{"id":376389,"date":"2021-12-04T15:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-04T12:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/"},"modified":"2021-12-04T15:00:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-04T12:00:55","slug":"buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/","title":{"rendered":"#Buying a Used Mac or MacBook? Check These Things Before You Buy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3b1816b5baf\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3b1816b5baf\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#The_Basics_of_Buying_a_Second_Hand_Mac\" >The Basics of Buying a Second Hand Mac<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Does_the_Mac_Boot\" >Does the Mac Boot?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Is_the_Mac_Still_Linked_to_the_Old_Owner\" >Is the Mac Still Linked to the Old Owner?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Testing_a_Mac_Thats_Been_Factory_Reset\" >Testing a Mac That\u2019s Been Factory Reset<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Is_the_Mac_Enrolled_in_a_Device_Management_Program\" >Is the Mac Enrolled in a Device Management Program?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#How_Does_it_Run\" >How Does it Run?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Are_the_Keyboard_and_Trackpad_in_Good_Order\" >Are the Keyboard and Trackpad in Good Order?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Do_the_Ports_All_Work\" >Do the Ports All Work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Does_the_Display_Have_Dead_Pixels_or_Other_Problems\" >Does the Display Have Dead Pixels or Other Problems?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#What_Condition_Is_the_Battery_In\" >What Condition Is the Battery In?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Does_It_Come_With_a_Charger\" >Does It Come With a Charger?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/#Finally_Consider_Running_Apple_Diagnostics\" >Finally, Consider Running Apple Diagnostics<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><strong>&#8220;#Buying a Used Mac or MacBook? Check These Things Before You Buy&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-772124\" data-pagespeed-lazy-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macbook-on-box.jpg?width=398&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 400w, https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macbook-on-box.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, 400w, 1200w\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macbook-on-box.jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A closed MacBook Pro on top of original packaging\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/burgas-bulgaria-august-31-2017-macbook-715105864\">D_Zheleva\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Buying a second-hand Mac is a great option for anyone put off by <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">App<\/a>le\u2019s price premiums for new machines. They\u2019re well-built, they\u2019re well-supported with years of free macOS updates, and any AppleCare+ plans can be transferred to a second-hand buyer.<\/p>\n<p>But before you buy a second-hand Mac, you should run a few checks to make sure you don\u2019t get stung first.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Basics_of_Buying_a_Second_Hand_Mac\"><\/span>The Basics of Buying a Second Hand Mac<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Buying any high-value item second-hand can be a nerve-wracking experience. This is true whether you\u2019re purchasing from a private seller you found on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a> Marketplace or a second-hand retailer on the high street. At the very least, you should request some time with the computer in person to check things out for yourself.<\/p>\n<p>With online sales, this is often not possible. In these instances, you\u2019ll need to apply the usual safeguards you\u2019d take into account with any peer-to-peer purchase. Check into the seller\u2019s history and ensure they have good feedback on an account that is ideally at least a few years old. Use a payment processor like PayPal which offers buyer protection so you can pull the trigger if things don\u2019t turn out how you expect.<\/p>\n<p>But if you\u2019re buying a Mac \u201cIRL\u201d then you have fewer protections. Most in-person sales take place using cash or payment apps that offer no protection, and laws that protect consumers do not usually apply. It\u2019s a \u201cbuyer beware\u201d situation where you need to make sure the item you are buying is fit for sale\u00a0<em>before<\/em> you hand over any money. If you have any doubts, walk away.<\/p>\n<p>There are some red flags you should look out for when making such a second-hand purchase, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Does the sale seem too good to be true?<\/li>\n<li>Should the item be priced much higher?<\/li>\n<li>Will the seller let you thoroughly inspect the item before you buy?<\/li>\n<li>Is the seller only willing to meet in an isolated location after dark?<\/li>\n<li>Is cash the only payment that the seller is accepting?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You probably wouldn\u2019t buy a car without an opportunity to see under the bonnet and kick the tires first. Most would insist on a test drive at the very least, even with the seller in the passenger seat. Buying a computer is no different. You should either meet at the seller\u2019s house or in a public place where you can\u2019t be taken advantage of. You should have time to inspect the computer thoroughly before you buy it.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a desktop Mac your options for an inspection are a bit more limited, but you should still satisfy the basic criteria.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>How to See What Something Is Worth Using eBay<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_Mac_Boot\"><\/span>Does the Mac Boot?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It seems like an obvious point, but the Mac should at the very least boot. You should see a startup screen followed by macOS. You might see a log-on screen or the \u201cHello\u201d splash that appears when macOS is freshly installed.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-771267 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/login_screen.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"macOS login\" width=\"650\" height=\"445\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Walk away if the seller insists that \u201cthe battery is dead\u201d and won\u2019t show the machine booting. If the machine powers on but shows an error or won\u2019t boot fully into macOS, that could indicate a hardware problem. You don\u2019t necessarily need to hear the \u201cMac noise\u201d when turning the computer on, since Apple dropped that from many of the machines made in the past ten years (though it\u2019s back in the Apple Silicon models).<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Mac_Still_Linked_to_the_Old_Owner\"><\/span>Is the Mac Still Linked to the Old Owner?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If the Mac boots you\u2019re either going to see \u201cHello\u201d to indicate that macOS has been reinstalled, or you\u2019ll see a login window with the account holder\u2019s name. If you see a login window, be aware that the Mac is still likely linked to the old owner. This means that macOS Activation Lock is likely still enabled.<\/p>\n<p>Activation Lock is designed to stop someone from using a Mac that has been stolen or lost. It will need to be removed before the sale is made. The seller can remove this feature under System Preferences &gt; Apple ID then by clicking iCloud in the sidebar and unchecking \u201cFind My Mac\u201d from the list.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-771266 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/find_my_mac.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"Find My Mac\" width=\"650\" height=\"382\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The seller will need to enter their Apple ID password to remove the feature. If they cannot complete this, it could mean that the Mac has been stolen. Never buy a Mac that still has \u201cFind My Mac\u201d enabled. You should fully test the machine first, then insist on this being removed before you complete the purchase.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Testing_a_Mac_Thats_Been_Factory_Reset\"><\/span>Testing a Mac That\u2019s Been Factory Reset<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you see the \u201cHello\u201d screen rather than a login window, the Mac has been reset to an \u201cas-new\u201d state by the owner. On the one hand, this is good since it means Activation Lock has been disabled, while on the other it presents some problems for testing the machine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-765009\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/macos_hello-650x366.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"macOS Monterey &quot;Hello&quot; startup screen\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Since you will need to run a few tests on the machine to ensure everything is working, one workaround is to tell the seller to set up the Mac for you. Get them to add a dummy account to the computer so that you can run your tests, then before you make the sale reset the Mac again or at least ensure Activation Lock (above) isn\u2019t enabled.<\/p>\n<p>If they aren\u2019t able to create an account due to Activation Lock already being enabled, or the Mac presents a \u201cLost Mode\u201d error then you should walk away. A genuine seller will understand that you need to see the Mac in fully working order.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_Mac_Enrolled_in_a_Device_Management_Program\"><\/span>Is the Mac Enrolled in a Device Management Program?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Businesses and educational establishments often buy Macs wholesale from Apple, and use a device management program called Automated Device Enrollment (ADE)\u2014previously known as Device Enrollment Program (DEP)\u2014to manage devices. This can present all sorts of problems, since the program is linked to the Mac\u2019s serial number.<\/p>\n<p>On setup of macOS, the Setup Assistant will check the device\u2019s enrollment status and download any configurations that exist. This can stop an end-user from using the Mac at all since it requires the original owner\u2019s intervention to remove the profile from the system to be used as a \u201cnormal\u201d Mac.<\/p>\n<p>You can check a device\u2019s ADE\/DEP enrolment status using a Terminal command, but you\u2019ll need admin access (so the owner will need to enter the admin password for the command to run). Open Terminal and type:<\/p>\n<p><code>sudo\u00a0profiles show -type enrollment<\/code><\/p>\n<p>If you see \u201cnull\u201d or an error like \u201cClient is not DEP enabled.\u201d then the device is likely not enrolled. This means it\u2019s probably not stolen from a previous employer or university.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-771268\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/terminal_dep.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"macOS check for ADE\/DEP with Terminal\" width=\"650\" height=\"127\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Be aware that there are some ways of preventing macOS from checking for DEP\/ADE status on setup, so there is a small amount of risk assumed when buying any Mac.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_it_Run\"><\/span>How Does it Run?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You should spend some time with the Mac to see how it runs. Test out a few common workflows like opening Safari and visiting some websites, browsing the Mac App Store, checking processes in Activity Monitor, and searching for items in Spotlight.\u00a0You can also take this opportunity to make sure video and audio plays back smoothly, which will also confirm that the speakers are in working order.<\/p>\n<p>An older Mac that hasn\u2019t been formatted recently may have a lot of bloat running in the background that may affect performance, but things should still tick along without many problems. Web pages that scroll or perform poorly, freezes and stutters, and the machine generating lots of heat may indicate that things aren\u2019t all they seem.<\/p>\n<p>Excessive heat can be caused by dust build-up inside of the machine and if you\u2019re happy to\u00a0clean a MacBook out for yourself\u00a0then you may want to take the risk. This is something you\u2019ll have to \u201cfeel out\u201d by hand, but it stands to reason that a MacBook shouldn\u2019t be too hot to touch or blaring the fans while idle or under very little load.<\/p>\n<p>Be aware that older Intel Macs may run much hotter than newer Apple Silicon models with an M1 or similar processor. A Mac with an Apple Silicon processor should remain cool and quiet even under a medium load.<\/p>\n<p><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <strong><em>Intel Macs vs. Apple Silicon ARM Macs: Which Should You Buy?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Are_the_Keyboard_and_Trackpad_in_Good_Order\"><\/span>Are the Keyboard and Trackpad in Good Order?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a MacBook or desktop Mac that includes peripherals, test the keyboard fully and make sure everything feels and behaves as it should. Make sure all of the keys work, including the power button and fingerprint sensor if present. If you\u2019re buying a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, ensure that it registers touch inputs and shows contextual controls for whatever app you\u2019re using.<\/p>\n<p>This is especially important on MacBooks made between 2015 and 2020, which used Apple\u2019s dreaded \u201cButterfly\u201d keyboard for which there is an <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-au\/keyboard-service-program-for-mac-notebooks\">official service program<\/a> now in place. While Apple will repair any problems for free, you should still draw any issues to the seller\u2019s attention since this will affect the value of the machine.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to test trackpads and mice too. Older trackpads with physical moving parts are more prone to issues than the newer \u201cForce Touch\u201d models which simulate the \u201cclick\u201d using haptics. On a MacBook replacing the trackpad can often be very difficult without replacing other much more expensive components inside the machine.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_the_Ports_All_Work\"><\/span>Do the Ports All Work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Obvious damage to ports should ring alarm bells, and if you can you should test these ports. Desktop models like the Mac mini may need to be hooked up via HDMI so make sure that the display output works as expected. Most MacBooks released in the last five or so years will only have USB-C (Thunderbolt) ports, so keep this in mind if you want to bring a flash drive or USB cable for this purpose.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-666573\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/usb-c_cable_apple.jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"USB-C to USB-C Cable (Apple)\" width=\"650\" height=\"355\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Apple<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_Display_Have_Dead_Pixels_or_Other_Problems\"><\/span>Does the Display Have Dead Pixels or Other Problems?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Nobody likes dead pixels, but many displays suffer from them in time. The older the display, the more likely you\u2019ll have stuck or dead pixels. Sometimes these pixels are located in areas that you\u2019ll barely notice, and other times they\u2019re in the middle of the screen where you\u2019re looking 90% of the time.<\/p>\n<p>The only way to tell is to get up close and personal and use a website like <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/deadpixeltest.org\">DeadPixelTest.org<\/a>. Make the web browser full screen and cycle through the various colors available. You may not reject a sale purely due to the presence of dead pixels, but it may give you some leverage to get the seller to lower the price.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Condition_Is_the_Battery_In\"><\/span>What Condition Is the Battery In?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a MacBook that you\u2019re planning to use on battery power, knowing the condition of the battery may be important. Learn how to check the battery condition of a MacBook before you arrive. The older the machine the more cycles the battery is likely to have on it, and the worse the performance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-764710\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/battery_cycles_system_report.png?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"macOS System Report\" width=\"650\" height=\"403\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Like dead pixels, this may not make or break your purchase but if you want to replace the battery in the MacBook you should factor this price into the sale.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_It_Come_With_a_Charger\"><\/span>Does It Come With a Charger?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re buying a MacBook you should expect to see a first-party, Apple-branded charger. These have the Apple logo recessed into the side and come in the company\u2019s signature white. Third-party chargers aren\u2019t entirely useless, but they are significantly cheaper than Apple\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 650px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-764707\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/magsafe_3_macbook.jpeg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"MagSafe 3 MacBook Pro charger\" width=\"650\" height=\"487\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Tim Brookes<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Be very wary of any sellers that do not include the charger in the sale. This may suggest that the machine has been stolen, and it may limit your ability to conduct tests on the machine. Like a battery replacement, you should factor in the cost of a charger if you\u2019re considering buying a machine that doesn\u2019t include a charger.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Finally_Consider_Running_Apple_Diagnostics\"><\/span>Finally, Consider Running Apple Diagnostics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Apple Diagnostics is a built-in utility that Apple includes with its computers to test for any hardware errors that may be present. The feature doesn\u2019t provide particularly detailed feedback, but it does often flag some of the more common issues.<\/p>\n<p>Learn how to run Apple Diagnostics on a Mac before you buy it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/771262\/buying-a-used-mac-or-macbook-check-these-things-before-you-buy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;#Buying a Used Mac or MacBook? Check These Things Before You Buy&#8221; D_Zheleva\/Shutterstock.com Buying a second-hand Mac is a great option for anyone put off by Apple\u2019s price premiums for new machines. They\u2019re well-built, they\u2019re well-supported with years of free macOS updates, and any AppleCare+ plans can be transferred to a second-hand buyer. 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