Refurbished vs open-box: which is better?

An open-box laptop is essentially new. Someone bought it, opened it and returned it, or it was a display piece. It's usually current-generation, with little or no use, and often still under the brand's warranty.

A refurbished laptop has had a previous life, usually several years in an office. It's been tested and repaired, and it costs a lot less.

Which should you buy?

• Open-box if you want the latest model and can afford close-to-new prices. The discount is usually 10–25%.
• Refurbished if you want the most laptop for your money. A refurbished premium business laptop often costs less than a new budget laptop — and is better built.

Open-box stock is hard to find in India and appears unpredictably. Refurbished business laptops are much easier to find in good numbers.