Yesterday, Apple added several Macs and Studio Display models introduced in March 2026 to its Certified Refurbished store. Those models include:
- MacBook Neo (A18 Pro)
- MacBook Air (M5)
- MacBook Pro (M5 Pro and M5 Max)
- Studio Display (2026)
Keep in mind that listings for the Studio Display (2026) incorrectly state that it features an XDR display. That feature is actually reserved for the higher-end Studio Display XDR.
However, what made this news even more interesting was that these additions to the Certified Refurbished store came a day after Apple raised prices on Macs, iPads, Apple TVs, and HomePods. With those adjustments in effect, many refurbished models now cost about the same as equivalent brand-new models did before this week. For example, the M5 MacBook Air went from $1,099 to $1,299, starting with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. The equivalent refurbished base model now starts at $1,099.
On the other hand, certified refurbished 2026 Studio Display models start at $1,359, but Studio Display models weren’t affected by those pricing adjustments, so that model still starts at $1,599 brand new. Nevertheless, you could save even more when buying it from other resellers such as Best Buy and Amazon.
It should go without saying that stock for refurbished models from Apple fluctuate from time to time, so if there’s a specific configuration (memory/storage/etc.) you have in mind, you may want to refresh that page to see whether that configuration is available, as it may sell out fast. Of course, certified refurbished products from Apple went through “full functionality testing” and “through cleaning process and inspection”, and just like Apple’s brand-new products, they are also covered by the company’s one-year limited warranty with optional extended coverage through AppleCare+.
While it has been a shame to see those pricing adjustments hit both Apple’s new and refurbished products, we just have to deal with this memory crisis for the time being. If you still can’t swallow those price hikes for a bit longer, you may be able to find last-generation models on clearance once new models come out, if you don’t care about getting the latest tech.
