{"id":1806,"date":"2017-07-06T14:07:37","date_gmt":"2017-07-06T19:07:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/?p=1806"},"modified":"2021-11-19T19:12:05","modified_gmt":"2021-11-20T01:12:05","slug":"buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-on-portability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-on-portability\/","title":{"rendered":"Buying a used MacBook, the essential guide on portability"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some of the most obvious features of any laptop are the size, weight, and battery life of the machine. All these factors affect portability, or how capable your <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\">MacBook<\/a>&nbsp;is to compute on the go.<\/p>\n<h2>Swappa&#8217;s top MacBook Portability picks<\/h2>\n<p>Spoiler Alert: We&#8217;re going to jump right to our best recommendations based on portability for some common price ranges:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>$500 &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-2013-13\">MacBook Air, 13&#8243; (2013)<\/a> with up to 256 GB storage<\/li>\n<li>$700 &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-retina-2015-12\">MacBook Retina, 12&#8243; (2015)<\/a> with 256 GB storage<\/li>\n<li>$1000 &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-retina-2016-12\">MacBook Retina, 12&#8243; (2016)<\/a>&nbsp;with 256 GB storage OR<\/li>\n<li>$1000 &#8211;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-2015-13\">MacBook Air, 13&#8243; (2015)<\/a>&nbsp;with 8 GB memory and 256 GB storage<\/li>\n<li>$1500 &#8211; <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-pro-2015-retina-15\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en&amp;q=https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-pro-2015-retina-15&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1499997615003000&amp;usg=AFQjCNFuJDEYa9jJ5WG39kScwv6DKHnWzw\">MacBook Pro, 15&#8243; (2015)<\/a> with 512 GB storage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Now let&#8217;s consider how we arrived at these picks&#8230;<\/p>\n<h2>Factors that affect portability<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Size<\/strong> is probably the biggest factor in affecting portability. An <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\/macbook-air\">MacBook Air<\/a> may fit in your purse, but a <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\/macbook-pro\">MacBook Pro<\/a> might need a backpack or laptop bag. A bigger screen means more drain on the battery as well how long you can compute away from a power outlet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Weight<\/strong> can vary substantially on a Mac notebooks, even for those&nbsp;of similar size.&nbsp;The difference between a <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\/macbook-retina\">MacBook Retina<\/a>&nbsp;(2.03 lbs)&nbsp;and <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-pro-13\">13\u201d MacBook Pro<\/a>&nbsp;(3.02 lbs) can be substantial. Not surprisingly a <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-pro-15\">15&#8243; MacBook Pro<\/a> (4.02 lbs) is&nbsp;going to be the heaviest. Despite the name a <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-13\">13&#8243; MacBook Air<\/a> (2.96 lbs) is not much&nbsp;lighter than the same sized MacBook Pro.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MacBook 12&#8243; &#8211;&nbsp;2.03 lbs<\/li>\n<li>MacBook Air 13&#8243; &#8211;&nbsp;2.96 lbs<\/li>\n<li>MacBook Pro 13&#8243; &#8211;&nbsp;3.02 lbs<\/li>\n<li>MacBook Pro 15&#8243; &#8211;&nbsp;4.02 lbs<\/li>\n<li>Specs are based on the 2017 edition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Battery<\/strong> power determines&nbsp;how long you can compute away from a power outlet, which can be especially important for air travel or trying to answer emails on the go. While all of the Mac notebooks offer a pretty similar battery life in terms of wireless and standby tie the MacBook Air should provide the most according to Apple.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MacBook 12&#8243; &#8211;&nbsp;41 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery for up to 10 hours of wireless and 30 days of standby time<\/li>\n<li>MacBook Air 13&#8243; &#8211;&nbsp;54 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery for up to 12 hours of wireless and 30 days of standby time<\/li>\n<li>MacBook Pro 13&#8243; &#8211; 50&nbsp;or 54 watt-hour lithium-polymer battery for up to 10 hours of wireless and 30 days of standby time<\/li>\n<li>MacBook Pro 15&#8243; &#8211; 76&nbsp;watt-hour lithium-polymer battery for up to 10 hours of wireless and 30 days of standby time<\/li>\n<li>Specs are based on the 2017 edition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Age<\/strong> of the laptop is worth mentioning because older batteries don&#8217;t tend to last as long; don&#8217;t count on a 5 year old MacBook to provide the same battery life as one from last year.<\/p>\n<h2>What size MacBook should I buy?<\/h2>\n<p>The difference between a 12\u201d and 13\u201d model may not seem like a lot, until you\u2019re schlepping it around an airport. If you travel a lot or need&nbsp;to have a lot of portability during the day you may want to stick to the lighter end of the spectrum of 12\u201d models. <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-2015-13\"><strong>A used or refurbished&nbsp;13\u201d MacBook Air<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a>will strike a good balance between portability and screen size, which is important considering how much time we spend staring at our laptops. If you\u2019re looking for the most portable option, &nbsp;a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-2015-11\">used 11\u201d MacBook Air<\/a><\/strong> may be a contender. Depending on the configuration, this device can provide the same computing power as a 13\u201d but in a lighter package.<\/p>\n<p>The most popular size is a 15\u201d MacBook and is the largest available configuration for Apple\u2019s notebooks. This is a great choice if you don\u2019t plan on carrying the device around a lot but still want to be able to balance the device on your lap. If you\u2019re willing to trade in portability for a computing workhorse, the large <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-pro-2015-retina-15\"><strong>15\u201d MacBook Pro<\/strong><\/a> may be a better choice for you.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1863\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1863\" style=\"width: 1280px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1863 size-full img-responsive\" title=\"Used and refurbished MacBooks on Swappa\" alt=\"Used and refurbished MacBooks that come in a variety of sizes and prices to fit your needs.\" src=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/used-MacBooks-should-still-have-good-battery-life.jpeg\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\"><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1863\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Your used or refurbished Apple Laptop should be a size comfortable enough to balance on your lap but still have enough battery power to take you through your day.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Do &nbsp;I need to worry about the battery of a used MacBook?<\/h2>\n<p>Since you\u2019re in the market for a laptop then you\u2019re likely looking for something portable and don\u2019t plan to always be docked close to a power source. If you want to see which Apple notebook will be the lightest, you can take a look at our comparison tables below. You\u2019ll notice in each of the tables we&#8217;ve created that battery life for each model&nbsp;has improved at release.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-pro-15\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1986 img-responsive\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/MacBook-Pro-1.png\" width=\"1366\" height=\"314\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-13\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1987 img-responsive\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/MacBook-Air-1.png\" width=\"1384\" height=\"306\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-retina\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1988 img-responsive\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/MacBook-Retina-2.png\" width=\"1380\" height=\"294\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Of course if you\u2019re buying used, you may want to temper your expectations of how long the battery will last. Batteries will degrade over time and depending on the type of battery and care, battery performance can vary in used MacBooks. Buyers&nbsp;are encouraged to ask questions prior to purchasing a used <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\"><strong>Apple Laptop on Swappa<\/strong><\/a>. Feel free to ask the seller about the battery cycle count which will give you an indication of the life expectancy of the battery.<\/p>\n<p>Note, once battery cycle count has reached the limit set by Apple it is considered consumed. The laptop might still perform the same but battery life might deplete rapidly. Don\u2019t be afraid to score a deal on a great MacBook for fear of having to buy a replacement batter.<\/p>\n<p>Traditionally, the 11\u201d and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-air-2015-13\">13\u201d MacBook Air <\/a><\/strong>and the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/apple-macbook-retina-2016-12\">12\u201d MacBook<\/a><\/strong> have performed better on battery life than the 13\u201d and 15\u201d MacBook Pro\u2019s due to the computing demands these workhorses undergo. Again, factors such as the kind of work you\u2019ll be doing, the amount of time you think you\u2019ll be working away from a power source and the battery cycle count of the used MacBook should all be factored into your decision.<\/p>\n<h3>Will my used MacBook have a power adapter?<\/h3>\n<p>A unique feature of Apple computers is the power adapter that usually comes with the device. The standard power cord that comes with MacBooks is a distinguishable white cord and a transformer in the shape of a square brick. What\u2019s unique about the MacBook power adapter is that you can remove the extension cord that plugs into the wall from the charging brick.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1967\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1967\" style=\"width: 199px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1967 img-responsive\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/07\/Apple-duckhead-adaptor.jpg\" width=\"199\" height=\"199\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1967\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An Apple duckhead adaptor is a useful accessory when you need to take your used Mac on the go.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Apple provides a connector, called a duckhead that can replace the power cord so that you can plug the brick directly into the wall. Ideally, when you travel you would leave the extension cord behind that plugs into the wall and plug in the duckhead to reduce the number of cords. Some people prefer to just use the extension cord as the brick can be hard to plug into an outlet when you have other things plugged in.<\/p>\n<p>When purchasing a used MacBook you may want to check that the duckhead and extension cord will come with the device. Otherwise, you can always buy replacements. Note that in some newer models, Apple has not included the extension cord so it may not come with your used purchase.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Questions to ask yourself about Portability<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>How long will I need my laptop to be portable?<\/li>\n<li>Will I need to carry this device around a lot?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Next, explore other important features such as computing power and keyboards and ports.<\/p>\n<p>Or skip straight to the section of interest using these links:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/07\/buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-intro\/\">Intro<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/06\/buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-on-price\/\">Price<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/06\/buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-on-accessibility\/\">Accessibility &#8211; Retina display, ports, keyboard, etc.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/06\/buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-on-computing-power\/\">Computing Power<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/05\/buying-a-used-macbook-the-essential-guide-summary\/\">Summary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<p>Reference:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>MacBook specs:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook\/specs\/\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook\/specs\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>MacBook Air specs:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-air\/specs\/\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-air\/specs\/<\/a><\/li>\n<li>MacBook Pro specs:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-pro\/specs\/\">https:\/\/www.apple.com\/macbook-pro\/specs\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Snag the best\u00a0deals on\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/buy\/macbooks\" target=\"_blank\">used MacBooks<\/a>\u00a0deals wherever you go. Download the\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/app\" target=\"_blank\">Swappa App<\/a>\u00a0today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/app\/apple-store\/id1572540049?pt=117971450&amp;ct=blog&amp;mt=8\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/iOS-App-Store-transparent.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-24302 img-responsive\" width=\"180\" height=\"60\"\/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some of the most obvious features of any laptop are the size, weight, and battery life of the machine. All these factors affect portability, or how capable your MacBook is to compute on the go. In this article we&#8217;ll cover used MacBooks and rate their portability.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":1808,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,16,278,13],"tags":[287,281,283,282,332],"products":[],"class_list":["post-1806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple","category-buyer-tips","category-macbook","category-protips","tag-apple-macbook","tag-macbooks-on-swappa","tag-sell-used-macbook","tag-used-macbooks","tag-where-to-buy-used-macbooks"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1806"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24877,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1806\/revisions\/24877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1806"},{"taxonomy":"products","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/products?post=1806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}