What does manufacturer refurbished mean?
Manufacturer refurbished means the device was refurbished by the company that originally made it. For Apple products, this means the device was restored by Apple itself, not by a third-party seller. Apple sells these through its official Refurbished Store.
How manufacturer refurbishment works
Apple's refurbishment process includes:
- Full hardware and software diagnostic testing
- Replacement of any defective components
- A new battery installed in every device
- Thorough cleaning and cosmetic evaluation
- New outer shell for iPhones, iPads, and iPods
- Original Apple packaging with all standard accessories included
Manufacturer refurbished vs seller refurbished
| Manufacturer (Apple) | Third-party refurbisher | |
|---|---|---|
| Who refurbishes | Apple | Independent companies (Back Market sellers, Amazon Renewed, etc.) |
| Cosmetic grade | Grade A (Excellent) only | All grades (A, B, C) |
| Battery | Always new | Varies by seller |
| Warranty | 1-year Apple warranty | 30 days to 2 years depending on seller |
| AppleCare eligible | Yes | No |
| Packaging | Original Apple packaging | Seller's generic packaging |
| Price | Higher (typically 15% off retail) | Lower (20-50% off retail) |
There are no major differences in the refurbishment quality. Both sources produce fully functional devices. The main advantages of manufacturer refurbished are the guaranteed new battery, original packaging, and AppleCare eligibility. The main advantage of third-party refurbishers is deeper discounts, especially on Grade B and Grade C devices.
Learn more about how the refurbishment process differs between manufacturers and retailers.
How to find manufacturer refurbished products
On RefurbMe, you can filter for Apple Store products only to see exclusively manufacturer-refurbished devices. You can also compare Apple's prices against third-party sellers to decide which option offers the best value for your needs.