What is a refurbished laptop?
A refurbished laptop - also known as a reconditioned or renewed laptop - is a used or open-box computer that has been cleaned, inspected, tested, and, if necessary, repaired by a technician. The technician will then reformat and restore the laptop to factory settings to provide a like-new product.
The original manufacturer or a third-party wholesaler can refurbish a laptop. Although the latter may work out cheaper, the manufacturer refurb is the superior option because quality workmanship is guaranteed. Third parties may cut corners, sell faulty devices, or provide inferior warranties (or no warranty at all).
The other common type is the used laptop, which is cheap but entails significant risk. A second-hand laptop hasn't been tested or repaired and may have various hidden hardware issues. Worst still, the consumer receives zero protection should a fault arise - it's a clear-cut case buyer beware.
Where do refurbished laptops come from?
There's a common misconception that refurbished laptops have been subject to heavy use by the previous owner and suffer from wear and tear.
In reality, many refurbished laptops have hardly been used at all. Near-new machines may come back to an HP factory for a variety of reasons, including:
- Returned or cancelled orders
- Minor cosmetic flaws or damage during shipping
- Demo machines that can't be sold as new
- Unsold products returned to make room for new stock
How HP refurbishes laptops
All refurbished laptops in the HP store have been reconditioned by skilled technicians at an official HP factory. An HP manufacturer refurbishment involves testing the device, identifying defective parts, replacing parts as necessary, and retesting the machine.
The technician will validate the operating system and firmware and then reformat the PC. Next, HP will clean, re-package, and assign a new refurbished part number to verify authenticity. The result is a like-new laptop for a fraction of the price of a new device.
Are reconditioned laptops worth it?
Investing in a refurbished laptop is a great way to obtain state-of-the-art technology for an affordable price. Generally speaking, a reconditioned laptop will slash hundreds off the sticker price.
Not only is a certified HP refurbishment affordable, but it also gives you much-needed peace of mind. Rest assured, a qualified technician has thoroughly examined all components and verified their functionality. Moreover, HP offers a generous 12-month warranty with all its refurbished laptops.
Used laptops or third-party refurbished laptops, on the other hand, involve much more risk. These unverified machines could have any number of faulty components or suffer from severe wear and tear.
Refurbished laptops offer guaranteed performance with a massive discount on the sticker price. As a result, they're an enticing option for a broad range of consumers, including:
- Start-ups seeking to equip their workforce on the cheap
- Parents looking for an affordable laptop for their children
- Students shopping for a computer on a limited budget
- Tech-savvy bargain hunters seeking high-end specs for a low price
- Budget gamers who can't afford to spend big bucks on a brand-new machine
The best refurbished laptops from HP
Now you're up to speed, let's examine the top six options on the HP Australia store. We've broken down our top picks into categories so you can see what type of consumer they're most suitable for.
Not all these models will always be in stock as refurbished laptops become available in limited quantities. If you can’t find your favourite model, chances are there’s something similar in the
HP store.
HP Pavilion Refurbished Laptop 15-eg0560TU: Best for business
The busy professional needs a high-octane laptop with sufficient horsepower to handle a fast-paced workload. Boasting an 11th Generation Intel® Core™ i7 processor and a whopping 16GB of RAM, the HP Pavilion 15-eg0560TU delivers precisely that. Whether you're crunching data or creating top-notch content, this speedy machine will see you breeze through your workflows with ease.
![HP Pavilion Refurbished Laptop 15-eg0560TU: Best for business](https://au-media.apjonlinecdn.com/catalog/product/cache/74c1057f7991b4edb2bc7bdaa94de933/5/2/52U55PA-1_T1666655734_1.png)
And when the workday is done, the crisp FHD display and Intel Iris Xe Graphics offer endless entertainment options. A generous screen-to-body ratio, micro-edge bezels, and booming B&O audio make this a formidable multimedia machine.
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (2 x 8GB)
- Storage: 512GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Screen size: 15.6” diagonal FHD display
- Weight: 1.75 kg
- Battery life: Up to 8 hours
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Refurbished 14-dy0187TU: Best for Multimedia
A nimble yet powerful multimedia streaming machine doesn't have to break the bank. Boasting four viewing angles and dual speakers with crisp B&O Audio, the
HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 14-dy0187TU delivers the immersive viewing experience you deserve. Flip the 2-in-1 into a tablet for handheld content consumption or set it upright as a laptop to cruise through everyday computational tasks.
![HP Pavilion x360 2-in-1 Refurbished 14-dy0187TU: Best for Multimedia](https://au-media.apjonlinecdn.com/catalog/product/cache/74c1057f7991b4edb2bc7bdaa94de933/5/1/51M94PA-9_T1666747476_1.png)
While it's not intended as a top-end work machine, the Intel Pentium Gold processor and 8GB of RAM afford plenty of power for most standard workflows. A petite 14-inch frame and a high battery life make this an excellent option for users on the move.
- Processor: Intel Pentium Gold processor
- RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (1 x 8GB)
- Storage: 128GB PCIe NVMe TLC M.2 SSD
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Screen size: 14” diagonal HD touch display
- Weight: 1.5 kg
- Battery life: Up to 8 hours and 45 minutes
HP Pavilion Refurbished Laptop 15-eg0558TU: Best Midrange
With a late-gen Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, this zesty mid-range machine offers impressive performance for an affordable price. Stash stacks of data on the sizeable 512GB SSD or enjoy casual gaming thanks to the capable Intel Iris Xe Graphics. What's more, a crystal clear FHD display and crisp B&O make it great for catching up on your favourite shows.
![HP Pavilion Refurbished Laptop 15-eg0558TU: Best Midrange](https://au-media.apjonlinecdn.com/catalog/product/cache/74c1057f7991b4edb2bc7bdaa94de933/5/2/52U54PA-1_T1666655734_1.png)
The versatile
HP Pavilion 15-eg0558TU also serves as a fully functional work machine. Whether you're an IT professional or a freelance creative, there's plenty of power under the hood to handle essential everyday duties.
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core i5 processor
- RAM: 8GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM (2 x 4GB)
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Screen size: 15.6” diagonal FHD display
- Weight: 1.75 kg
- Battery life: Up to 8 hours
HP ENVY Refurbished 13-ba1022TU: Best for portability
Constantly on the go?
Then you're better off investing in a slim, lightweight laptop you can effortlessly whisk around town. Weighing in at just 1.3 kg, the
HP ENVY 13-ba1022TU offers next-level portability with plenty of power under the hood.
Boasting an 11th-gen Intel i5 and 8GB of RAM, the agile little unit has enough processing power to handle your essential tasks. The integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics card also handles casual gaming and lightweight animation rendering. And thanks to the long-lasting battery, you can do all this without needing a recharge halfway through your workday.
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core™ i5 processor
- RAM: 8GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (onboard)
- Storage: 512GB Intel PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- Screen size: 13.3” diagonal FHD touch display
- Weight: 1.31 kg
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours
OMEN by HP Gaming Laptop Refurbished 16-inch b0158TX: Best for gaming
Manufacturer-refurbished gaming laptops entail enormous savings off the sticker price while offering ample power to run modern Triple-A games. With a zippy Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, and 4GB in its beefy NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060, you'll have no issues achieving blistering-fast frame rates on its FHD display.
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core i7 processor
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM
- Storage: 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Screen size: 16.1” diagonal FHD display
- Weight: 2.3 kg
- Battery life: Up to 6 hours and 45 minutes
HP ENVY x360 2-in-1 Refurbished 15-ed0013TX: Best 2-in-1
Become the envy of your friends and get the best of both worlds with the HP ENVY x360 2-in-1 15-ed0013TX. This convertible 15-inch machine works seamlessly as a laptop and tablet, letting you work and play with the same streamlined device. Solid specs and an extended battery life ensure you won't miss a beat.
Unlike most 2-in-1s, this model has a speedy 4GB NVIDIA GeForce MX330. That gives you enough juice to run light to moderate games and video/animation rendering apps - it's ideal for creatives and casual gamers alike.
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i5 processor
- RAM: 16GB DDR4-2666 SDRAM (1 x 16GB)
- Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX330 (4GB GDDR5 dedicated)
- Screen size: 15.6” diagonal FHD touch display
- Weight: 1.92 kg
- Battery life: Up to 10 hours and 25 mins
Choosing the right HP refurbished laptop for you
Purchasing an HP refurbished laptop saves you a tidy sum while still offering the peace of mind that comes with a 12-month warranty. Whether you're a struggling student or a thrifty office manager, these fully reconditioned machines represent excellent value for money.
Take a browse through our recommendations to pinpoint the perfect option for you. If you can't find something you like, there are plenty more refurbished laptops for sale at the
HP Australia store.
About the Author: Harry Stewart is a contributing writer for HP Tech Takes. Harry is an Australian-based content writer covering everything from travel to tech.