Best Refurbished Dell Laptops

Best refurbished Dell laptop models

When thinking about buying any device, the first thing you need to do is figure out what you will be using it for. Do you plan to mostly browse online and write a few emails or are you looking for a heavy hitter to handle specific work programs?

The best thing about getting a Dell laptop is that there are so many models to choose from. There are laptops to suit pretty much everyone – from the most casual user, to business professionals, to serious gamers.

Broadly speaking, there are a few product lines you need to know: mainstream Inspiron, power laptops XPS, Alienware and G Series for gamers, business class Latitude and Precision for professionals that are a bit more demanding than most.

Now, like we already mentioned, it’s great that there are so many great Dell options but that can also be a little bit overwhelming. To help you figure out which recertified Dell laptop is best for you, here are a few suggestions to choose from.

1. Refurbished Dell Latitude 14 7480

A 14-inch Dell Latitude, the 7480 model is both compact and sturdy – light enough to carry around, but built to last.

While its design is simple and elegant enough, we are talking about a business laptop so there will be no awards for looks. The built quality, however, is something else entirely – this notebook can survive quite a few accidents without anything more than superficial damage.

Inside the rubbery to the touch body, the combination of a lovely FHD display, Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 512GB SSD should handle all you throw at it, unless you work with very demanding programs (in which case you might want to consider another of Dell’s series).

The backlit keyboard is a real pleasure to use and even after long stretches of typing – which can be quite common for a business laptop, your fingers don’t get too tired. Keys have a comfortable shape, they’re not too clicky and travel is good.

Battery life on the Lenovo 7480 is quite good but of course, it depends on usage and screen brightness. Some people get 13 hours out of it, some get more like 6 or 7, which is in fact pretty good.

More expensive than a consumer laptop, the Latitude 7480 is worth the price, especially refurbished – either no wear at all or at worst, a superficial scratch here and there, and also a 3-year guarantee.

2. Refurbished Dell Latitude 7390

Designed for business use, the Dell Latitude series has something for everybody, whether you work mostly in an office or more often in the field.

If you need mobility, Dell Latitude 7390 is a top of the line business-class 13-inch laptop with an 8th generation Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

It also has a FHD 13.3-inch touchscreen display – more than acceptable for a business model, but you might have to calibrate colors at first – and preinstalled Windows 10, as well as a very nice backlit keyboard with nice travel.

Depending on your workload the Dell Latitude 7390 might get a little hot and a little noisy, but probably won’t bother you too much, unless you use it for some serious gaming, which it is certainly not meant for.

The Dell Latitude 7390’s best feature is its size and weight – the body itself is in fact more reminiscent of a 12-inch laptop. Super compact and lightweight, it is very nice to the touch and while it picks up some fingertips, it is most definitely worth it.

Despite its size and weight, this is a rather rugged, well-built machine that can withstand quite a bit of travel and has the battery life to go with it.

And one important note – many smaller, lightweight laptops have the very minimum of ports. The Dell Latitude 7390 however, has a surprisingly good range of ports, including one USB Type-C, two USB 3.1 Gen1 and an HDMI.

3. Refurbished Dell XPS 15 9570

Dell know not to mess with a good thing, that’s why the XPS 15 9570 has the same chassis and many of the same components as older models in the XPS series. The body especially is the same lovely combination of high end aluminum and carbon fiber on the inside.

Configurations of the Dell XPS 15 9570 can vary from fairly basic – and cheaper – specs, to pretty powerful combinations which are, of course, more expensive. Somewhere in the middle is the winner with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.

Except for the base model, all XPS 15 9570 have NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti dedicated graphics and a nice 15.6-inch matte display (there are options with a touch 4K display, if you really need it).

However, if you are looking for a gaming laptop, this is not it and not just because the cooling system can’t handle it. But Dell do have plenty of options for gamers, including excellent deals on refurbished Alienware or G Series machines.

A rather light and thin device for its type, the Dell XPS 15 9570 is extremely well-built and looks and feels like a premium machine.

Still it’s worth stressing – this is a 15-inch laptop, so it’s not perfect for lugging around. If you are constantly on the go and need something to carry with you all day, we suggest you get a refurbished Del XPS 13.

4. Dell Inspiron 15 5570 Renewed

A refurbished Dell Inspiron 15 5570 is another good deal that is worth checking out. Keep in mind there are options with and without touchscreen, so check specifications carefully and avoid spending more if you don’t need it.

But if you are in fact looking for a touchscreen laptop, don’t hesitate to get a renewed Dell Inspiron 15 5570 – bad experiences are very few and chances are yours will work just like new.

In any case you will get a decent (but not great) 15.6-inch FHD display that will be more than adequate for everyday use. Another not so perfect feature is battery life – OK but nothing to write home about.

However, if the reason you need a long-lasting battery is because you plan to carry your laptop around, since this is a 15-inch device and not exactly lightweight, the Dell Inspiron 15-5570 simply is not the right one for you.

On the other hand, if you don’t plan to work on the go, processor is 8th Generation Intel Core, RAM is up to 12 GB and 1TB of HDD storage makes this a very well rounded machine.

Another unexpected bonus is the DVD+RW drive which some people find very useful and the backlit keyboard is not bad at all (it is, however, not available on all configurations).

Overall, really good value for your money and plenty of pros, if the cons we’ve mentioned are not a deal breaker for you.

5. Refurbished Dell G5 5587

The Dell G Series is a line of devices, aimed at gamers who need a powerful laptop at a decent price.

Choosing a refurbished Dell G5 5587 you get a nice set of components, including an i7 Intel CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050Ti and 1TB of storage, with a 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 IPS display.

The solidly built body itself is quite easy on the eyes, with a red Dell logo and details in the same red color on the inside – the letters on the keyboard and the edge of the touchpad.

The keyboard is nice enough to use and doesn’t take a lot of getting used to, but keep in mind it is not backlit.

The back panel is easy to remove and components are accessible if you prefer to add more RAM for example – you can easily double your 16GB to 32GB.

There is some wobble of the lid, which is to be expected from a single hinge, but is definitely nothing to worry about. The hinge itself is very smooth and the lid can be lifted with just a finger.

Battery life is good for this type of laptop, but as always with a gaming machine, you really should play while plugged in (although just watching videos might get you 5-6 hours).

Also, the Dell G5 5587 is not really designed for a lot of carrying around and not just because serious gaming will eat up your battery – it is not super heavy, but it isn’t light either and once you add the charger, it will certainly weigh you down.

6. Dell Precision M5510 Refurbished

As we’ve already mentioned, the Latitude series is designed with business needs in mind, but there are plenty of professionals who use specific apps and programs that simply require more computing power.

For those, whose work demands something more powerful than the common business laptop, Dell offers the Precision M5510 workstation – a 15.6-inch mobile workstation that can handle some heavy calculations.

Not the newest model in the Precision line, the M5510 is still a solid device with great specs, which include a 6th Gen i7 processor, 256GB SSD and 16GB RAM.

A sign of a good workstation is the GPU – in this case an Nvidia Quadro M1000M graphics card, and the high quality display, an anti-glare 15.6-inch UltraSharp FHD.

The soft-touch carbon fiber keyboard is excellent (and backlit) and the body is premium solid aluminum that looks and feels first class.

The design itself is a classic, which yes, means it might be just too boring for some people, but it is certainly elegant and chances are you are more concerned with substance, not form.

Ports include a Thunderbolt 3, 2 USB 3.0 ports, HDMI and an SD card reader.

While newer models will, of course, have newer components, this Precision M5510 can be a great choice, depending on your field and needs.

Unlike run-of-the-mill, general use laptops or even higher-end business machines, Precision workstations are on the pricier side, so getting a recertified device just makes sense.

Buyer’s guide

What condition to expect

Recertified Dell laptops are very popular and there is a good reason of it – generally what you get in the box (which is usually generic) is a laptop that works and looks like new.

In fact, most people who get a refurbished laptop don’t ever go back to paying full price and often start getting all their electronics refurbished.

Are refurbished Dell laptops good?

One thing people sometimes complain about after getting a Dell device is the so-called teething pains when unveiling a new model – there are often some updates and revisions needed.

That’s not an issue when getting a refurbished model – you get a working and looking like new laptop with preinstalled Windows 10 and you are good to go.

And if you find out something is not OK with the laptop, you can always return it and often you will immediately get a replacement and maybe a discount for your trouble as well.

What refurbished Dell laptop for general use?

Inspiron is Dell’s laptop line for general use and within it, there are plenty of options depending on your budget and screen size preference. In any case, these are compact, well-built devices that come in 3000, 5000 and 7000 series (the latest has more premium features and is therefore more expensive).

What refurbished Dell laptop for student work?

Generally, students need something very portable and durable and often a chromebook is their best bet. Dell offer a few models designed specifically for younger students (simple, light and super durable machines).

But if you feel you need something a little more powerful or getting a chromebook doesn’t sound too good, because you are used to Windows, getting a lower class Inspiron is always a good option.

What refurbished Dell laptop for gaming?

Dell actually offer two separate product lines for gamers, which is very nice – Alienware for the more demanding, style-conscious gamer and the less pricey but still powerful enough G Series for tighter budgets.

What refurbished Dell laptop for professional use – CAD, 3D, Graphics?

If you work with demanding apps and specific, heavy-load programs, make sure you get a laptop that can handle them. Look for something appropriate in the Precision line and make sure you do your research. Prices can be high but finding a refurbished offer can save you some money.

What refurbished Dell laptop for Business use?

Dell’s business-class laptop series is the Latitude series where you can find a good deal, no matter what you need. Some devices are optimized for office workers, while others are lighter, more compact and more durable – for those who travel a lot or their work takes them outside on a regular basis.

What is the OS of Dell refurbished laptops?

Most commonly the recertified Dell models come with Windows 10 and only the older models might have Windows 7 installed instead.

Keep in mind all are compatible with Linux and many people prefer to switch to it. Depending on what you are used to and what you need in terms of OS, this can be an excellent way to go.

But for Windows fans, quickly check descriptions and chances are your refurbished, working like new Dell laptop will have Windows 10 installed, so you can start using it right out of the box.

How to know if my Dell USB Type-C is thunderbolt?

We have an article concerning computer ports where you can read more on the topic. But in short, if there is a lightning strike logo next to the USB-C port, it is most probably a Thunderbolt 3. Check out also this article on the Dell website, where models with USB-C but without a Thunderbolt 3 support, are listed.