Sony makes great smartphones, there’s little debate about that. The Japanese company is one of the world's biggest electronics and entertainment multinationals. Having made electronic goods like cameras and stereos for decades, they’re also industry leaders in video games and gaming consoles and have their own film studio and record label. So as you might expect, Sony smartphones come with serious sound and camera quality, with bright screens and great contrast that makes photos and videos look spectacular. Sony smartphones are also long-lasting and secure, with great battery life and easy connectivity with other devices.

What’s the catch? New Sony smartphones aren’t cheap. Many reviewers will tell you that while the quality of Sony’s phones is excellent, you pay a lot for the benefits. If you’re on a budget, a new flagship Sony smartphone may be slightly out of your price range. The best way to get around that is to start shopping for used Sony phones instead.

When you begin looking at second hand Sony phones, instead of just the brand new flagships available at your local shopping village, a world of choice opens up to you. You can take your pick from any Sony smartphone currently on the market as long as you can find it online. But, of course, that leads to a whole new series of questions. If you buy from the Internet, how can you trust the seller? What about a warranty? Who do you turn to if something goes wrong?

Refurbished Sony phones are the answer to those concerns. But with so many Sony phones out there, how can you tell which ones are among the best used Sony phones to buy? While there are a lot of opinions on the subject, a lot will come down to your own taste and budget. If you need some ideas to get started, we’ve put together this short list of some of the greatest second hand Sony phones currently on the market.

Benefits of Sony Phones

Sony’s brand of smartphones is known as the Xperia range, and it all began with the release of the Sony Xperia X1 in 2008. Since then, the company has made their mark on the smartphone space by doing a lot of things very well, including

Camera quality

An important part of any smartphone these days is the quality of its camera. Luckily Sony knows this and focuses on high-grade cameras and video technology. Many Sony video cameras record in Ultra HD, otherwise known as 4K or Full HD. This means colourful, sharp and clear resolution and quality on the level of the kind found on TV and streaming services. Photographic technology like eye autofocus gives you a strong sense of control over the pictures you take.

Top-notch security

Sony prioritises all the different areas of security that are important to the operation of your smartphone, including the protection of your device, your data and your network. The company use 256-bit AES encryption to protect your personal information.

Long battery lives

We’re all busy. Nobody wants to take time out of their day to hunt for a phone charger. Luckily, Sony smartphones come with long battery lives and batteries that last up to two working days. You can use your Sony smartphone as much as you like without worrying that it will run out of charge when you’re far from home.

Water and dust resistance

Sony phones are strong enough to survive contact with water and dust. For example, the Sony Xperia Pro has an IP65/68 rating, meaning dust particles can’t find their way inside it, and even a water depth of 1.5 metres at 30 minutes won’t cause it damage. While it’s still best to avoid getting it too wet or dirty, your Sony smartphone will survive accidents.

Long-lasting

New Sony smartphones may command high costs, but they also last for years and years. If you’re tired of buying new tech that soon has to be replaced, you’ll find a Sony smartphone refreshingly long-lasting and durable.

Benefits of Used Sony Phones

If you want the benefits of a Sony smartphone without the high retail price, used Sony phones are the answer. The great things about buying second hand Sony phones include:

It’s much cheaper

As you’ll see from the examples in the next section, a used Sony phone sells at a far more affordable price than a new one, saving you hundreds of dollars.

It’s better for the environment

You may have heard of e-waste (electronic waste), the fastest-growing waste in the world right now. In Australia alone, more than 140,000+ tonnes of e-waste are discarded every year. Smartphones are among the main devices tossed into the world’s landfills, causing hazardous chemicals to seep into the surrounding ecosystems. E-waste contains several chemicals harmful to human health and the environment, like lead, cadmium and mercury. When you buy a second hand smartphone, you stop a perfectly good device from ending up in the garbage pile.

No contracts

When you buy second hand, there’s generally no getting locked into a contract. Refurbished phones are usually sold unlocked, so you can put any SIM card in them, and you’re ready to go.

A larger variety

Head to your local retail phone shop, and you can choose from what’s there. Head to Google, however, and you can take your pick from just about any Xperia phone Sony has released.

You can buy refurbished

While online shopping provides endless options, you may reasonably be concerned about the risks of buying a phone over the Internet from a complete stranger. What if you don’t get what you ordered or your new phone doesn’t work the way it should?  You can avoid this problem by buying refurbished Sony phones from trustworthy sellers. Refurbished phones have been checked and tested to ensure they meet certain standards before being put up for resale, and they’re sold with warranties. Refurbished Sony phones tend to be the most secure and reliable used Sony phones to buy.

Top 5 Used Sony Phones

Wondering which Sony Xperia phone to buy? The choice is up to you, and they all have their strong points, but some of the best used Sony phones include:

Xperia 5 IV

Released in September 2022, this compact-sized smartphone is one of Sony’s finest. It has a battery life that lasts for days, an immersive 6.1-inch display and a camera (plus photography apps) made for content creators.

Xperia XZ

Released in 2016, the Sony Xperia XZ is a lot cheaper than it was when it first hit the shelves. Yet it still holds up in terms of quality, with vibrant colours, smooth performance for gaming, a great camera and an elegant design.

Xperia Z5 Premium

The world’s first 4K phone, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium comes with not only the spectacular screen display that you’d expect but an impressive battery life and mobile camera.

Xperia 1 ii

Sony’s flagship smartphone of 2020, the Xperia 1 ii, packs fantastic performance, an intuitive user interface and a triple camera system that takes impressive photos in all lighting conditions.

Xperia 10 iii

A 5G phone with a compact design and a long battery life, the Xperia 10 iii has three camera lenses and an array of photography features. Take attention-grabbing shots full of colour and contrast.

Where to Buy Used Sony Phones Online

You can buy quality used Sony phones and other locally sourced Android smartphones from OzMobiles.

An Australian-owned and operated company, we test all of our devices at our Melbourne headquarters using our Blancco testing software and a 72-point checking process. Before putting anything up for sale, we ensure it’s running at peak performance, including a battery life of at least 80%.

We offer a 12-month warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee, plus same-day shipping if you order before 12.30 pm on a weekday. If you find a better deal elsewhere, we’ll beat that price by $10 (terms and conditions apply).

If you have any questions or need help finding the right Android phone, get in touch with OzMobiles!