The refurbished phone market has seen massive growth in recent years. More and more people are considering purchasing refurbished phones when shopping for a new device. Especially with the prices of new phones climbing well above $1,000. If you’re someone on the fence between buying new or preowned, this article will help you make the best choice for you.
Price
When it comes to price, refurbished phones are usually way cheaper than their brand new counterparts. It’s the best way to get the latest and greatest phones without burning a hole in your pocket. For example, a brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max costs around $1099 now, but here at SmartphonesPLUS, the iPhone 13 Pro Max sells for anywhere between $200-$300 less. That’s almost a 30% discount in price.
If price plays a large factor in swaying your decision on whether to buy refurbished or new, buying your smartphone from a resale store will always be the less expensive option.
Quality
Do you know the popular saying “If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is”? That’s probably what comes to most people’s minds when they see the price difference between new and refurbished phones. So, does the quality of a refurbished phone really compare to buying brand new?
Quality concerns are definitely warranted due to lots of shady and dishonest phone dealers. But that’s not the case with SmartphonesPLUS, and our reputation and reviews back that up. Every refurbished device in SmartphonesPLUS’s possession is rigorously tested to ensure everything from the vibration motor to the battery is in standard working order before being sold. So, with SmartphonesPLUS, you are guaranteed quality at a very affordable price. You can learn more about our certified refurbishing process and the devices available for purchase in our FAQ section.
Battery Life
Battery life is one of the areas where many think that refurbished phones usually fall behind when compared with new phones. This is because most refurbished phone vendors can only promise a minimum guaranteed 80% battery capacity on refurbished phones. When, of course, new phones always come with 100% battery capacity because they’ve never been used before. Many times, at SmartphonesPLUS, you can get a phone with a 100% battery capacity as we replace the batteries during the refurbishing process. However, in general, when it comes to battery life, new phones beat out refurbished ones most of the time.
Warranty Period
Another area where most new phones beat out refurbished phones is the warranty period. New phones usually have warranty periods of a year or more, while the warranty period most refurbished device dealers offer is usually somewhere around 1-6 months. To try and combat this, SmartphonesPLUS has recently partnered with Upsie Warranties and AKKO to bring our users an affordable and encompassing warranty and insurance options with minimal to no deductible for screen repairs.
So if warranty is something you prioritize, then you’ll be better off with a brand-new phone unless the refurbished phone reseller offers a warranty.
Phone Box
Every brand-new smartphone ships in a box with some accessories inside. However, in-box accessories have become minimal in recent years. On the other hand, most refurbished phone vendors ship their devices with just protective wrapping and a sealed box. No phone box or accessories whatsoever. This is to help keep the cost of the refurbished device low.
However, this is where SmartphonesPLUS to stands out from other smartphone resale companies. When you purchase a used phone or device from SmartphonesPLUS, we always include a generic box and a charging cable with your purchase.
Build/Cosmetics
Brand-new phones are always flawless in appearance; clean and free of scratches and other imperfections. Refurbished phones, on the other hand, are usually categorized into condition categories depending on how they look.
Most refurbished phone sellers use terms like “Grade A”, “pristine”, “excellent”, “good”, and so on. The higher the grade given to a used device, the better it looks. For example, refurbished phones categorized as excellent or grade A usually look as good as brand-new phones.
Here at SmartphonesPLUS, we have three device conditions when purchasing:
- Excellent – Contains almost no scuffs, scratches, or marks. Is in full working condition.
- Good – Shows slight signs of wear. May contain a few light scratches or marks. Is in full working condition.
- Fair – Contains moderate signs of wear, scratches, marks, or dents. Is in full working condition. Even with a device in “Fair” condition, there are no cracks in the screen or pixel damage.
Allow us to reassure you that when shopping with SmartphonesPLUS, you will always get a 100% working device regardless of the cosmetic condition grade.
Value for money
Buying a brand new iPhone 13 Pro Max at $1099 is a good value for money, considering everything the iPhone 13 Pro Max packs. So, when you buy a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max, good turns to superb value for money. By purchasing refurbished, you can essentially get the same device for much less.
