5 Laptops That Are Still Worth Buying Used in 2026

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

In 2026, the quality of a laptop often depends on the current cycle of processors and hardware available. While most major manufacturers release machines every year, often multiple times, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of what’s new and shiny. Lately, this has been compounded by skyrocketing RAM prices, which has made gadgets such as laptops more expensive. So it might be time to consider opting for a refurbished or used laptop rather than a new one.

The good news is that as processors have continued to increase their performance significantly in recent times, buying a computer that is a few years old doesn’t mean you’re buying something that will be immediately obsolete. In fact, with Arm-based processors like those found in Apple’s M-series Macs or PCs running on Qualcomm’s ever-expanding line of Arm chips, laptops are truly becoming powerhouses of efficiency and performance. To that end, we’ve put together a list of some totally worthwhile laptops for a used purchase in 2026, all of which offer excellent performance-to-dollar value.

Apple is one of the best brands when it comes to maintaining long-term performance and usability. One of the best value for money deals is a certified refurbished 15-inch MacBook Air with an M4 chip. As of this writing, Apple is using the M5 generation of its base chip, but all tests and reviews indicate that the M4 is still a more than capable processor in 2026. We like the 15-inch model because it brings impressive display dimension to a nice little portable unit.

The 15-inch MacBook Air also delivers a truly modern hardware experience, sporting Apple’s latest notched design with a variety of sleek, all-metal chassis colors to choose from. You’ll also benefit from a great-feeling keyboard, Apple’s nifty MagSafe charger, and a consistent battery capacity that’ll last you up to 18 hours of typical daily use. The best part is that this model is currently available directly from Apple’s refurbished site, which also gives you Apple’s full one-year limited warranty and the option to purchase AppleCare as a new Apple product. However, you’ll miss out a bit on multi-core performance compared to Apple’s fan-cooled devices, so this option is really aimed at those looking for sleek, portable devices.

One of the best ways to access the incredible performance of a Mac without spending too much is to go back a generation or two. In fact, the latest macOS Tahoe is still supported on laptops dating back to 2019. Those seven years of updates are significant, especially if you’re considering a computer that’s already a few years old. If you’re looking for pro-level performance and margin, consider a used MacBook Pro with an M3 Pro chip. These professional-grade laptops feature an active cooling system that starts a fan when the chip is really cooking. This gives it more room to breathe and more room to run multi-core processes.

You’ll also get Apple’s top-notch hardware specs at launch, including the mini-LED display that’s made MacBook Pros so popular recently, multiple port options that include HDMI and SD card slots, and the ability to spec it with a solid amount of RAM and storage (if there’s a used option available in that configuration). The M3 lineup is starting to show its age a bit, as the M5 MacBook Pros post much more impressive multi-core numbers in some benchmarking tests. But if you’re coming from an older Mac, the M3 Pro will look pretty modern for a solid price.

If you’re looking to move away from the Apple ecosystem, Dell’s answer to the sleek, high-performance laptop is its XPS line. The model numbers for Dell The 9510 line features 11th Gen Intel Core processing, while the 9520 uses the 12th Gen equivalent. It’s not a huge leap on paper, but that extra year should give you some extra longevity down the line.

The other key difference here is that the 9510 only offers DDR4 RAM configurations, while the 9520 gives you the current DDR5 generation. This faster RAM could help carry lower RAM capacity and help your laptop continue to feel snappy. Either way, both tiers sit in a modern Dell XPS chassis with a much-loved keyboard and premium feel. If you’re really strapped for cash, used 9510s are quite capable, but scaling up to the 9520 would be a bit more scalable.

While the laptops we’ve recommended above are clearly stylish and beautifully designed, this type of premium build comes with a trade-off: They’re difficult to repair. That’s why the laptop community loves Lenovo Thinkpad T-series options. While you can pair the T480 with the standard business laptop, we recommend the T14 gen 3 and later. Lenovo has taken a tough stance with these laptops to ensure they are repairable and easy to open. This repairability has earned them solid scores with iFixit, and Lenovo has even partnered with iFixit to integrate the little things that make a laptop easy for DIYers to maintain.

Why is this important? Well, while you can buy a used T14 gen 3 for a very solid price, even with stock components, there are several items that you can actually upgrade or replace later. This means you can buy a solid laptop at a great price now, but you can also keep it relevant over time. It’s certainly not as sophisticated or high-end as the Mac or Dell options on this list, but the repairability is a good trade-off.

Released just a few years ago, the Surface Pro 9 is probably the right choice for people looking for an older but still capable 2-in-1 tablet. While you can get a great deal on a new Surface Pro at Costco, second-hand can still save you a lot of money without many compromises. Although Lenovo and Dell have their own unique form factors in this category, the Surface Pro line is highly regarded and designed for a detachable 2-in-1 experience.

The Surface Pro 9 is our pick here for a few key reasons. First, the model is built around Intel’s 12th generation processors, which have shown long-term capacity improvements over the previous generation Surface Pro 8 processors. The Pro 9 also offers Wi-Fi 6E to help future-proof this machine’s networking and connectivity capabilities over time. And the Pro 9 also features an ultra-thin, modern design that will look anything but outdated while you’re using it. Of course, you may lose out a bit in terms of performance and connectivity, as the ultra-thin form factor stifles cooling capabilities (especially for Arm-based models) and limits the number of ports Microsoft can fit into the model. But on the second-hand market, the price-features ratio is rather convincing.

Building a list of the “best” in laptops is a long and arduous process. When you open your searches to previous generation models, you literally have hundreds of different laptop types and configurations to choose from. For this list, we wanted to cover a meaningful spectrum that encompassed PC users and Mac enthusiasts, design aficionados and spec sheet enthusiasts, and in general, the types of buyers likely to purchase an older laptop in 2026. The result is a diverse list that focuses on different form factors, release cycles, and price points.

However, there is a lot in common with these computers. We’ve gone to great lengths to ensure that these laptops will all have a good chance of maintaining operating system support for at least a few more years. In the case of Macs, we can expect more than five years. On the PC side, we tried to balance design, performance, price, and (in one case) repairability. Regardless, all of these laptops are viable choices for the price, based on searches on forums and tech journals.