How to check if the laptop is new or refurbished?

The laptop is among today’s hottest trends because everyone seems to get a new or upgrade from the previous model. Moreover, buying a new laptop isn’t a cheap thing. Moreover, there are various stores that sell laptops at an affordable cost. Furthermore, for those that are on a tight budget, you can go with the refurbished option. This way, you will get a good laptop with higher specifications at a cheaper cost. However, other retailers take advantage of and sell refurbished laptops at a similar cost as new laptops. Below are ways in which you can identify if a laptop is new or refurbished.

Product serial number

One of the ways of checking if a laptop is refurbished or not is by looking at the product number. If the number has an extra letter R at the end, then that’s a refurbished laptop. If it doesn’t have it then, it means that the laptop is new. For example, NB234UAR#ABA is for refurbished laptops and NB234UA#ABA is for a new laptop. This letter is normally in the color red or green.

Advertising stickers

More refurbished laptops will come with an advertising sticker placed somewhere on them. Moreover, with Windows, the OS will display something which identifies the refurb company. For instance, Grays Online loads its laptops using a Grays trademarked version of Windows. This isn’t just for advertising but also an assurance that the HDDs have been clean well.

Check laptop screws

If the screws of the laptop have traces on them, then the laptop was opened before and it’s not new.

Laptop surface

Moreover, you should also inspect the surface of a laptop. If you will find scratches then know that it was used before. Moreover, you should also feel the keyboard texture. Much fingertip contact makes the buttons shiny and smooth. Additionally, also inspect the screen or display if it has small wear-marks although it’s rare.

Serial number

Check the serial number at the back of the laptop and the BIOS serial number and compare the two. If they aren’t the same then the machine may be refurbished.

Laptop attachments

Check for common laptop attachment/additions/peripherals like Driver CD, brochures, and manuals that come with any new laptops. If they are not available, then the laptop is refurbished.

Warranty

Laptops that are refurbished come with a shorter warranty time of three months. Another different way of checking if a laptop is refurbished is by use of smell. New laptops normally have an irritating smell. This is of industrial cleaning agents. Refurbished laptops have fragrance & leave the laptop surface creamy.

Conclusion

Refurbished products are good particularly if you need a powerful machine and you are on a tight budget. However, if you have the money and need a new laptop, you need to check out the listed ways. This will protect you from a retailer that needs to makes maximum profit by selling refurbished products as new.