for in-ear AirPods. They have excellent sound quality, while being sleek and small. While the sound quality isn’t as great as the AirPods Max, these 4th Gens have their own benefits. They are much easier to carry around as they can fit in your pocket, and are super easy to pop in during video calls, or walks to class. Apple’s Active Noise Cancellation is also a big plus for zoning in during your studies or at the gym.
Also, if you already have a pair of old AirPods you are looking to trade in, you can use SmartphonesPLUS to compare the price of old AirPods and sell your used AirPods online to them.
Where To Buy Refurbished Apple Devices
Buying refurbished can be a great way to save money while still getting a high-quality Apple device. SmartphonesPLUS is a trusted seller of refurbished Apple devices. Check out their reviews across the web.
Not all refurbished sellers are the same as there aren’t many set standards for the refurbished market. SmartphonesPLUS, however, stands out as a trusted seller that ensures quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction.
Here’s why SmartphonesPLUS is the best choice:
- Thorough Testing & Quality Assurance: Every refurbished Apple device is rigorously tested and inspected to ensure it meets high-performance standards. SmartphonesPLUS verifies battery health, functionality, and cosmetic condition before listing any device for sale.
- Competitive Pricing: Get premium Apple devices at a fraction of the price of brand-new models. SmartphonesPLUS offers fair pricing without sacrificing quality. They are able to do this as they source their devices through trade-ins from individuals and businesses.
- Warranty & Customer Support: Enjoy peace of mind with a warranty on every purchase. If you ever have questions or concerns, their responsive customer support team is there to help within 1 business day.
- Excellent Customer Reviews: SmartphonesPLUS has outstanding reviews across the web. Customers consistently praise their communication, quality in their processes, and shipping speed.
- Eco-Friendly Choice: Buying refurbished is a great way to reduce electronic waste and support the circular economy. SmartphonesPLUS helps extend the life of Apple devices, giving them a second life. This makes them a pretty great choice for sustainable shopping.
If you’re looking for a reliable, affordable, and trusted place to buy refurbished Apple devices, SmartphonesPLUS.com could be a great choice for you.
Conclusion
While missing Apple’s back to school deals might have been disappointing, the refurbished market is a fantastic alternative for students seeking high-quality Apple devices at cheap prices. From MacBooks offering powerful performance for demanding tasks to iPads providing versatile tools for learning and creativity, and even AirPods for focused study sessions, refurbished options help students get premium tech without breaking the bank. Also, by going refurbished, you’re not only saving money but also contributing to a more sustainable future by giving these devices a second life. Don’t wait for the next back-to-school promotion, start saving today!
