Refurbished Phones: Things You Should Know Before Buying

Buying a flagship smartphone these days can cost an arm and a leg.  Setting your sights on an upcoming release usually means saving your bucks months in advance so that you’re ready when it arrives.  But with phones costing upward of $1000, even saving may not be enough to get your dream phone. Sure, you can buy a used phone, but those can be a hit or miss.  That’s where refurbished phones come in. A quick Amazon search for any of the latest Samsung or Apple smartphones turns up a ton of results for refurbished phones.  The trend of selling refurbished phones has been on the rise lately, and for obvious reasons. Refurbished phones are cheaper than brand new ones but give you the feeling of having a new phone.  It’s the best of both worlds! But before you give up on new phones entirely for the sake of refurbished phones, there are a few things to consider. In this article, we’ll go over what you need to know before buying a refurbished phone.

What Is a Refurbished Phone?

If you’ve ever tried to purchase a used smartphone online, you likely came across some refurbished ones.  Usually, a refurbished phone is one that was either returned or sold back for a trade-in.  Back with the manufacturer, the phone undergoes diagnostic tests, gets a new battery, and maybe new cables and accessories.  But just because a phone is labeled as “refurbished” does not mean that it lives up to expectations. Ask yourself the questions below before deciding to buy a refurbished phone.

Are All Refurbished Phones the Same?

Smartphone manufacturers are not the only companies that perform refurbishment.  There are many outside retailers who sell refurbished phones even though they use an entirely different process.  Big companies, like Apple and Samsung, use very high refurbishment standards, according to their websites.  Those standards usually include new batteries, a new outer shell, new replacement parts, and new cables and accessories.  Phones refurbished through Apple and Samsung also undergo top-to-bottom inspection “of every feature and function,” according to Consumer Reports.  

By comparison, other vendors of refurbished phones may adhere to different standards.  A quick look at some reviews for refurbished smartphones on Amazon reveals that some vendors don’t include accessories and often do not replaced the outer shell, leaving use marks visible.  If your next question is “why not just go directly to the manufacturer?,” the answer is money!  There is a considerable price difference for manufacturer refurbished phones vs. those refurbished by a third-party vendor.  To put things in context, Apple sets the price for a refurbished iPhone 8 at over $100 more than Amazon does.  The same is true if you compare the price of a Galaxy S8 on the Samsung website vs. Amazon.  

But Why Buy an Expensive Refurbished Phone When there Are Cheap Ones?

Most sane people do not abandon a perfectly good deal just for the heck of it.  So why would anyone pass up on saving $100? Does it really matter who refurbished my phone if it’s going to function like new anyways?  You would be surprised at how often refurbished phones do not work or break down within just a few weeks. Remember, refurbished phones are sometimes phones that were returned to the vendor.  Reasons for those returns can range anywhere from buyers’ remorse to serious malfunctions. When buy a refurbished phone, you do not know what problems it may have had. That’s where the big manufacturer advantage comes in.  When you buy through Apple or Samsung, your phone comes with a 12-month warranty. Apple even allows customers with refurbished phones to ensure them through their AppleCare plan. Small retailers usually cannot afford such generous warranties.  So if you choose a cheaper option, you’re taking the risk of possibly getting stuck with a problematic phone. If you still would rather pay the lesser price, Amazon is a good place to start.

Amazon Renewed vs. Manufacturer Refurbished

If you haven’t heard yet, Amazon is a treasure trove for used electronics.  It also has a healthy collection of refurbished phones from third-party vendors.  But you likely won’t see the word “refurbished” on Amazon. As of this year, the company has enforced strict refurbishment standards and grouped refurbished phones under one name: Amazon Renewed.  To be able to sell under this listing, Amazon subjects electronics to an inspection “by a qualified Amazon-managed supplier.”  In fact, there is a list of criteria that vendors must meet, which includes a very low ODR rate and a minimum 90-day warranty.  Yes, you read that right! Buying through Amazon Renewed means you explore a wide array of vendors and have the relative assurance of a 90-day warranty.  You may even come across a manufacturer-refurbished Galaxy or iPhone!

Making the Appropriate Choice

There is no arguing that a new phone is the most guaranteed way to a perfect phone.  But in a world where phones cost as much as one month’s rent, customers have to explore all options.  Refurbished phones are a great way to get the new phone experience without coughing up new phone money.