Should I buy A Refurbished iPhone?

If you’ve asked yourself, “Should I buy a refurbished iPhone?” due to its lower price, you are likely comparing it to a brand-new iPhone. There’s no way around the fact that smartphones are expensive. Many of the newest top-of-the-line models cost more than £1,000. The iPhone, in particular, is known for being expensive. It has deterred many people from buying it and led them to purchase a cheaper Android phone.

But there is another way for people on a tight budget to get an iPhone. People often think that a refurbished iPhone would be broken in some way or wouldn’t work as well as a brand-new one. Let’s look into this myth and learn more about refurbished iPhones.

What Is A Refurbished Product?

The term “refurbished” refers to electronics returned to a manufacturer or seller for various reasons. This could be because the product doesn’t sell well on the market or because the customer isn’t happy with it. You might see the words “certified” or “manufacturer refurbished” when looking for used computers and laptops. Inspecting products before they are re-introduced to the market is necessary to ensure their quality.[1]

When a product is “certified refurbished” or “manufacturer refurbished,” it means that the company that made it inspected and fixed it. This is the best place to buy used laptops and computers. That’s because you can feel safe with products that have been checked and fixed up.

Where Should I Buy A Refurbished Iphone?

You could save much money if you are willing to buy used or refurbished items. If you look around for a while, you might be able to find a nearly-new iPhone for a lot less than the full price. We’ll discuss the places to buy refurbished iPhones and a few key things to watch out for that could keep you from buying a used one instead.

Apple’s iPhone is one of the company’s most popular products, so it’s no surprise that it gets many broken iPhones. Apple sells refurbished iPhones on its website, but the company also sometimes sends them to customers whose devices break and are still under or out of warranty.

There’s nothing wrong with getting a refurbished device instead of a retail one, as Apple carefully checks these. However, some customers like to know what kind of device they get when they get their iPhones fixed or replaced.

A refurbished phone can be a great way to save money, significantly, when a brand-new model can easily cost more than $1,000. For example, on Apple’s website, you can buy a refurbished iPhone 11 with 128 GB of storage for $469. The new iPhone 11 costs $549 and has that much space. The 11 Pro iPhone? With 512GB of storage, this one costs $919 instead of $1,199. You can’t buy the new model anymore. A refurbished phone can be a great way to save money, significantly, when a brand-new model can easily cost more than $1,000. For example, on Apple’s website, you can buy a refurbished iPhone 11 with 128 GB of storage for $469. The new iPhone 11 costs $549 and has that much space. The 11 Pro iPhone? With 512GB of storage, this one costs $919 instead of $1,199. You can’t buy the new model anymore.[2]

Should I Buy A Refurbished Iphone From Apple?

Apple’s online store has a lot of refurbished products, including Macs, iPods, the Apple TV, and the Apple Watch. Refurbished products range from stock models to the ones built to order by Apple with upgraded parts.

The main reason to buy a refurbished Apple product from Apple is the big price cut, which applies to new iPhone models. The price of every iPhone model will go down the longer it has been around.

Apple shows the discount percentage and exact amount saved on many models. However, for others, you’ll have to compare prices by hand.

Apple’s online refurbished store sells used products that were sent back by customers. Before selling these items through the online refurbished site, Apple fixes them and replaces any broken parts. Apple sells refurbished products only on its website. Apple stores do not sell them.

The iPhone is Apple’s most popular product, so it’s no surprise that the company gets a lot of returned iPhones. As mentioned earlier, Apple sells refurbished iPhones on its website. However, the company also sometimes sends refurbished iPhones to customers whose devices break and are still under or out of warranty.

Should I Buy A Refurbished iPhone From Amazon?

Amazon is a big deal now, and you can buy just about anything from them. And now that includes iPhones with fixes. Whether you want an iPhone 13 or an iPhone 6, Amazon’s “Refurbished” program offers a lot. The “Refurbished” program on Amazon is a great place to buy used iPhones. You will save much money this way. And the best part? The used iPhones look and work just like new ones.

Amazon Prime allows refurbished iPhones to be delivered the next day. If you order today, you’ll receive it by tomorrow morning.

Amazon has a new program in both the US and Europe. The Amazon Renewed program covers all iPhone models, but if you want to save money, you should get an iPhone 12 or 8 Plus. Since older phones have lost most of their appeal to those who want everything to be new, new, new, this is where you can save the most money.

In 2022, you won’t have any problems using an iPhone 8 Plus or iPhone 12. Apple makes its iPhones last, even though it would prefer you buy a new one every year. The company’s rise and control over consumers stem from the fact that, unlike Android phones, iPhones will last for years and still get support.

Should I Buy A Refurbished iPhone From Walmart?

Some refurbished products at Walmart have a “Certified” label, while others do not, indicating that they meet different standards. Return policies can differ from vendor to vendor.

Walmart’s remodeled storefront is more perplexing than those of other retailers in terms of their refurbishment procedures. Walmart’s content regulations indicate that refurbished items must be “like-new condition.” They do not elaborate. Depending on the store’s standards, you may find more information on a seller’s listing.

However, the Certified Refurbished section represents only a part of Walmart’s refurbished products. Numerous other products lack the Certified tag in their product titles. They do not appear in the Certified Refurbished portion of search results. Some items in the Certified Refurbished section do not have the word “Certified” in the title.

The refurbished section reveals that return policies might differ by seller, so if you purchase a refurbished iPhone from Walmart, check the vendor’s return policy. Some people have reported that it’s a pain to return, and you may lose a substantial amount of money if you do.

Buying Refurbished iPhone From Third-Party Resellers

Apple only sells certified refurbished products through its online refurbished store. Apple’s refurbishing process makes it so that no third-party stores can sell iPhones guaranteed by Apple.

You might find cheap refurbished iPhones on sites like Amazon, Best Buy, Gazelle, Mac of All Trades, and others. However, these don’t have the same warranty, and Apple doesn’t guarantee them. In the case of a refurbished iPhone bought from a third-party seller, you won’t get one year of free Apple support.

Refurbished iPhones from third-party sites may be much cheaper. However, if a significant problem arises later, the savings may not be worth it. If you buy from a third-party site, try to find a store with a 90-day warranty or more and a guaranteed inspection process.[3]

Conclusion

As Apple thoroughly inspects them, there’s nothing wrong with buying a refurbished iPhone as a replacement for a retail device. However, some consumers like to know precisely what they get when they get their iPhones repaired or replaced.

Reference

[1] Refurbished Tech Hardware? “Refurbished vs. Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned: Which Is Better?” MakeUseOf, 2019

[2] What iPhone model is right for me? “Buying a Refurbished iPhone: An Affordable iPhone Risk-Benefit Analysis” Notebookcheck, 2021

[3] Do seller refurbished products include a warranty? “Manufacturer Refurbished vs. Seller Refurbished: What Does It Mean?” RefurbMe, 2022