QUESTION

What is the best used laptop to buy?

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Asked May 15, 2026Last updated May 30, 2026Answers can change over time.

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Answer78% confidence

Best overall used laptop for most people: Lenovo ThinkPad T490s. It’s a safe used buy because ThinkPads are known for durable business-laptop design, parts availability, and practical everyday performance.

If you want a bigger screen or more power, choose the Dell XPS 15 7590. If you want a newer business laptop with strong specs, look for a Dell Latitude 5420 refurbished unit with a warranty.

Quick buying rule: prioritize condition, battery health, SSD, at least 16GB RAM if possible, and a return policy/warranty over chasing the lowest price.

Our pick

Lenovo ThinkPad T490s

Best for most used-laptop buyers

Maars picked this for everyday buyers who want a reliable used Windows laptop: it is a practical business-class choice with a reputation for durability.

At a glance

Compared picks

Swipe to compare

	ThinkPad T490s	Dell XPS 15 7590	Dell Latitude 5420	HP EliteBook	Apple MacBook
Best fit	Most people who want a durable everyday Windows laptop	People who want a larger, more premium 15-inch laptop	Business users who want newer refurbished specs	Value shoppers who find a clean business-grade unit	People who prefer macOS and Apple build quality
Main strength	Durable, practical, easy to live with	Bigger screen and more premium feel	Strong business-laptop specs when refurbished well	Often good value in corporate off-lease stock	Premium hardware and strong macOS experience
What to check	Battery condition, keyboard wear, RAM and SSD size	Battery, thermals, screen condition, charger, and GPU/spec configuration	Warranty, exact CPU/RAM/SSD configuration, and screen quality	Exact model generation, battery, keyboard, and display resolution	Year, chip/processor, battery cycles, macOS support, and storage size
Avoid if	You need a gaming laptop or high-end creative workstation	You want the lightest laptop or longest battery life above all	You find only overpriced or heavily worn units	The model is too old or has a low-resolution display	You need Windows-only software or cheap repair parts

Also compared

Best larger-screen used laptop

Dell XPS 15 7590

Best for larger-screen buyers

Maars picked this for buyers who want a nicer 15-inch used laptop: it is a strong option when you want more screen space and a premium feel.

Best value business laptop

Dell Latitude 5420

Best for refurbished business buyers

Maars picked this for buyers who want a newer refurbished business laptop: it can be a strong value when sold with good specs and a return policy.

Best brand direction

HP EliteBook

Best for value-focused windows buyers

Maars picked this for value hunters who find a clean business-grade unit: it can be a dependable alternative to ThinkPad and Latitude models.

Apple MacBook

Best for macos users

Maars picked this for buyers who prefer macOS: it can be a great used choice if the model year, battery, and software support are right.

Alternatives

Dell Latitude 5420
Best value business laptop
A solid refurbished business laptop choice, especially if you find one with 16GB+ RAM, SSD storage, and warranty coverage.
Dell XPS 15 7590
Best larger-screen used laptop
A better fit if you want a more premium 15-inch laptop for general work, media, and light creative use.
Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, or HP EliteBook
Best brand direction
Business-class lines are usually safer used buys than low-end consumer laptops.

What could change this answer

Condition and battery health can outweigh the model choice on the used market.
Price, warranty, and return policy vary by seller and can make a different laptop the better buy.
Your needs for screen size, portability, and performance could favor the XPS 15 7590 or Latitude 5420 instead.

Found this helpful?

More buying options

May include affiliate links

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Our pick

Lenovo ThinkPad T490s

Best for most used-laptop buyers

Maars picked this for everyday buyers who want a reliable used Windows laptop: it is a practical business-class choice with a reputation for durability.

At a glance

Compared picks

Swipe to compare

	ThinkPad T490s	Dell XPS 15 7590	Dell Latitude 5420	HP EliteBook	Apple MacBook
Best fit	Most people who want a durable everyday Windows laptop	People who want a larger, more premium 15-inch laptop	Business users who want newer refurbished specs	Value shoppers who find a clean business-grade unit	People who prefer macOS and Apple build quality
Main strength	Durable, practical, easy to live with	Bigger screen and more premium feel	Strong business-laptop specs when refurbished well	Often good value in corporate off-lease stock	Premium hardware and strong macOS experience
What to check	Battery condition, keyboard wear, RAM and SSD size	Battery, thermals, screen condition, charger, and GPU/spec configuration	Warranty, exact CPU/RAM/SSD configuration, and screen quality	Exact model generation, battery, keyboard, and display resolution	Year, chip/processor, battery cycles, macOS support, and storage size
Avoid if	You need a gaming laptop or high-end creative workstation	You want the lightest laptop or longest battery life above all	You find only overpriced or heavily worn units	The model is too old or has a low-resolution display	You need Windows-only software or cheap repair parts

Also compared

Best larger-screen used laptop

Dell XPS 15 7590

Best for larger-screen buyers

Maars picked this for buyers who want a nicer 15-inch used laptop: it is a strong option when you want more screen space and a premium feel.

Best value business laptop

Dell Latitude 5420

Best for refurbished business buyers

Maars picked this for buyers who want a newer refurbished business laptop: it can be a strong value when sold with good specs and a return policy.

Best brand direction

HP EliteBook

Best for value-focused windows buyers

Maars picked this for value hunters who find a clean business-grade unit: it can be a dependable alternative to ThinkPad and Latitude models.

Apple MacBook

Best for macos users

Maars picked this for buyers who prefer macOS: it can be a great used choice if the model year, battery, and software support are right.

Alternatives

Dell Latitude 5420
Best value business laptop
A solid refurbished business laptop choice, especially if you find one with 16GB+ RAM, SSD storage, and warranty coverage.
Dell XPS 15 7590
Best larger-screen used laptop
A better fit if you want a more premium 15-inch laptop for general work, media, and light creative use.
Lenovo ThinkPad, Dell Latitude, or HP EliteBook
Best brand direction
Business-class lines are usually safer used buys than low-end consumer laptops.

What could change this answer

Condition and battery health can outweigh the model choice on the used market.
Price, warranty, and return policy vary by seller and can make a different laptop the better buy.
Your needs for screen size, portability, and performance could favor the XPS 15 7590 or Latitude 5420 instead.

Found this helpful?

More buying options

May include affiliate links

Search Amazon Search eBay