Should You Buy a Refurbished Phone?

Q: What is the difference between refurbished and used?

A used phone is simply a device that someone else has owned and used. They are sold as-is with no guarantees about its condition or functionality. On the other hand, a refurbished phone has gone through a professional restoration process. This typically involves thorough inspection, repair or replacement of faulty parts, cleaning, and testing to ensure it meets specific quality standards.

Newly released smartphones cost an arm and a leg these days. So it’s no wonder that everybody is on the hunt for frugal tech deals and looking for ways to save money on electronics. Well, today we’re talking about one of the tech industry’s best kept secrets… refurbished phones. These are lightly used, recycled, or repaired gadgets, sold at a big discount compared to new ones. Given that your cell phone is probably your most highly used device, should you take the risk and buy a refurbished phone?

Personally, I love refurbished tech. I bought a refurbished iMac in 2008 from Apple, and saved $300 off the retail price. I never had issues and that beauty lasted over 12 years! And my current iPhone I bought from Amazon Renewed in August 2022 for $185.90. It’s a certified refurbished Gen2 iPhone SE, and it’s still going strong 2 years later!

Buying a refurbished phone can be an excellent way to get your hands on a high-quality device without breaking the bank. But, not all refurbished tech is created equal. It’s important to understand what refurbished means in the context of electronics, and weigh all the potential benefits against the drawbacks.

What Does “Refurbished” Really Mean?

In the world of electronics, refurbished basically means that pre-loved devices have been given a second chance at life. They’re not brand spanking new, but they’re also not heavily used or defected either.

Refurbished phones have usually been returned to the manufacturer (or other reputable electronics retailer) for various reasons. Maybe someone bought a phone and changed their mind. Or maybe someone noticed a hardware issue, like a weak battery, and returned it back to the store.

Whatever the reason for returning, refurbished phones are given a full makeover, then sold at a big discount. They look, feel, and act just like brand new phones.

Here’s the makeover process that refurbished phones go through:

First, all phones are thoroughly inspected for issues.
Faulty parts are replaced with working ones.
Software is updated, and reset to factory settings.
They’re cleaned up to look like new.
The device is tested to ensure everything works properly.
Finally, it’s repackaged and put up for sale at a sweet discount.

Seriously, when I got my refurbished iPhone, it looked brand new. It came in a new Apple box, had a new charger, and all the stickers and paperwork were included that new phones come with. I’ve bought many new iPhones in my life, and couldn’t tell any difference between refurbished and new.

pros and cons of buying a refurbished phone

Pros of Buying a Refurbished Phone

Here are some of the benefits of buying refurbished phones.…

They cost less!

You can save big bucks buying a refurbished phone. Exactly how much depends on the phone model and specs, where you buy it from, and market demand.

Here are some real life examples that I found online as of this writing:

Phone Model	Retail Price	Refurbished	Savings
Apple iPhone 14, 128GB, Midnight – Unlocked	$729 (Apple Store)	$498 (Amazon Renewed)	$231 (32%)
Google Pixel 7 5G, 128GB, Obsidian – Unlocked	$599 (Google)	$279 (Amazon Renewed)	$320 (53%)
SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 5G 256GB Factory Unlocked – Amber Yellow	$779	$567	$212 (27%)

Reports show that most shoppers save anywhere between 25% to 50% for refurbished LG, Samsung, Google and Apple phones. That’s HUGE!

Some quality assurance

Refurbished phones have been carefully examined by engineers and certified repair experts. Broken parts have been replaced, and worn pieces have been restored to like-new.

Sellers are so confident in their refurbishing work, they often offer warranties and guarantees for refurbished phones. When I bought my iPhone from Amazon, it came with a 90 day return window. That provides helpful piece of mind!

It’s more environmentally friendly

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Consuming less and buying secondhand is one of the top habits of frugal people. They not only save a ton of money this way, they help reduce waste.

Cell phone manufacturers produce a ton of electronic waste, which is why they encourage folks to trade in their cell phones and return any old electronics to recycling centers. Buying refurbished phones is eco-friendly, because many of the internal parts are recycled. This keeps waste out of landfills and extends the usable life of millions of gadgets.

Less risk, less stress

I don’t know about you, but whenever I pay top dollar for a brand new gadget I protect it like a baby. I worry about scratching it, losing it, breaking it, etc. It’s kind of stressful actually!

But I care way less about refurbished tech. I obviously don’t want to break it right away, but there’s less subconscious protection to keep it brand new for as long as possible. Because it’s already second-hand. It’s kinda like buying a used car. You don’t care quite as much if it gets scratched.

Plus, refurbished phones cost less (and come with warranties, usually). So there’s a lower barrier to entry. The risk of me buying a phone and having issues is quite small, because I can easily return it within the warranty window.

Cons of Buying a Refurbished Phone

Here are some of the downsides to think about when it comes to refurbished phones…

Shorter warranty periods

Typical warranties on refurbished phones can be anywhere between 90 days, all the way up to two years. It depends on the age and history of the phone, where you purchase it from, and how much you pay for it. Like I mentioned earlier, I bought my refurbished iPhone SE with a 90-day return window.

It’s important to note though, not all refurbished phones come with a warranty. Be careful and read all the fine print when shopping for refurbished phones. Also, warranties don’t include user damage or lost phones.

Some limited availability

It might be difficult to find specific models, specs, or colors when buying refurbished. So if you’re in search of a highly custom model, you might have to resort to buying new.

The good news is, the refurbished phone market is growing by leaps and bounds. More and more people are trusting used tech, and buying secondhand, which makes model availability much wider.

Older models, typically

Remember, refurbished phones are usually the result of returning handsets to the manufacturer for whatever reason. So it’s unlikely that the latest and greatest phone models are available as refurbished models.

For frugal folks, this is probably a non issue. Because buying the latest phone models as soon as they hit the stores is what we’re trying to combat here! Nevertheless, if you’re shopping for a phone that was released last week, chances are you won’t find it in the refurbished store. You’ll likely have to wait many months for refurbished models to become available.

Potential hidden issues

There’s always the risk of undisclosed defects or hidden issues when buying refurbished phones. That’s why we recommend buying from reputable electronics dealers or manufacturers directly. If the phone comes with a warranty, this is the best case scenario because you can return it or get it fixed if you have issues.

Where to Buy Refurbished Phones

Some refurbished stores are hiding in plain sight! Did you know that large manufacturers like Samsung and Apple all sell refurbished tech!? Here are some places to look:

Manufacturer & Retailers:

Online Electronic Retailers:

Just be really careful when browsing online marketplaces, because there’s a big difference between “used” tech and “refurbished” tech. You’ll want the phone you buy to be certified refurbished. So even if it costs a tiny bit more, it might be worth buying directly from the manufacturer site if possible.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

They should last just as long as new phones! The biggest factor in how long a phone lasts is how well it’s maintained and looked after. For most refurbished models, the seller replaces the battery with a brand new one before they are sold.

Yes, if you buy from a reputable retailer or website. And if it comes with a warranty there’s an added layer of security should any issues pop up with the phone immediately.

Refurbished phones are cheaper because they don’t need to be made from scratch like new phones. Refurbished phones use recycled parts, and may show a tiny bit of wear and tear.

A used phone is simply a device that someone else has owned and used. They are sold as-is with no guarantees about its condition or functionality. On the other hand, a refurbished phone has gone through a professional restoration process. This typically involves thorough inspection, repair or replacement of faulty parts, cleaning, and testing to ensure it meets specific quality standards.

In my experience, yes! Refurbished phones are the middle ground between expensive brand new and cheap used ones. They provide a more reliable option at a lower cost than buying new.

This all comes down to the place you bought it from, and the seller terms. When I bought my iPhone a couple years back, I had a 90 day return window for whatever reason. Most retailers will only let you return refurbished phones to be repaired or replaced if you find a defect.

The Bottom Line

Refurbished phones are a pretty sweet way to score a great device without emptying your wallet. They’ve certainly worked for me in the past, and I plan to buy refurbished phones in the future.

Just make sure you do plenty of research, buy from a reputable source, and consider the warranty if you’re worried about having issues. Happy phone hunting, and may the deals be ever in your favor! 📱💪💰