Refurbished mobile phones - the ultimate buying guide

Because refurbished phones have been thoroughly tested and restored to full working order, they are usually as good as new.

However, a refurbished handset probably won’t arrive in its original packaging and might not come with all the usual accessories, like chargers and headphones. On the plus side, it should come with a one-year warranty, but be sure to check that before you buy one.

Refurbished phones: pros and cons

Here’s what you need to know to help you make up your mind:

• With some brands and retailers, you can make significant savings, especially if you don't mind whether you've got the latest handset.
• When you buy from a big network or established retailer, you’ll get a warranty, which is usually 12 months.
• They’ll also include a charging cable or charger.
• It's not guaranteed that you'll receive other accessories that were originally bundled with the phone, such as headphones.
• You probably won’t get the original packaging. Refurbished phones tend to come in plain boxes or network-branded packaging. So you won’t quite have that nice feeling of unboxing a brand-new phone. But if you manage to save money on the deal, that might not bother you.

Refurbished phones grading

All refurbished phones are given a grade that reflects their condition. There’s no universally applied standard for grading, so it’s best to check before buying.

But as a rule of thumb, the grades range from A-D and break down like this:

• Grade A: This is as nearly new as nearly new gets. At best, it'll be a phone returned within the 30-day cooling-off period, so is for all intents and purposes still a brand-new phone. At worst, it'll show minor signs of wear.
• Grade B: Expect the odd chip or scratch, but nothing too unsightly.
• Grade C: Refurbished phones graded ‘C’ will have perhaps up to five blemishes and will look like they've been used.
• Grade D: A grade D refurbished phone will be broken in some way, will look second-hand and will have been well used.

Most networks will only sell grades A-C. You can get grade D phones from some refurbished phone traders on eBay, but even they’ll typically recommend you only buy one if you’re able to repair phones yourself.

To complicate things further, some networks use their own grading system. O2, for instance, favours the grades ‘Perfect’, ‘Almost Perfect’ and ‘Perfectly Fine’.

But where networks do use their own system, you can usually find a key explaining grades on their site.

What do you get with a refurbished phone?

Back in 2023, we ordered an iPhone 12 from Affordable Mobiles, a refurbished phone specialist, to see how a refurbished phone compares to a brand-new handset. First, the iPhone arrived in a standard parcel. Upon opening it, we found that no official packaging was included. Instead, the iPhone 12 was well protected in a bubble wrap baggie.

There was no charging plug, although you don’t get that with brand-new models either. However, there is a fast-charging USB-C to Lightning cable included.

The iPhone 12 itself was box-fresh. There were no marks, smudges, fingerprints, or scrapes anywhere on the device. One thing that was lacking was a plastic protector on the screen—that little sheet you try not to peel off for ages and then suddenly buckle and rip off. While it’s in no way a necessity, it is something you get on a brand-new phone.

When we switched on the refurbished phone, we were greeted with the familiar Apple setup screen. There are no previous-owner details, photos, or messages hidden away—you start up the phone like new and set it up as if no one has ever touched it before—there’s nothing that would suggest it’s previously been used.

So, all that remains to do is set up your new (refurbished) phone, and you’re good to go.

Where to buy refurbished phones

Lots of networks and specialist phone retailers sell refurbished phones, including O2, Vodafone, and Mobilephonesdirect.co.uk.

You can also pick up a refurbished phone from auction sites like eBay, high-street retailers, and specialist resale-and-recycle sites such as Envirofone.

• Uswitch: Here at Uswitch, we let you compare a range of Grade A refurbished iPhones from reputable retailers to find the right deal for you. To check it out, browse our refurbished iPhone deals.
• Amazon Renewed: Amazon’s renewed handsets have been extensively tested so that they look and work like new. They also come with a one-year warranty. And best of all, you can save a lot of money on the latest handset. Check out Amazon Renewed handsets.
• 02 Like New: O2’s refurbished handsets undergo a thorough quality check to ensure they’re as good as new. They also come with a 12-month warranty and you have 14 days to exchange or return it if you’re not completely satisfied. Take a look at O2’s Like New refurbished phones.
• EE Good as New: All of EE’s refurbished phones have to pass rigorous quality control tests and they come with an EE lifetime Guarantee to give you complete peace of mind. Check out EE’s Good as New handsets.
• Vodafone refurbished phones: All of Vodafone’s refurbished phones are professionally checked, repaired, and tested to make sure they’re good to go. And they also come with a 12-month warranty. Take a look at Vodafone’s refurbished phone deals.
• giffgaff refurbished phones: With guaranteed next-day delivery and a 12-month warranty, there are lots of reasons to get a refurbished phone from giffgaff. Have a browse through giffgaff’s refurbished phones.

How much cheaper are refurbished phones?

You can save hundreds of pounds by buying a refurbished phone instead of a brand-new one, particularly on slightly older models. If you’re hoping to buy the very latest smartphone, you might well be able to pick up a refurbished handset, but you’ll enjoy a much bigger discount if you opt for a last year’s phone, or even the year before.

What's better: refurbished or used?

If a phone is described as refurbished and you’re buying it from a network, an established retailer, or a trader on an auction site, you can be sure the phone has been tested, cleaned, wiped and is covered by a warranty. So you've got peace of mind in every way.

The term ‘used’ is harder to define, so you'll need to be more cautious. It’s usually favoured by private sellers on auction sites and could mean anything from a few scratches to being battered by frequent drops.

Under eBay’s terms of use, a faulty item can still be returned to a private seller within 30 days for a refund.

What should I keep in mind when buying a refurbished phone?

The most important thing to check when buying a refurbished phone is that it comes with a warranty. That way, you can return it if it has any faults.

Aside from that, you’ll also want to check what grade it is to make sure you know what you’re getting. If you get a grade-A phone, it should look as good as new and will be in full working order. If you go for a grade B or C, it will likely have a scratch or two but should still work properly. We’d recommend avoiding grade-D phones unless you’re able to repair them yourself.

Is it safe to buy a refurbished phone?

Provided you’re buying from a reputable retailer, it’s perfectly safe to buy a refurbished phone. Most refurbished phones come with a warranty so you should be protected if there’s anything wrong with it. But it’s always best to check if the device comes with a warranty before buying it.

Here at Uswitch, we only recommend the highest grade of refurbished phones, which have all passed the same quality checks as brand-new devices. Take a look at our best-refurbished phone deals.

Do refurbished phones come with a warranty?

Warranties with refurbished phones depend on where you buy them.

Buy from a major network or retailer, which are the only refurbished phone vendors we have on Uswitch, and you’ll always get a 12-month guarantee.

That’s the case with O2, for instance. And the same goes for Vodafone and Affordable Mobiles.

Buy from a trader on eBay or Amazon and they’ll also typically offer a guarantee of up to 12 months.

If you’re buying from an individual or private seller rather than a trader on eBay, the process of getting a refund is more complicated and could depend on the written description of the phone on the listing.

Do refurbished phones have new batteries?

Before a refurbished phone is resold, the battery must undergo rigorous testing to ensure it’s in full working order. In some cases, this may mean that the battery has been replaced. But most of the time, it will be the original battery that has been restored to its original condition.

Are refurbished phones sustainable?

Yes, the good news is that refurbished phones are not only cheaper than new handsets but also more eco-friendly. A returned phone is given a new lease of life, and it’s much better for the environment to resell an old phone rather than a new one.

How can you tell if a phone is new or refurbished?

When you purchase a new phone, the retailer, manufacturer, network, or reseller should clearly label it refurbished. If you buy a phone online, a refurbished phone should also be clearly labelled. If you buy one in a store, the sales assistant should inform you if it’s not a brand new device before you purchase it.

Found a refurbished phone you like off contract?

Good news. Now you just need a good SIM only plan.

You can compare contracts at our dedicated SIM only comparison page.

What do I do with my old phone?

Once you’ve decided to get a new phone, don’t just stick your old handset in a drawer and forget about it. You might want to give it to a friend or relative if it's still in good working order. Just make sure you transfer all your data across to your new device and then do a factory reset on your old handset before giving it to someone else.

If it no longer works, there are still loads of great options. From recycling or donating it, or trading it in to get money off your new phone, there are plenty of ways you can use your old handset to benefit you, someone else or the environment.

Sell your old phone

From how to write product descriptions to tips for cleaning up your phone so it looks its best, head to our guide to help you get the best price when you sell your phone.

Donate your old phone

Around 1.9 million households in the UK don’t have access to the Internet. Environmental charity Hubbub is helping reconnect households with their loved ones and essential online services by refurbishing and redistributing used smartphones.

So if you’re able to, you could donate your old phone through the campaign. If your phone isn’t in donating condition, it can probably still be recycled for valuable parts and metals.

To donate your old phone, visit Hubbub's website.

Just bought a refurbished phone? You'll want insurance to protect your new purchase from accidents, damage, and loss. Check out this useful mobile insurance comparison tool and find the best insurance plan for your shiny new phone.

Rather go with a new phone? See all our latest mobile phone deals here.