These days, a mobile phone is not just a luxury but an essential. And with the potential to do everything from check your emails to play games to trade stocks in the palm of your hand, it’s a tool you can use for both business and pleasure. Whether you’re networking, keeping in touch with loved ones, or just passing time on public transport, a smartphone is so much a part of all of our lives that many of us couldn’t imagine living without one.

With Apple and Samsung dominating the market share, a new flagship phone from a big-name brand is big news. What isn’t so well-publicised is that there’s another side to mobile phone production, and that’s the environmental impact.

While it may seem like one little mobile phone won’t make a huge difference to the environment, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that take a large toll on the planet’s resources. The production of a smartphone is responsible for 80% of that smartphone’s carbon emissions during the course of its lifetime– far more than the acts of using or charging it can cause. There’s pollution involved in mining the materials, manufacturing the main components leads to high levels of landfill, and complete phones are usually shipped around the world by air.

What happens to a mobile phone at the end of its lifespan is just as bad for the environment. Billions of mobile phones end up in landfill every year, adding to the growing problem of e-waste (electronic waste). E-waste is the fastest-growing kind of waste in the world and causes hazardous chemicals to leak into the air and soil. About 10% of all e-waste comes from mobile phones.

Refurbished mobile phones offer a solution that lets you have a high-quality phone while helping to protect the environment too. It’s a means of recycling mobile phones so that instead of ending up on the scrap heap, they get a second life. OzMobiles is here to answer any and all the questions you may have, like “What is a refurbished mobile phone?” and “Where can I buy refurbished mobile phones in Australia?” We’ll even help you sell your phone and put more cash in your pocket!  

So what are some of the pros and cons of new vs. refurbished mobile phones in Australia? For starters, let’s look at what a refurbished phone is.

What is a Refurbished Phone?

While a refurbished mobile phone has had a previous owner, it’s more than just a simple second-hand smartphone. A refurbished phone is a used phone that a reputable retailer, manufacturer etc., has checked, tested and prepared for resale. Unlike a regular second-hand phone, which is a gamble when you buy it from a private seller, a refurbished phone has been put through a very thorough process to ensure that everything from the battery to the microphone to the touchscreen still works.

Most refurbished smartphones are sold in grades that rank them from as good as new (or very close to it) to a little more worn and weathered. Apart from a few superficial chips and scratches, there’s really not a lot of difference between refurbished phones and new ones.

There are particular steps refurbishers must follow to make sure refurbished mobile phones in Australia live up to certain standards: removing the previous owner’s data, clearing the customisations or personalisations, removing the damaged parts of the phone and repairing or replacing the battery.

Buying refurbished doesn’t have to mean settling for an older model. As new flagship smartphones hit the stores, many Apple and Android fans trade in their existing phones, even if they’re only a year or two old. These recently discarded phones become the newer, shinier options among the available refurbished mobile phones in Australia.

You can embrace the benefits of recycling mobile phones for yourself with OzMobiles. When you choose to buy or sell your phone with us, we offer plenty of sweet deals. And there are some definite benefits to choosing refurbished mobile phones in Australia.

Benefits of Buying Refurbished Vs. New 

Buying refurbished is a surefire way to get a better deal than buying a second-hand phone and usually a better deal than buying brand new as well. Some of the biggest benefits of buying refurbished mobile phones in Australia are:

It’s more affordable

Buying refurbished is a lot cheaper than buying new while giving you a level of quality that regular second-hand phones can’t guarantee. When you buy refurbished, you can save several hundred dollars on a smartphone – sometimes even a grand or more. Uniquely low prices on relatively recent smartphones are a big part of the appeal of buying refurbished.

Refurbished phones include warranties

When you buy a second-hand smartphone from a private seller, there’s no warranty included, and you’re unlikely to recoup your losses if anything goes wrong. Refurbished smartphones include warranties to cover you if you don’t get what you paid for.

It’s better for the environment

Producing a new smartphone is a carbon-intensive process that requires digging precious minerals from the ground. Even the simple act of throwing a smartphone in the trash contributes in a small way to the degradation of the planet and its resources. Recycling mobile phones supports a more sustainable, eco-conscious approach. If you have a smartphone you want to get rid of, your most environmentally-friendly option is to sell your phone to a refurbished retailer.

You can buy an unlocked phone

When you buy a refurbished mobile phone in Australia, you’re not locked into using any particular carrier. Just pop your SIM card into your phone, and you’re ready to go.

Tonnes of variety

When you go shopping for mobile phones, you have plenty of options to choose from, whether you prefer iPhone, Samsung, Oppo, Google Pixel or a different brand entirely.  When you browse a website like OzMobiles, you can take your pick from limitless options all in one location. But variety isn’t the only reason to buy refurbished mobile phones in Australia through OzMobiles!

Buy Refurbished Mobile Phones in Australia at OzMobiles 

OzMobiles has refurbished mobile phones in Australia for all tastes, including refurbished iPhones, big Samsung Galaxy savings and top-quality smartphones at clearance prices.  

Recycling mobile phones is something we strongly believe in, and we want to make every step of the process easier. Sell your phone through OzMobiles, and you’ll get a quote in 60 seconds and cash within 24 hours of us receiving your device.

OzMobiles keeps the quality of our devices high as we guarantee you get a great deal without having to buy brand-new ones. We put all our devices through a 72-point testing process at our Melbourne headquarters to ensure they meet high Australian standards, including a battery life of at least 80%. All devices on our website are 100% fully functional, sold with 12 months’ worth of warranty, and come with 30-day money-back guarantees.

If you find a better deal elsewhere, we can beat that price by $10 (terms and conditions apply). And if you’ve found the perfect refurbished device on our website but can’t afford to pay for it all at once, we offer payment plans through third-party providers like AfterPay, ZipPay and PayPal Pay in 4.

If you have any questions or need any help finding the right refurbished device, contact the OzMobiles team!