Buying refurbished
How to buy a refurbished phone with confidence
A refurbished phone is a used phone that has been tested and repaired. The word itself isn't regulated, so it means different things at different sellers. These are the six questions worth asking anyone who sells one — and our answer to each.
1. What gets tested?
Ask what was actually checked, not whether the phone "works". We run a 32-point test on every phone: screen, battery, both cameras, speakers, microphones, charging port, Face ID or fingerprint, every button, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the cellular radios. Anything that fails is repaired and retested before the phone goes on sale.
2. What is the battery at?
Battery is the part of a phone that ages, so a number beats an adjective. We measure battery health before shipping and show the band on every listing — 90%+, 85-90%, 80-85% or below 80% — and you choose which one you buy. Apple and Google both treat a battery as healthy down to 80%.
3. What does the grade mean?
Grades describe looks, not function. Excellent looks close to new. Good has light micro-scratches you notice in direct light. Fair shows normal wear and costs the least. Every grade is fully functional and carries the same warranty, so the grade is really a question of how much cosmetic wear you want to pay to avoid.
4. Who pays if it stops working?
This is where sellers differ most. Every phone we sell includes a 12-month warranty: if it stops working normally, we repair or replace it free. You also have 30 days to return it for a full refund if you simply don't get on with it. Accidental and liquid damage aren't covered.
5. Are the parts original?
Replacement screens and batteries vary in quality. Our Premium phones use original manufacturer parts. Our Value phones use aftermarket parts, cost less, and the listing names which part is aftermarket. Both carry the same 12-month warranty, and nothing is left to discover at checkout.
6. Is it truly unlocked?
Every phone we sell is fully unlocked and works on AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and the smaller networks that run on them. No carrier contract, no unlock fee, and no surprise when you put your SIM in.
Is a refurbished phone worth it?
A two-year-old flagship typically sells for around half its launch price while still receiving software updates for years, so you get the better camera and screen for the price of a new budget phone. Reusing a phone also avoids roughly 60kg of CO2 versus manufacturing a new one. What makes a used phone a confident buy is the work behind it: the testing, the stated battery number and the warranty matter more than the size of the discount.