The smartphone industry is fast-paced and rapidly evolving, with new models every year from all the major manufacturers, from Apple to Samsung. It’s exciting to see all the innovation and latest features coming out, like most recently artificial intelligence tools on phones, like Samsung’s Galaxy AI.
It can be hard to keep up with all these new features, especially with costs rising, and it can be hard to justify yearly upgrades—which is where buying refurbished comes in. Buying phones second-hand or refurbished is becoming more popular, with statistics showing it’s a market that has been growing over the past few years.
Refurbished phones vs new devices is a topic that’s as old as the creation of phones itself. In this article, we’ll be delving into why buying a refurbished phone can be better than a brand-new one, dispelling common myths surrounding refurbished phones, and what to consider when buying a refurbished phone.
Despite popular belief, refurbished options don’t exist just for older phones. It’s possible to find newer models, like Apple’s iPhone 15 Series, second-hand and refurbished after launch.
Refurbished phones also contribute to a more sustainable approach to device production, reducing carbon footprints and technological waste.
What Makes Refurbished Phones Good?
We’re here to answer the question: Is buying a refurbished phone a good idea? Refurbished phones are an attractive alternative to buying new ones, both because they are affordable and environmentally friendly.
Below, we’ve compiled and explored why refurbished devices are a good choice if you’re looking to get a new phone.
Reduce Carbon Footprint
When you buy a phone, it’s more than just getting a new piece of technology. From the extraction of materials for manufacturing to delivering the device to retailers, the entire process of selling a brand-new phone is filled with significant environmental impact.
If you’re an eco-conscious shopper, refurbished phones are a great option for reducing your carbon footprint. Refurbished devices avoid the extraction of new resources required to manufacture a new device, reduce production waste, lower technological waste, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Cheaper Than New
One of the main draws of refurbished devices is that they’re cheaper than buying the exact same model brand new. Even for the latest models on the market, like Samsung’s Galaxy S24, it’s possible to find them refurbished at a lower cost.
Especially if you’re on a budget, refurbished phones are a great alternative if you want to save money. This also gives you more money to spend on accessories or even apps when you get a device.
Fewer Issues
It’s important to note that refurbished phones aren’t the same as preowned or second-hand devices. Refurbished devices from reputable retailers undergo extensive inspections and repairs (if required) by qualified technicians using industry-standard tools.
So, when you buy a refurbished phone, it actually has fewer issues than buying new or second-hand from a friend or family member. You get a guarantee that you’re getting a phone that has been meticulously checked over by a professional and tested to ensure it's fully functional and runs optimally.
This comprehensive process also includes checking for any potential manufacturer defects or problems. Although it’s rare, a defective component can occur when you buy a phone brand-new. When you buy refurbished, the phone is inspected and evaluated, minimising the risk.
Things To Consider When Buying A Refurbished Phone
When shopping for a refurbished phone, there are different factors you should consider. This includes checking the seller, their refurbishment process, any warranty options, and customer support. These tips below will help you find the right refurbished phone and a reputable seller:
Warranty
When searching for refurbished phone sellers, always look for quality assurance, including a warranty. A reputable seller should always be willing to support their products and provide quality assurance through a warranty.
Trustworthy refurbisher
When researching different refurbished phone sellers, we recommend looking at their reputation. There are a few ways to determine if a refurbisher is trustworthy, with the best one being checking out customer reviews on Google or sites like Product Review.
Customer reviews are a good way to get an idea of a seller's trustworthiness, the condition in which they received their phone, and whether they had any issues. We recommend only going with sellers who have at least 4–5 stars.
Service and Support
When shopping for a refurbished device, a critical aspect is whether the seller offers any service or support. Go with a well-known seller for offering responsive customer service through support channels like email or phone.
Refurbishment Process
A huge green flag from a reputable seller is if they’re transparent about their refurbishment process and condition grading. You want to find a seller that is crystal clear about what happens during refurbishing and only uses genuine parts for any repairs or replacements.
The Downside of Buying Brand New Phones
Buying a phone brand new, especially compared to buying a refurbished one, has a few downsides. Below, we’ve compiled a list of just a few negatives.
- Buying new phones, especially the latest models, is expensive. The latest tech often comes with a premium price tag.
- Manufacturing new phones has a significant environmental impact, and many components are not recyclable, adding to electronic waste.
- Buying a refurbished phone offers more choices than buying a brand-new phone.
- When a phone first launches, it’s more susceptible to initial launch bugs and problems, whereas buying a phone refurbished after launch is prone to fewer issues.
- When you buy a phone brand new at launch, there is also less accessory support. Phones get more accessories, especially third-party, like cases, after launch.
Buy Refurbished Phones at OzMobiles
For the best deals on refurbished phones, including Samsung, Apple, and Google’s Pixel devices, OzMobiles stocks a wide range in our online store. Our range includes some of the latest releases, including the iPhone 15 and Samsung Galaxy S24. If you find a better deal on refurbished phones elsewhere, our team will beat the price by $10 (terms and conditions apply).
All the devices we stock and sell go through an extensive 72-point refurbishment process. As part of this process, the phone is looked over meticulously by a qualified technician, checking to ensure every component is fully functional and running optimally.
Our refurbished devices are also graded, so you know exactly the phone is condition before you purchase. It’s important to note that all our phones are 100% functional, and the different conditions only refer to aesthetic/cosmetic wear.
The OzMobiles team also stands behind all its products, offering a free 12-month warranty and a 30-day risk-free return policy for our devices. So, if you have a change of heart or any problems with the device, our team is here to help.
If you have any questions about our refurbishment process or need help finding the perfect device, contact us today. The OzMobiles team would happily answer any of your queries and connect you with the right device.
