If you’re looking for a decent phone, but don’t want to pay eye-watering amounts for the latest flagship, refurbished cell phone deals might be for you.
The refurbished mobile phone trade and refurbished technology in general have made great strides in recent years. Used technology sometimes brings to mind broken products with outdated components, but these days it’s a perfectly valid way to buy a great phone at a discount.
Not only do Apple, Amazon, Best Buy, and many other retailers offer official repair and update programs, but refurbished retailers like Back Market and Swappa offer easy-to-use marketplaces for both sellers and buyers. We provide. The best phones money can buy have some great refurbished cell phone deals. We’ve listed our top picks for this week below.
Check out this week’s page best cell phone deals If you want to compare these refurbished sales to new device sales.
Today’s deals on refurbished mobile phones
Everything you need to know about refurbished smartphones
What are the advantages and disadvantages of refurbished mobile phones?
Strong Points
- great price
- Usually “like new”
- environmentally friendly
Disadvantages
- Older phones tend to have limited software updates
- Often comes with a limited warranty
The biggest advantage of buying a refurbished cell phone is obviously the price. Both Android and iPhone models are available at significant discounts compared to buying a new device outright. However, there are other benefits to purchasing refurbished devices, such as the environmental benefits of choosing “upcycled” models. It’s generally much more environmentally friendly to simply repair and reuse a phone than to build a new one from scratch.
On the contrary, there are some disadvantages to purchasing a refurbished device. For example, depending on where you purchase your device, your warranty options may be more limited than on newer models. In fact, some sites may sell devices with no warranty at all. Older devices are often no longer supported by their manufacturers and may not have the latest additional software available.
Where is the best place to buy a refurbished cell phone?
When purchasing a refurbished cell phone, you typically have two options. First, you can buy the device directly from the manufacturer, carrier, or brand website. For example, Apple’s Official Certified Refurbished Program or the Samsung Store. You can then obtain your device from third-party retailers and auction sites that specialize in or stock refurbished phones, such as Back Market, Swappa, Amazon, and eBay.
You can generally find better deals at specialty retailers and auction houses, but be aware of warranty options. Some sites like Apple and Back Market come with a full one-year warranty, but third-party listings on auction houses often don’t have warranties.
Can I get a refurbished iPhone?
You definitely can. In fact, getting a refurbished iPhone is one of the best ways to buy these great devices at a discount. If you don’t care about an older device and want the peace of mind that comes with a good warranty, consider purchasing your device from an official Apple Authorized Refurbished Store. While you won’t find the latest iPhones on sale at the Apple Certified Store, it’s a great place to buy older Pro devices at a discount. All devices also come with a 1-year warranty.
Another great option is to head to the back market. Although this retailer is a third-party seller, it has a large selection of slightly older devices starting at just $99, and your purchase also comes with a one-year warranty.
For the latest iPhones, try Swappa to get used devices at discounted prices. However, be aware that Swappa operates more like eBay or other auction sites than a traditional online retailer, so it’s unlikely that you’ll receive a proper manufacturer’s warranty on your items. please.
Will refurbished phones be used all the time?
That’s mostly true, but it’s worth noting that refurbished devices are a specific type of used device: one that has been repaired or inspected by a professional. When you buy a refurbished cell phone, its condition can range from “like new” to “used,” but the retailer or manufacturer guarantees that it will work. Refurbished devices are often new devices that have only been opened and returned by the original purchaser.
Therefore, it is generally safer to buy a refurbished cell phone than one that is simply labeled as “used” or “used.” You’ll receive a device that often comes with its original packaging, warranty, and usually works as well as if you bought it new.
Is the refurbished phone unlocked?
As with most refurbished cell phones, there are exceptions to this. If you purchase a refurbished device from a carrier like Verizon, your device may be locked for the duration of your plan. Prepaid carriers and smaller carriers tend to be a little more lenient when it comes to device lock-in, but you should still expect your device to be locked out for at least a few months.
How long can I use a refurbished mobile phone?
In reality, this depends on the age of the device you purchase and how you use it. According to Back Market, devices that are less than 4 years old will typically get an additional 2-3 years of life, but I think that really depends on your usage habits. If you use your device every day, you can expect your battery to drain rapidly over time. With light use, the device can last quite a few years.
There is one obvious caveat to all of the above. That said, manufacturers tend to phase out support for older devices over time. Please make sure your device has access to the latest software and security updates before purchasing. Apple devices tend to have longer support periods, but both Samsung and Google also guarantee longer update life cycles for their latest flagships.
