Things To Consider Before Buying a Refurbished Mobile Phone

Warranty: This is more dependent on where you buy the refurbished mobile phone from than on the phone itself. But sometimes a great-condition handset will come with a longer warranty than a slightly more scuffed-up one.

Ensure that whoever you’re buying from has at least a six-month warranty. Otherwise, you risk the handset failing after a short period of time, leaving you out of pocket and without a phone. If you want a longer warranty, be sure to buy from somewhere that offers it, and enquire about extending it if you want additional coverage.

Quality: Note any indicators from the seller about the quality of the phone before buying. Some retailers will grade a refurbished phone with an A, B or C rating.

A-grade phones will effectively be “as-new,” in almost all respects. B-grade is more likely to come with some physical damage and cosmetic imperfections, such as a slightly scuffed case or a minor crack on the screen. C-grade may have more overt scratches, a shorter battery life, and genuinely look and feel more used than the others. However, these will typically be the cheapest.

Return Policy: A warranty is great, but returning to the manufacturer can take some time. If you’re buying a refurbished phone, a 30-day return policy or similar can be really useful to get a quick turnaround on a refund. This is important if you find that the handset isn’t as described or runs into problems shortly after shipping to you.

Battery Health: One area of a phone that is unlikely to be “as-new” in any refurbished phone is its battery. When you get a newly refurbished phone, check how long the battery lasts, as a phone that’s seen heavy use may not have as long as the handset did when it was new. If that’s a problem for you, consider returning it, or make sure you buy from a higher-grade refurbished phone so that its battery is more likely to be higher quality.

How do I know if a refurbished mobile phone is in condition?

You can’t know for sure how good its condition is, but you can get an idea based on the description. Most manufacturers and retailers selling refurbished phones will give it a grading. Grade A means that the phone is brand new with only the lightest of cosmetic damage – perhaps the box has a rip. B-grade phones will have obvious cosmetic damage and may have light physical damage, but will otherwise function perfectly well. A C-grade phone may have a crack in the screen, or more obvious damage that does slightly effect the phone’s usability, but should otherwise be reliable and in great working condition.

This will depend on the manufacturer’s grading policies, though, so consider those carefully before purchasing.

What is the difference between refurbished and used mobile phones?

Refurbished phones are used handsets that have been tested and repaired by the manufacturer or retailer. This means that the phone is confirmed to be in working condition and meets a certain standard (look at the grading of the refurbished phone for an idea of that standard). They also come with a warranty, typically around a year.

A used phone has no guarantees or warranties and has undergone no testing. It may have been repaired, not functioning at all, or be as-new. You just don’t know with a used phone and need to rely on the retailer or vendor to inform you of its condition. Ideally, if you’re buying a used handset, try to have some hands-on time with it before purchasing to confirm its quality as best you can.

How can I ensure the data on a refurbished mobile phone is safe and secure?

If you are buying a refurbished phone, it will almost certainly have been factory reset before you buy it, so you don’t have to worry about any data already on it. If you want to make sure it doesn’t come with any unnecessary software installed by the retailer, you can perform a factory reset yourself after buying and before adding your SIM card and personal information.

Additionally, if you plan to send your phone in for refurbishment, be sure to back up any important pictures and data on it and factory reset it yourself to clear out the memory so no one has access to your data after you’ve sold or returned it.