Discover the surprising truth about the world of “brand new” electronics – and learn how to determine if your “brand new” purchase is older than you think.
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The end of life of Windows 10 is looming. You know you still have at least 75 laptops to replace across your organisation that are not currently compatible with Windows 11, but you keep putting it off. In a world where technology is paramount and all organisations, big or small, have enormous reliance on using various types of devices to function, you reach out to some suppliers to get some quotes.
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• Should you buy brand new?
• Should you buy refurbished?
• Can we afford new devices?
• What warranty do the devices come with?
• Will they be compatible with the other infrastructure?
• Is it sustainable to purchase brand new equipment?
• What carbon savings can be made choosing refurbished?
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These are just some of the questions that might cross your mind when thinking about procuring replacement devices. You’re still undecided between new and refurbished, so rather than making an uninformed choice you reach out to a few suppliers who come back with options for both.
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“Brand New” Lenovo IdeaPad – 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, Intel Core i5-11th gen processor – 1 year warranty @ £350+VAT.

Refurbished Dell Latitude 5410 – 14” Screen, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, Intel Core i5-10th gen processor – 3 years warranty @ £280+VAT.
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The price difference is a measly £70 between buying “brand new” and buying refurbished.

It’s a no brainer, isn’t it?

Obviously, the best value here is within the “brand new” devices…or is it?

This might be how the proposition is pitched by the supplier looking to sell you “new” hardware, but the reality is that this can be a little deceiving…
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Upon further investigation, the “brand new” Lenovo IdeaPad’s were manufactured in 2021. They already have 3-year-old processing technology integrated within the device!! Meaning that whilst the condition of the device is brand new – the processing technology certainly is not. To compare that with the Dell 5410 which has a processor that was released in 2020, the difference is minimal. Not to mention, the Dell Latitude is a premium/corporate machine designed to be robust and for longevity. The IdeaPads are not a premium range device (tip – for Lenovo you need to look for the “ThinkPad” range). Is that £70 price difference still a no brainer?
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But this doesn’t end there…The “Brand New” Lenovo has HALF as much RAM (8GB instead of 16GB), making the device worse in terms of memory performance which could slow the user down when running lots of applications simultaneously. In addition, the Lenovo comes with just 12 months warranty, whereas the refurbished device comes with 3 years warranty – THREE TIMES as much warranty.

After reviewing the information and taking into consideration ALL the information, would you rather spend an extra £70 on the “brand new” device, or would you prefer to save £5250 (75 x £70)? I know which I’d choose…
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Top tip summary:
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• Check and ensure that the devices you are buying have up to date technology.
• Make sure the specifications are equivalent (for example RAM, storage capacity, screen size, graphics capability).
• Check the length of warranty on offer to ensure the offer is comparable.
• Make sure the device is of a similar “class” of product – IE standard or premium.
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Think you might need help with the above? Get in touch, we’d love to give you some guidance!

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