Apple recently began offering the 12-inch Retina MacBook in its online store for refurbished products, marking the first time refurbished versions of the Retina MacBook have been made available for purchase.
Released in April of 2015, the Retina MacBook is Apple's thinnest, lightest Mac product, measuring in at just 13.1mm thick and weighing 2 pounds. The machine has a full edge-to-edge keyboard, a fanless design enabled by a low power Core-M chip from Intel, and a Retina Display.
While the main refurbished site does not yet have a listing for the Retina MacBook, refurbished models are available on a dedicated MacBook page. All of the refurbished machines are available at a 15 percent discount.
Apple has four refurbished Retina MacBook models for sale at the current time, including two entry-level 1.1GHz models for $1,099, a $200 discount, and two higher end models. The 1.2GHz/8GB/512GB Retina MacBook in Silver is available for $1,359, a $240 discount, while an upgraded 1.3GHz/8GB/512GB machine in Silver is available for $1,489, $260 off the regular price of $1,749.
For many months after its launch, Retina MacBook supplies were constrained. Shipping estimates were upwards of a month for most models, and most Apple retail stores received very little stock. Personal Pickup for the MacBook wasn't available until August, four months after it was released. Refurbished editions of newly released Macs often show up in the refurbished store after a few months, but the supply issues may explain why refurbished MacBook models haven't previously been available.
Apple's refurbished inventory fluctuates on a regular basis based on available supply, so models that are available today may not be available tomorrow. All of Apple's refurbished products are tested, certified, and come with a one-year warranty.
(Thanks, Matt!)
