Apple MacBook Pro 13" Certified Refurbished Space Gray 2017 Review

It's a cheap, old Mac that's fine for basics but frustrating for anything else. Buy it only if your budget is tight and your needs are minimal.

This refurbished 2017 MacBook Pro is a classic Apple laptop that's still a solid pick for one specific group: people who want a Mac for basic tasks and don't want to spend a fortune. The one thing you need to know is that this is an old Intel machine. It's not fast, and the 128GB storage is painfully small, but if you just need a reliable Mac for web browsing, email, and light work, it gets the job done. The Retina screen is still beautiful, and the build quality is excellent.

The performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 7-year-old Intel i5. Our data shows its CPU ranks in the 29th percentile, which means it falls behind most modern laptops. It's fine for opening a few tabs and writing documents, but you'll feel the lag if you try to do anything more. The integrated graphics are middle of the pack, so don't even think about gaming. The surprising part is how well it holds up in other areas: the reliability score is best-in-class, and it's still one of the most portable laptops you can find.

Prices range from $300 to $520. At the low end of that range, it's a decent value for a entry-level Mac. At $500, it's a rip-off. If you can find it for around $350, it's worth considering for the right person. Otherwise, skip it.

If you're looking at this, you should also look at a modern base-model MacBook Air. Even the older M1 Air will run circles around this Intel Pro in speed, battery life, and efficiency, though it costs more. On the Windows side, a new budget laptop like a Lenovo Ideapad will give you more storage and RAM for the same price, but you lose the macOS experience and the premium build.

If you're a student, a creative professional, or anyone who needs to run more than a few apps at once, skip this. You'll hate the slow performance and tiny storage. Go look for a refurbished M1 MacBook Air or a modern budget Windows laptop instead.

We can only recommend this 2017 MacBook Pro to a very specific buyer: someone who needs a cheap, certified Mac for light, basic computing and values portability over power. For almost everyone else, especially students or anyone doing real work, the limited storage, slow processor, and aging battery make it a frustrating choice. Spend a bit more for a modern machine.