When you're looking to purchase a retro game console, there are several options to consider. While you could always hunt down a rare, new-in-box system, you'll likely have to shell out a hefty sum of cash, as the collectors market continues to drive prices high on pristine originals. The most economical decision is to buy a used or refurbished retro console, but what's the best choice? In truth, while many other companies tote their used systems as “lightly played”, the reality is often less than satisfactory. If you want to forego the mystery of pre-owned products and avoid sketchy social media marketplaces, then properly refurbished retro game consoles are your best bet.

What's the Difference Between Used and Refurbished?

Used, or “pre-owned” systems, are the types of consoles you'll commonly discover while searching for retro game hardware. Whether you're searching via an online marketplace, headed to a local brick-and-mortar game shop, or stopping by a general pawn store, most of the retro products you'll find are used. In the best case, these are game consoles that have only been played a few times, are well-maintained, and can continue working properly for many years in the future. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case, as most pre-owned products are sold for a quick buck, and the quality of the merchandise reflects that. Until you plug in the console and boot it up, there's no guarantee that things will work properly. Most sellers only check if a console can take a power supply or output a video signal when dealing with used systems.

On the other hand, a refurbished retro game console is one that had an identified problem, but has since been fixed and replenished to its best possible state. For example, when a console is sent to a manufacturer for repairs, they will often be replaced with a new one in the meantime. These systems are then properly repaired, packaged up, and sent to verified sellers to return to the market. In other cases, talented independent parties can restore these problems for even lower fees than the original manufacturers.

Generally speaking, a used game console is one that (hopefully) still works, while a refurbished console is one that might have required repair, but has been completely disassembled, cleaned, repaired if needed, tested and sold with all the required accessories . When it comes to retro game systems, it's not a matter of if they will malfunction, but when. Luckily, since many of the classic consoles have been on the market for decades, the majority of major problems are well-documented and can be fixed without much investigation. Especially in the case of popular systems like the Super Nintendo, PlayStation, and Game Boy, a clean and refurbished console is far preferable to one that's been sitting around for decades.

The Advantages of Refurbished Retro Consoles

When you buy a refurbished game console, there are many factors of reassurance that you simply won't find with used products. For starters, you won't have to scrounge social media or online marketplaces for a good deal, since you can always bet on a fair price. Refurbished goods will always cost much less than their brand new counterparts, while they already have a fair advantage over used products. Even when compared to pre-owned prices, refurbished consoles are commonly the better purchase, as used systems often require repairs and are well past their warranty date.

Buying a refurbished console is not only a smart choice for your wallet, but it also comes with a guaranteed personal touch. Every refurbished console has been examined by a qualified repair technician, who has gone over all known problems with the hardware, while also checking for additional issues along the way. You have the comfort of knowing that the console was recently inspected, play-tested, and repaired to modern standards.

As a bonus, refurbished consoles are simply a good thing for the industry and gaming at large. Especially when it comes to the classics from the 1980s and 1990s, many retro game systems are no longer being manufactured. Many classic systems are often thrown out or discarded when they are broken, lowering the availability of these increasingly rare consoles. By purchasing a refurbished product, you're actively helping the preservation and continuation of gaming that might otherwise die out.

Get the Best of Both Worlds with Refurbished

Simply put, if you're looking to drum up some gaming nostalgia, the choice is clear: buy a refurbished retro game console. You don't need to break the bank or play roulette with aged hardware. By trusting decades of repair knowledge and modern solutions that were unavailable decades ago, you can rest assured that a refurbished retro console will carry you to gaming bliss. Don't risk your experience with questionable products or spend more than you have to, as refurbished game consoles are easily the best deal.