The MacBook Air (2020 or newer with M1/M2 chips) offers the ideal balance of performance, battery life, and price for most students. These models handle typical academic tasks – research, writing, presentations, light photo editing – without breaking a sweat while maintaining all-day battery life for campus use. Expect to pay $600-900 for refurbished M1 MacBook Airs during Black Friday, compared to $1000+ new. For students in demanding fields like video production or engineering, consider refurbished MacBook Pro 14-inch models, though they'll cost more ($1200-1500 refurbished vs. $2000+ new).

For MacBooks, "Good" condition typically offers the best value during Black Friday – you'll save significantly versus "Excellent" or "Premium" while getting identical performance. MacBooks are built to last, so minor cosmetic wear like light scratches on the lid or keyboard shine doesn't affect functionality. "Excellent" condition makes sense if you're buying for professional presentation or plan to resell later. "Fair" condition MacBooks work perfectly but might have visible wear that could be distracting in business settings. And "Premum" is genreally the 'Crème de la crème' where the screen

Most refurbished MacBooks run current macOS versions, but it depends on the model year and Apple's compatibility requirements. MacBooks typically receive macOS updates for 7-8 years after their release date. For example, 2017 MacBook Pros still support macOS Ventura and later versions, while 2015 models have reached their update limit. Before buying, check Apple's macOS compatibility list to ensure your chosen MacBook will receive future updates for as long as you need. The good news? Even MacBooks that can't run the latest macOS remain fully functional with excellent software support for seve