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LivelyCheetah5238 173K Views
Apr 11, 2021 10:24 AM

Certified Refurbished Apple MacBook Air Devices

From $760

$899

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Apple Store has select Certified Refurbished Apple MacBook Air M1 Devices on sale listed below. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member LivelyCheetah5238 for finding this deal

Note, curbside pickup is unavailable at any Apple Store locations

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Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • These products are sold through the official Apple Store; see product details for complete specs/what's included w/ purchase
  • Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, every unit is evaluated to ensure it meets Apple's quality standards.
  • These products were originally released November 2020
  • Next day delivery is offered with additional cost ranging from ~$8
  • Supplies may be limited; offer valid while promotion last
Additional Note
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by LivelyCheetah5238
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Apple Store has select Certified Refurbished Apple MacBook Air M1 Devices on sale listed below. Shipping is free.

Thanks to community member LivelyCheetah5238 for finding this deal

Note, curbside pickup is unavailable at any Apple Store locations

Example Deal(s)Warranty

Editor's Notes

Written by Discombobulated | Staff
  • These products are sold through the official Apple Store; see product details for complete specs/what's included w/ purchase
  • Apple Certified Refurbished Products are pre-owned Apple products that undergo Apple's stringent refurbishment process prior to being offered for sale. While only some units are returned due to technical issues, every unit is evaluated to ensure it meets Apple's quality standards.
  • These products were originally released November 2020
  • Next day delivery is offered with additional cost ranging from ~$8
  • Supplies may be limited; offer valid while promotion last
Additional Note
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details - Discombobulated

Original Post

Written by LivelyCheetah5238

Community Voting

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+76
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Top Comments

geektech
1.4KComments
1KReputation
8GB M1 MacBook and Mac mini have excessive ssd read/write issues that significantly reduce ssd lifespan. 16gb is a must.

Edit: for those who still wonder, read this

M1 Mac Users Report Excessive SSD Wear
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/02...-ssd-wear/

and

How worried should you be about your M1 Mac's SSD lifespan?
https://www.macworld.com/article/...espan.html

There are two major causes:

1. small ram (8GB total, including 2-4GB for VRAM, only 4-6GB left for the system and applications) and ARM chipsets' increasing demand for RAM (due to weak RAM management on the legacy Unix/Linux memory/swap system with ARM instruction sets).
Apple's solution: disproportionately increases the size and usage of the swap partition;

2. Rosetta 2 translation demands larger RAM than X86, X64 precompiled apps.
Apple's solution: disproportionately increases the size and usage of the swap partition, again.

So, you would expect a significant reduction in SSD lifespan on an M1 Mac compared to an Intel mac, not to mention a Windows pc which has a much more robust ram/pagefile management system.
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nin7474
2.9KComments
234Reputation
https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/11/m1-mac-ssd-wear/

https://youtu.be/FyMCoQmsv-I
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teknoman
3.3KComments
511Reputation
Just to be aware I checked on an Intel Mac mini I use at work and the SSD is also reporting high amount of writes (write amplification). So I don't think this is M1 specific. It's not macOS Big Sur either cuz I'm still using Catalina.

I posted in MacRumors but the thread is so long it's buried.
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154 Comments

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Apr 11, 2021 6:44 PM
210 Comments
Joined Nov 2010
coolcuteApr 11, 2021 6:44 PM
210 Comments
Stack with discover 10% cb
up to $100 in purchases with your Discover® Card using Apple Pay now–May 31
Apr 11, 2021 6:48 PM
2.9K Comments
Joined Oct 2006
nin7474Apr 11, 2021 6:48 PM
2.9K Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from geektech View quoted comment :
8GB M1 MacBook and Mac mini have excessive ssd read/write issues that significantly reduces ssd lifespan. 16gb is a must.
https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/11/m1-mac-ssd-wear/

https://youtu.be/FyMCoQmsv-I
Last edited by nin7474 April 11, 2021 at 12:26 PM.
3
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Apr 11, 2021 6:49 PM
2.9K Comments
Joined Oct 2006
nin7474Apr 11, 2021 6:49 PM
2.9K Comments
Quote from coolcute View quoted comment :
Stack with discover 10% cb
up to $100 in purchases with your Discover® Card using Apple Pay now–May 31
Is it targeted?
Couldn't find on my Discover
Last edited by nin7474 April 11, 2021 at 11:53 AM.
Apr 11, 2021 6:50 PM
61 Comments
Joined Dec 2007
gshoqApr 11, 2021 6:50 PM
61 Comments
Got Best Buy Geek Squad certified open box MBA M1 in silver for $780 in March. I got lucky because it looked virtually untouched. Apple certified refurbished is an excellent option though.
3
Apr 11, 2021 7:07 PM
270 Comments
Joined Aug 2008
norse2Apr 11, 2021 7:07 PM
270 Comments
Quote :
Quote from nin7474 View quoted comment :
https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/11/m1-mac-ssd-wear/
geektech8GB M1 MacBook and Mac mini have excessive ssd read/write issues that significantly reduces ssd lifespan. 16gb is a must.
​nin7474 linked to the article but for those of us too busy to click the link, here is the title:

"M1 Mac SSD wear probably a far smaller problem than it appears."

I have used an 8GB MBA for months now with no problem with excessive swapping or beachballs.
3
Apr 11, 2021 7:11 PM
7K Comments
Joined Jul 2015
Quality-LearingApr 11, 2021 7:11 PM
7K Comments
Just buy 899 anytime at student store, Apple doesn't even check
2
Apr 11, 2021 7:27 PM
2.9K Comments
Joined Oct 2006
nin7474Apr 11, 2021 7:27 PM
2.9K Comments
Quote from norse2 View quoted comment :
​nin7474 linked to the article but for those of us too busy to click the link, here is the title:

"M1 Mac SSD wear probably a far smaller problem than it appears."

I have used an 8GB MBA for months now with no problem with excessive swapping or beachballs.
Thanks. Good to hear that.
What config/specs do you have?
Also have you tried the Thermal Pad trick?

https://youtu.be/IACHo5y9Los

Waiting for delivery of my "Apple Certified Refurb 8 Core GPU, 8gb RAM, 512gb SSD".
Last edited by nin7474 April 11, 2021 at 12:46 PM.
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Apr 11, 2021 10:51 PM
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Joined May 2017
Scintillation
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This user is an Expert in Health & Beauty
Apr 11, 2021 10:51 PM
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Quote from dotBen View quoted comment :
I want to clarify the difference between Apple refurb and open box.

You can't tell an Apple refurb (from Apple directly) unit from an 'new' unit. I've bought many and the cases and exterior parts are always brand new (or so incredibly reconditioned you wouldn't know). My understanding is Apple refurbs are typically frankenstein laptops where they remove the logic board or battery from a returned laptop and reimplement it.

Open boxes can really be anything - a laptop that someone just decided to return due to choice but could also be a laptop someone used for a business trip or for a couple of weeks and chose to return during the window. It could be a laptop someone dropped or scratched and cheekily decided to return it during the window. It could be a shop floor model that's been bashed around.

To me they are entirely different products that carry very different degrees of risk, especially if you can't inspect the open box product before you purchase it.

If the small $ saving of an open box from Best Buy is worth it to you, go ahead, but saving 30% off retail directly from Apple on a laptop that looks and feels brand new, is enough of a saving to make this a smart choice.
yeah I agree. Apple direct refurb vs Best Buy open box is very different.
Same for Canon direct refurb. Most people cannot tell the difference from New.
Apr 12, 2021 1:52 AM
116 Comments
Joined Jul 2008
Doc042Apr 12, 2021 1:52 AM
116 Comments
Quote from sdtacos250 View quoted comment :
Google.com
Lmgtfy.com
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Apr 12, 2021 2:09 AM
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Apr 12, 2021 2:24 AM
1.3K Comments
Joined May 2013
TechManDadApr 12, 2021 2:24 AM
1.3K Comments
This is version 1 of M1 hardware. Performance seems great, but there will be hiccups as the platform develops. I recommend not buying until the next release, especially not at full price.
Apr 12, 2021 2:44 AM
1.4K Comments
Joined Dec 2008
JLee50Apr 12, 2021 2:44 AM
1.4K Comments
Quote from fivenue View quoted comment :
Can I say overrated & grossly overhype products?
The M1 is properly rated and hyped. Don't knock it 'til you try it.

Is my 5950X with 128GB RAM and PCI-e 4.0 NVME faster? Sure. Is the M1 absurdly capable for its platform and power efficiency / battery life? Absolutely.
1
Apr 12, 2021 2:55 AM
817 Comments
Joined Jun 2018
Rajmachawal22Apr 12, 2021 2:55 AM
817 Comments
I've been interested in the max mini as a starting apple computer but Amazon shows the 799 model is 512gb and 8gb still? Apple charges $200 for double the GB? Or is it a misprint and it is the 16gn ram?
Apr 12, 2021 2:57 AM
133 Comments
Joined Mar 2008
rufworkApr 12, 2021 2:57 AM
133 Comments
Quote from teknoman View quoted comment :
Just to be aware I checked on an Intel Mac mini I use at work and the SSD is also reporting high amount of writes (write amplification). So I don't think this is M1 specific. It's not macOS Big Sur either cuz I'm still using Catalina.

I posted in MacRumors but the thread is so long it's buried.
I've read it's not necessarily a big concern.

https://9to5mac.com/2021/03/11/m1-mac-ssd-wear/

That said, I would recommend getting the 16 gig RAM models. Doesn't just keep wear lower on the SSD but my 8 gig model slows to a standstill every so often when the RAM is full.
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Apr 12, 2021 3:29 AM
141 Comments
Joined Dec 2013
Soixante-O-MaticApr 12, 2021 3:29 AM
141 Comments
Quote from jimmyco2008 View quoted comment :
Fellas I'm tellin ya you'll want more than 8GB. I wasn't doing anything beyond "web browser and productivity" tasks and memory pressure spent a good bit of time in yellow and red. Everyone's experience will be different but I think Apple screwed up by making 8GB the base and not having a 32GB option. 16GB is fine for this in 2021 but 8 is not.
This first generation was just a market proof of concept with the existing intel chassis. The 'actual' apple silicon is going to be the M1X, M2, whatever it's actually called, with many more performance cores, memory, and storage options. Hopefully also more ports.
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