Manufacturer warranty vs seller warranty: what's the difference?

Manufacturer warranty comes from the brand (Dell, Lenovo, HP, Apple). You claim at the brand's service centres. Most refurbished business laptops are past their original manufacturer warranty.

Seller warranty comes from the refurbisher. You claim directly with them, and they repair, replace or refund.

Which is better?

A manufacturer warranty has the brand's service network behind it. A seller warranty is only as good as the seller, but it's often faster and more personal: you talk to the people who tested your laptop.

Before you buy

Check the seller's warranty length, what it covers, how claims work and who pays shipping.