Buying Refurbished Mobile Phones

Buying refurbished mobile phones – When you consider that high-end smartphones now regularly come with a price tag in excess of £1000, it’s probably no surprise that the market for second-hand devices is rapidly growing. After all, a professionally refurbished mobile phone can be up to 50% cheaper than buying the same phone brand new.

What is a Refurbished Phone?

A refurbished smartphone is a second-hand mobile device that has been either shipped back to the manufacturer as a return or a trade-in or has been sold to a recycler or high street retailer.
They differ from used mobile phones you might find on the likes of eBay or Gumtree in that they have usually gone through a thorough function check by the recycler and have had any faulty parts replaced. Other than perhaps a few dings or scuffs to the casing, a refurbished smartphone should work as good as new and will usually come with warranty protection of up to a year. In this way, a refurbished mobile device is guaranteed to be fully operational and carries with it a level of protection that you probably won’t find from a regular second-hand smartphone.

Should you buy a refurbished smartphone?

With the current trend in increasingly expensive flagship mobile phones from the likes of Apple and Samsung, there’s never been a better time to buy refurbished. The second-hand mobile market saw an impressive 10% growth in 2018, while the number of new devices shipped worldwide fell, so if you did decide to buy refurbished, you’d certainly not be alone.
As the interest in refurbished smartphones continues to grow, more phone operators and high street retailers are taking note and increasing their own second-hand device offerings. Many well-known high street retailers now buy and sell used phones and even Amazon have got on board with this trend with Amazon Renewed. If you’re looking to save some significant money when shopping for a new phone, you should give buying refurbished some serious consideration.

Purchasing a refurbished device

A refurbished smartphone can be a great option if you want a high-end model without having to pay a high-end price. As you might imagine, there are lots of models that, if refurbished, should give you years of reliable service. But if you are looking for a good refurbished smartphone, hopefully you like Apple or Samsung products, because these manufacturers account for over 80% of the used smartphone market!

If you do plan to buy a refurbished smartphone, ensure that the seller you’re buying from is a reputable one, and that they are selling mobile devices that have been fully tested, repaired where necessary and securely wiped of all the previous user’s personal data. Most of the big names in the mobile phone recycling industry will also offer warranties of up to a year on their refurbished devices, so it pays to shop with a brand you trust.