Refurbished devices have become very popular recently, as they are finally being recognized as a legitimate and cost-friendly option to consider when buying a new phone. But in the early days, refurbished phones had a poor reputation, and were thought of as being low quality and full of faults. You might be someone who’s thinking about getting a refurbished phone but are unsure on what exactly a refurbished phone is and if it’s worth it. Our hope is that this article will provide the clarity you’re looking for.

What Is A Refurbished Phone?

Refurbished phones can mean any of the following:

• Pre-owned devices that have been restored to perfect working order.
• A device that was used as a trade-in.
• A faulty device that was returned a few days after sale. Of course, the faulty devices are checked and fixed before being put back up for sale.

Difference Between New and Refurbished Phones

• When it comes to quality and performance, refurbished and new phones are usually right on par. This is normally the case unless you’re buying from a shady dealer who uses fake parts. This is why it’s important to make sure you buy your refurbished device from a trustworthy reseller like SmartphonesPLUS.
• Brand-new phones usually have longer warranty periods than refurbished ones.
• Refurbished phones are always way cheaper than brand-new phones. Sometimes it’s even as much as 30–40% cheaper.
• Refurbished phones are sorted into different condition-based categories and grades like “Pristine,” “Excellent,” “Grade A,” “Fair,” etc. The higher the grade, the better the device looks. This is not the case with brand-new phones. Every new phone has no cosmetic flaws.

Speaking of refurbished phone grades/cosmetic condition, here’s a deeper look at the most common grade systems and what they mean.

Refurbished Phone Grades and What They Mean

Excellent, Pristine, Grade A, Like New: contains little to no scuffs, dents, marks, or scratches. Refurbished phones in this category usually look as good as brand-new phones.

Very Good, Grade B, Good: shows slight signs of wear. May contain a few light scratches or marks. Most refurbished phones in this category look like they’ve been gently used.

Fair, Grade C: Contains moderate signs of wear, scratches, marks, or dents. Sometimes they have obvious signs of use.

The lower the cosmetic condition, the cheaper the refurbished phone will be. Although it’s important to remember that lower cosmetic condition does not mean lower quality of working condition.

These are just some of the more commonly used terms for cosmetic conditions, so be sure to confirm the details of a refurbished phone’s grade before you buy. You can read about SmartphonePLUS’s grading system on the FAQ section of our website.

Pros and Cons of Refurbished Phones

Pros: Why you should buy a refurbished phone

Environmentally friendly

Refurbished phones are more eco-friendly than brand-new phones. They are the more sustainable option, because you are extended the life of any given device and saving it from potentially going to a landfill.

Tested and Repaired By Experts

Refurbished phones go through rigorous testing to check for faults and defects. If any faults are found, experts fix them, and then the phone is tested again. A refurbished smartphone will not be put up for sale until it passes this series of rigorous tests. On the other hand, used phones are put up for sale with little to no testing, usually by the previous owner’s themselves.

Cheaper Than New Phones

Refurbished phones are way cheaper than brand-new phones. You can easily find refurbished phones that are up to 20%–40% cheaper than their brand-new counterparts. So when you shop refurbished, you get the same phone with the same quality for up to 40% less.

No need for contracts

When you opt for a refurbished phone instead of a brand new one, you avoid the need to go into a 2-year long, restrictive, and sometimes overpriced contract with a carrier. Refurbished phones are more affordable, so it’s easier to make the one-time payment.

Still, prefer the flexibility of split payments? Then SmartphonesPLUS has you covered. When you shop with us, we give you the option to split your payments into four parts over four months. 

Warranty

Refurbished phone sellers usually offer warranty periods of around one to six months, with some even offering coverage up to a year. 

Cons of buying a refurbished phone:

Not available immediately after release

Refurbished versions of the latest phones usually take months before they are available. So if you choose the path of refurbished phones, you’ll have to wait awhile before you can get your hands on the latest iPhone or Samsung.

Shorter warranty periods

Refurbished phones sometimes have shorter warranty coverage when compared to brand-new phones. But, this depends on the reseller.

More Caution Required When Buying

Since refurbished phones can also be restored phones you want to make sure you are purchasing from a reliable source. More caution is required when buying refurbished, and you’ll want to do research on the reseller before committing to purchase to ensure the company and their devices are legitimate. When doing your research ask the reselling company about their certification process. The company should have a reliable testing and refurbishment process. Many quality resellers will use a software like Phonecheck to ensure the devices they are selling are high quality.

Cosmetic condition

Depending on the grade of your refurbished device, you may have to get used to using device with a less than perfect cosmetic appearance. Of course, this is something you’ll take note of when choosing the refurbished phone that best fits you. To make up for this, refurbished phone stores reduce the price of the phone to fit its cosmetic grade.

Why Are Refurbished Phones So Much Cheaper?

The most obvious reason refurbished phones are so much less expensive is that they’re not brand new anymore. They’ve been used (though for a short period sometimes), the phone has been opened up, some parts have been replaced, or they’re no longer sealed in their original box.

So they don’t meet the criteria of a brand new phone despite being the same phone with the same quality. Hence, they can’t be priced the same as new phones.

How To Tell If A Phone Is Refurbished

iPhone

First, open the settings, then go to “general.” Next, press “About phone.” In “About phone,” you will see a serial number. Take note of the first letter of your iPhone’s serial number.

If your iPhone’s serial number starts with:

M– This is a brand-new device.

N– This device was issued as a replacement for an iPhone that developed issues.

F– This device is refurbished.

Android

Unlike iPhones, there is no straightforward way to tell if an Android phone is new or refurbished. But that doesn’t mean all hope is lost.

Check the Phone Box

Examine your phone box to see if you can find any scuffs or dents. If you do, then that might be an indicator that it’s not the original phone box or that it’s been used before. Also, check inside the box to see if any of the items present in the official box are missing or changed.

If your alleged brand-new phone doesn’t come with a phone box at all, or it ships with a box that looks different from the manufacturer’s phone box, you should head to your seller and ask for an explanation. If they give a dodgy or unsatisfactory explanation, the best thing to do is return the phone and ask for a refund.

Inspect the phone.

Refurbished phones usually have some sort of cosmetic wear, whether that be scratches, dents, or scruffs. If, after inspecting your phone, you find too many scratches or dents above the margin of error, then that’s a sign that your phone might not be brand new.

IMEI Check

Another way to try and deduce the truth about a phone is to check its IMEI. To find out your phone’s IMEI number, open your phone app and dial *#06# and your IMEI will be displayed immediately.

Compare that IMEI with what is on your phone box and your system settings. You can check your IMEI in your system settings. Open Settings > About Phone > Status > IMEI information. Compare all three IMEI numbers, and if there’s any disparity between them, then your vendor is hiding something from you.

Note: IMEI numbers can be changed, so this method isn’t foolproof, although changing IMEI is illegal.

Where Can I Buy a Refurbished Phone?

SmartphonesPLUS is the best place to get your refurbished devices in the US. Every device in our care passes through very strenuous tests just so we can get it to you in flawless condition.

We also provide a warranty and return period with every refurbished device, so you can have peace of mind when you shop with us. Click here to view our wide range of refurbished smartphones at the best prices.