With new phones becoming more expensive and software support getting better, choosing a refurbished phone can be a great option for many people. Whether you’re looking to save our wonderful planet Earth or save some money, there are plenty of great reasons to buy a refurbished phone instead of a new one. Depending on the retailer, many of these devices are refurbished to look and function like brand new phones, and they may even be covered by the same warranty as a new product.
But of course, not all refurbished phones are the same. Plus, buying a refurbished phone isn’t as simple as walking into a store and asking. It’s impossible to know how long a phone has been in use before it goes on sale. We’ve compiled all the essential information to help you navigate the refurbished phone market so you can make an informed decision when buying a new phone. We’ll start with a list of retailers so you can get straight to the fun part – shopping. Then, we’ll answer all your questions and give you some important information so you can feel confident about your purchase.
Patrick Farmer
Patrick is an experienced bargain hunter who has a particular interest in helping people save money on their phone bills. Whether you’re switching to a cheap MVNO or moving to one of the Big Three, Patrick’s years of ecommerce experience can help you navigate the big picture and find the right provider for you.
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How to choose
Perhaps the biggest problem with refurbished phones is that you don’t know exactly which of the possible routes it took to get refurbished in the first place. The truth is, you may never know, even when you have the phone in your hands. Still, there are some excellent tips to keep in mind when buying a refurbished phone.
- Buy from the original manufacturer or from a reputable store whenever possible. They perform a quality control process and inspection and may replace the unit if they find something is wrong. For example, many vendors offer a 90-day warranty.
- See what warranty, if any, is offered for the refurbished phones. Some manufacturers offer a full warranty for refurbished phones, while third-party manufacturers usually do not.
- Read the fine print for sale – although it can be hard to find. Most refurbished or opened phones are sold “as is” with little to no opportunity for returns or refunds.
- Consider the age of the device you want to buy. Sometimes companies don’t sell refurbished versions of the latest phones, but one or two older models. These may be available at a nice price, but much of that discount is likely due to the device simply being old. Since many phones from the past few years, like the Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, offer years of software updates, even an older model could still be up to date.
- If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is! If you see a retailer selling a “refurbished” phone of a current model for about half the retail price or less, there’s probably a catch you haven’t discovered yet. Refurbished phones may be cheap, but they’re not bargains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are refurbished phones?
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While the word “refurbished” is used frequently, that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily a standardized term. It’s often used interchangeably with terms like “recertified,” “reconditioned,” “open box,” or “used.” Regardless of the exact wording, it generally refers to a product that was manufactured as new but was returned to the manufacturer for some reason – whether by a store, reseller, or customer – and is now available for sale again. They’re sold at a discounted price, and that’s why people are interested in them.
The terminology changes, but the idea is the same.
Sometimes refurbished phones are simply opened and returned to a store or sent back to the manufacturer so that a malfunction can be fixed before being sold again. In most cases, depending on the country you’re buying from, a product that’s been bought and opened – and possibly one that hasn’t even been taken out of the box or turned on – can no longer be sold as “new” and must instead be sold as refurbished. Stores, resellers and companies then have to reduce the price of the device because it’s not technically new and therefore can’t be offered at the same price as a new phone.
Since the supply of refurbished phones depends on whether people sell them or return them, the best deals are on popular models from brands like Apple and Samsung. That’s not a bad thing, especially considering how many software updates these brands offer. However, if you’re looking for something from a smaller brand like Nothing or even OnePlus, you won’t find as many options.
As mentioned above, when purchasing a refurbished phone, in most cases it is difficult to find out what exactly gave the phone refurbished status or how it is certified as refurbished.
Are refurbished phones risky?
As with all online purchases, buying a refurbished phone comes with a certain amount of risk, so you should take the time to thoroughly research the seller before making a purchase. Even if the retailer itself is reputable (like the companies listed above), there’s always the chance that a third-party seller with shady business practices will slip through the cracks.
Check if the seller of the refurbished phone has customer reviews (the more the better!) and read through them to get a good idea of the usual customer experience. If the seller doesn’t have any reviews, skip them and keep looking. After all, a smartphone is a serious investment these days and it’s perfectly fine to have high expectations.
I bought a refurbished phone, what now?
Once you receive the phone, take a few minutes to check everything. Although phones sold as refurbished should have passed quality control, it’s always possible that a defect was missed. Even if you’re buying one of the best Android phones brand new, it’s worth checking it over.
Make sure your “new” smartphone doesn’t have any cracks, bends, or dents anywhere. If the back of the phone isn’t as perfectly flat as it would be when it was new, there may be a problem with the battery. The screen and back cover should be flush with the phone’s frame. Gaps could indicate a less than optimal repair. There should also be no adhesive visible from the outside of the phone. This could indicate a problem with the phone’s waterproofing.
It’s also worth checking the LCI (liquid contact indicator) to make sure the inside of the device has never gotten wet. This is usually a small sticker inside the SIM card slot that turns red when it comes into contact with liquid. Uneven bright spots on the screen can also indicate problems inside.
Don’t ignore errors like the fairly common “moisture detected in charging port” error, which could indicate a problem with the pins in the port. Some phones also develop problems reading SIM cards, which could leave you without reception if the problem gets worse during the time you own the phone.
Also, make sure that the cameras focus properly and are not shaking and that the speakers sound clear and are not buzzing. These are common problems with repaired phones. These components can be fragile and if the technician is in a rush, these mistakes can easily happen.
After checking all the physical aspects, the next thing you should do is check the IMEI number of the device. This is important for many reasons, including making sure the phone isn’t blacklisted somewhere or, in the worst case, stolen by someone. There are tons of companies that offer this service, but we recommend checking out Phonecheck.
For a one-time fee, Phonecheck will run a thorough background check on your device and provide you with that data in the form of a device history report. Big brands like Amazon, eBay, Back Market and Swappa have partnered with Phonecheck to check refurbished devices, so you know you can rely on the service. If you don’t know your phone’s IMEI number, use the Android code provided to find it out.
Finally, if the phone displays the main Android home screen instead of the initial setup screen, perform a factory reset to ensure that all old data, apps and settings are completely removed. This can also be useful if you want to restore the smartphone from a backup.
How long is the lifespan of a refurbished phone?
While it depends on the device, if everything passes the checks outlined above, a used phone can still have a long lifespan. If your current phone is already a few years old, buying a newer, refurbished phone can still be a huge improvement.
If you take good care of a phone, the battery is the first to show signs of aging. All phone batteries degrade over time, but if you have a common phone for which the replacement parts are readily available, such as a Samsung Galaxy, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find a repair shop willing to install a new battery.
Do your research, choose the right store and compare prices before buying and you will most likely find a good phone that will serve you well for many years to come.
