What Is Walmart Refurbished In 2026? (Products + More)

Walmart refurbished means you are buying a used product that has been professionally inspected, repaired, and restored to full working condition. Refurbished Walmart electronics and devices can save you up to 50% or more compared to buying them brand new.

When you purchase refurbished from Walmart, you get the savings of used gear along with the assurance that each item has passed Walmart’s rigorous refurbishment process. This ensures refurbished products look and function like new, despite being pre-owned.

As a bargain shopper myself, I’ve been impressed with the quality and value of Walmart’s refurbished inventory. In 2023, Walmart continues to offer refurbished tech across nearly every category imaginable.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about buying refurbished from Walmart. You’ll learn:

• How Walmart refurbishes electronics
• The categories of refurbished products available
• Where to find refurbished items on Walmart’s website
• Walmart’s return policies for refurbished gear
• The pros and cons of shopping refurbished at Walmart
• How Walmart compares to Amazon, Best Buy and others
• Expert tips for finding the best deals

Let’s dive in!

Walmart’s Refurbishment Process

Walmart has a standardized process they use to thoroughly inspect, repair, and restore all refurbished products before reselling them.

Here are the key steps a device goes through to become “Walmart Refurbished” certified:

1. Full diagnostic testing – Walmart technicians ensure the product powers on and functions properly. All features and hardware are checked.

2. Replacement of any defective parts – Parts that are broken or damaged are swapped out with new or refurbished components.

3. Cosmetic cleaning and polishing – Products are deep cleaned to look their best, with any minor scuffs or scratches buffed out.

4. Software restore – If applicable, the device’s software is wiped and restored to factory settings. This removes any personal data from previous owners.

5. Final quality assurance check – Walmart confirms the refurbished product meets their stringent quality standards before being approved for resale.

6. New accessories and packaging – Refurbished items may be repackaged in generic boxes with new manuals, cables, etc.

Walmart also provides a 90-day limited warranty on all refurbished electronics. This backs their promise that these pre-owned goods work just like new.

Walmart’s Refurbished Inventory

Walmart thoroughly vets and refurbishes products across almost every electronics category imaginable. Some top selling refurbished items include:

Smartphones

• iPhone
• Samsung Galaxy
• Google Pixel
• LG

Tablets

• iPad
• Samsung Galaxy Tab
• Amazon Fire
• Microsoft Surface

Laptops

• HP, Dell, Lenovo
• Apple Macbooks
• Acer, Asus, MSI
• Chromebooks

TVs

• Samsung
• LG
• Sony
• VIZIO
• TCL
• Sharp
• Element

Video Game Consoles

• PlayStation 4 & 5
• Xbox One & Series X/S
• Nintendo Switch

Headphones

• Beats
• Bose
• Sony
• JBL

Smartwatches & Fitness Trackers

• Apple Watch
• Fitbit
• Garmin
• Samsung Galaxy Watch

And many more categories like drones, Bluetooth speakers, security cameras, appliances and more. Walmart also refurbishes products under its own brand, such as Onn tablets and laptops.

To give you an idea of the potential savings, here are some current prices I found on Walmart’s refurbished products page:

Product	New Price	Refurbished Price
iPad Pro 11" 128GB	$799	$589
Nikon D3500 DSLR Camera	$496	$389
Samsung 55” Smart TV	$498	$318
Apple Watch Series 5	$399	$239
Lenovo Ideapad Laptop	$247	$159

As you can see, you can easily save over $100 off laptops, tablets, TVs and more when buying Walmart refurbished. The discounts depend on the original price point, but typically range from 15-50% off.

Where To Buy Walmart Refurbished Products

The main place to browse and shop Walmart’s refurbished inventory online is their Refurbished Electronics page.

Here you can filter and sort refurbished products by:

• Category
• Brand
• Price
• Best selling
• Customer rating
• Special offers and rollbacks

This makes it easy to hone in on exactly what you‘re looking for.

Some brick-and-mortar Walmart locations also sell a limited selection of refurbished items. You’ll find these in the store’s electronics department. I always recommend calling your local store ahead to check their refurbished stock.

Pro Tip: Walmart’s availability of refurbished products changes daily. So check the website often if you don’t see what you want right away. Getting alerts for price drops on specific items is also a smart move for serious bargain hunters.

Comparing Walmart’s Refurbished Return Policy

One major perk of buying refurbished from Walmart is you can return most items within 90 days if there are any issues.

However, some product categories have shorter return windows to be aware of:

• 90 days: TVs, tablets, laptops, desktops, cameras, wearables, headphones, speakers, etc.

• 15 days: Drones, printers, appliances, electronics under $300

• 14 days: Unlocked cell phones

Make sure you test out refurbished products thoroughly within these time frames. Note that opened items like headphones may have restocking fees too.

You can also add protection plans to Walmart’s refurbished tech for extra coverage beyond the 90 day warranty. I recommend this for portable electronics prone to damage, like laptops.

Pros of Buying Refurbished at Walmart

Here are some of the biggest benefits of purchasing refurbished electronics and appliances from Walmart:

Big savings over buying new – Refurbished items are discounted on average 15-50%, sometimes more. This cuts hundreds of dollars off the price for laptops, TVs, tablets and more.

Professionally refurbished – Walmart’s multi-step process ensures refurbs function and look like new. You get used gear at “nearly new” quality.

90 day warranty – All refurbished electronics are backed by a minimum 90 day manufacturer’s warranty for defects and malfunctions. Extend coverage further with protection plans.

Easy returns – Most refurbished products can be returned to Walmart within 90 days (some as little as 14 days).

Availability of major brands – Shop refurbs from top names like Apple, Samsung, Sony, HP and more.

Walmart’s buying power – Refurbished inventory and prices benefit from Walmart’s massive scale.

Inventory updates frequently – New batches of refurbished products are added to Walmart’s website nearly every day.

Potential Drawbacks of Walmart Refurbished

However, there are a few downsides of buying refurbished from Walmart to be aware of:

Limited in-store selection – You’ll find far more refurbished options online vs. in Walmart stores. Brick-and-mortar stock is minimal.

Cosmetic flaws – Small blemishes like scuffs or scratches may be present, despite professional cleaning and polishing.

Lack of original packaging – Most refurbs come with new generic accessories, not original boxes and packaging.

Short return windows – Some categories only have 14 or 15 days for returns. Carefully inspect and test during this timeframe.

Restocking fees – May be charged for opened products that must be shipped back.

Varying availability – Hot refurbished deals sell out extremely fast. Specific items you want may not always be in stock.

So weigh these factors carefully as you shop. Inspecting the Condition Details on a product’s page is crucial. But in general Walmart’s refurbs provide excellent value, especially with their quality assurance process.

Expert Tips for Finding Walmart Refurbished Deals

As an avid bargain shopper, I’ve picked up some helpful tips and tricks for scoring the best prices on Walmart’s refurbished tech:

• Check the website frequently, ideally multiple times per day. New inventory comes and goes quickly.

• Filter by "Special Offers" like "Rollbacks" to see extra discounted refurbs.

• Don’t wait long if you spot something you want. Hot deals disappear fast!

• Set up alerts and notifications for price drops on wish list items. This lets you pounce when prices dip.

• Shop at off-peak hours like early mornings and late nights. Less competition from other buyers can help you snag deals.

• Take advantage of any available coupons, promos and Walmart rewards. Stack savings for the lowest price.

• Ask Walmart support about upcoming sales, promos or price adjustments on chat. Their reps are very helpful!

• Buy around major holidays and sales events. Refurbished prices often get extra discounts for Black Friday, Cyber Monday, etc.

How Walmart Refurbished Compares to Other Retailers

Let’s look at how Walmart stands up against top competitors for refurbished and used electronics:

Walmart vs. Amazon Renewed

• Prices – Amazon tends to be slightly cheaper on comparable items, but Walmart runs more frequent “Rollback” sales to match prices.

• Selection – Amazon has a much broader inventory across more niche categories. But Walmart covers all major product types.

• Brands – Both offer refurbs from all the top brands like Apple, Samsung, Sony, etc.

• Return Policy – Amazon offers 30 day returns on most items. Walmart gives you up to 90 days for returns on many products.

• Packaging – Amazon uses only generic packaging. Some Walmart refurbs come in original manufacturer boxes.

• Where to Buy – Amazon is online only. Some Walmart stores sell refurbished items also.

Walmart vs. Best Buy Outlet

• In-Store Availability – Best Buy has dedicated outlet sections in most stores for open box and refurbished tech. Walmart has very limited in-store refurbished inventory.

• Return Policy – Best Buy gives 15 days for returns. Walmart’s 90 day window is much longer.

• Geek Squad Refurbishing – Best Buy has its own Geek Squad techs refurbish many products. Walmart uses third party channels.

• Prices – Best Buy doesn’t discount refurbs as deeply as Walmart. But they often run aggressive sales.

• Selection – Best Buy‘s computing and home theater selection tops Walmart‘s. But Walmart has more small appliances and smart home tech.

Walmart vs. Manufacturer Refurbished Stores

• Warranties – Direct from brands like Apple and Dell offer 1 year warranties on refurbs, longer than Walmart’s 90 days.

• Prices – Walmart tends to beat brand-direct refurb prices, but authorized factory refurbished items can have better quality assurance.

• Inventory – Brand stores only offer that manufacturer’s products. Walmart aggregates many major brands in one place.

Overall, Walmart holds its own against these alternatives, with competitive pricing, strong brand selection, and greater convenience for in-store returns or exchanges. But definitely compare all options if you don‘t see what you want at Walmart first.

The Verdict: Is Walmart Refurbished Worth Buying?

In my opinion as an avid bargain hunter, Walmart’s refurbished electronics and tech are absolutely worth buying. The rock bottom pricing just can‘t be beat on fully functional, professionally refurbished items.

Yes, minor cosmetic flaws are possible. And hot deals sell out extremely fast. But the integrity of Walmart‘s refurbishment process gives me peace of mind I‘m getting quality used gear.

Just be diligent checking site inventory daily, act fast once you see deals, thoroughly inspect your items, and take advantage of the 90 day return policy for defects.

Follow these best practices, and you can save hundreds on the latest laptops, 4K TVs, Apple gadgets and more. Overall, Walmart refurbished provides fantastic value in 2024 for tech shoppers on a budget. Just enter with realistic expectations around potential cosmetic wear, and you’ll grab major discounts on electronics you’ll love.