Should You Buy A Refurbished Phone? Pros & Cons, Savings & More

Buying a Refurbished Phone: The Pros and Cons

A new flagship phone can now cost well over $1,000. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the US, while the Pixel 11 starts at $899. Both have seen $100 price increases over their predecessors.

That doesn’t mean they’re bad phones. It means you should ask whether you need to spend that much to get a phone that feels noticeably better in everyday use.

For most people, a phone is for browsing, messaging, email, social media, photos and video. A recent refurbished phone can do all of that very well, and it can leave several hundred dollars in your pocket.

Is a refurbished phone worth buying?

Yes, if you choose a model that suits your needs and buy from a seller you can trust.

• Use our database of vetted refurbished phones

• or try the Phone Finder Tool to compare your options.

We check, validate and review every model in our database, so you can make a more informed choice.

The pros of buying refurbished

You can save hundreds of dollars

The price difference is the most obvious reason to buy refurbished. Our refurbished iPhone 16 Pro collection currently has listings starting at $654.08. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199.

That’s a difference of about $545. The phones aren’t identical, and the cheapest refurbished iPhone 16 Pro listing has less storage than the base iPhone 18 Pro. But the older Pro model still gives you a high-end display, a capable camera system and performance that’s more than enough for everyday apps.

Our refurbished Google Pixel 9 collection currently has listings starting at $356. The Pixel 11 starts at $899, a difference of $543.

Prices and stock change, so use our refurbished phone database to check current listings and compare models.

Everyday performance is already very good

New processors are faster, and that can matter for demanding games, video editing and other heavy tasks. But benchmark scores don’t tell you how much faster a phone feels when you’re checking email, scrolling TikTok, browsing the web or watching YouTube.

For those everyday jobs, a recent flagship such as the iPhone 16 Pro or Pixel 9 is still quick and responsive. Newer models have better hardware, but most people aren’t pushing their phones hard enough to notice the full difference.

There are exceptions. A mobile gamer, professional photographer or video creator may get more from a newer chip, camera system or battery. For everyone else, an older phone may already do the job. Use our Phone Finder Tool to find models that match the way you use your phone.

You can get a higher-end phone for less

Buying refurbished can put a former flagship within reach at a mid-range price. That can mean a better screen, more versatile cameras or a sturdier build than you’d get from a new budget phone at a similar cost.

For example, the refurbished iPhone 16 Pro has a ProMotion display and a dedicated telephoto camera. The refurbished Pixel 9 has Google’s computational photography features and a seven-year update commitment from its original release.

Those are two examples from our database. Browse our vetted refurbished phones or use the Phone Finder Tool to compare other models by what matters to you.

You can avoid paying for a phone through a long contract

Buying a phone outright gives you more freedom to choose a separate SIM-only plan and change your plan when you want. It also makes the cost of the phone clearer. With a bundled monthly deal, it can be harder to see how much you’re paying for the handset itself over the full contract.

If a refurbished phone costs hundreds less, you can keep that money or put it toward your mobile plan, bills or something else.

It keeps a working phone in use for longer

A refurbished phone gets another stretch of use before it becomes electronic waste. That doesn’t remove the environmental impact of making phones, but extending a device’s life is a practical way to get more use from the materials and energy already put into it.

The cons of buying refurbished

You might not get the newest features

A newer phone may have a better camera, brighter display, longer battery life, faster charging or a feature the older model doesn’t support. Those differences matter if you use them.

For instance, the iPhone 18 Pro adds camera and battery improvements over older Pro models. If you shoot a lot of video or regularly use the telephoto camera, those upgrades could be worth paying for. If most of your photos are casual shots shared with friends, the iPhone 16 Pro may be enough.

The same applies to the Pixel 11 and Pixel 9. The newer phone has updated hardware and features, but that doesn’t automatically make it the better buy for everyone.

Our phone database lets you compare the refurbished models we’ve checked and reviewed.

Battery condition can vary

A used phone’s battery may not hold as much charge as it did when new. Check the battery details on the listing in our database before you buy. Seller policies can differ, so check the listing for battery information, warranty and returns.

If a listing doesn’t explain the battery condition clearly, use the seller information provided with the deal to check before ordering.

Cosmetic marks are possible

Refurbished phones are graded by appearance. A phone in a lower cosmetic grade may have scratches or scuffs, even if it works properly. Read the grade description in the listing and check whether it shows the exact device or representative photos.

If you want a phone that looks untouched, expect to pay more for a higher-grade model, or buy new.

The newest model may not be available

Refurbished stock depends on phones being returned, traded in or resold. You may have to wait for a specific colour, storage size or model to appear. The newest releases can take time to show up in meaningful numbers.

Our database of vetted refurbished phones is updated with available listings. You can also use the Phone Finder Tool to find a suitable alternative if your first choice isn’t available.

How much can you save?

Here are two current examples from our refurbished phone database, compared with the starting prices of the latest models:

These compare different generations, and the refurbished listings may have different storage or cosmetic grades from the new phones. They show the kind of money you could keep, not a like-for-like price comparison.

Check our iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 9 collections for current listings.

What to check before buying

Before you order, check the listing in our database for:

• The warranty: Check how long it lasts and what it covers.
• The returns window: Make sure you can return the phone if it doesn’t match the listing.
• Battery condition: Look for the seller’s battery information and replacement policy.
• The cosmetic grade: Understand what marks to expect.
• Storage and model: Confirm the exact version, storage capacity and network compatibility.
• Software support: Check how long the manufacturer expects to provide updates.
• The seller: Review the seller details and the terms attached to the listing.

Our team checks, validates and reviews the models included in our database. You can compare those phones in our refurbished phone collections or use the Phone Finder Tool to narrow down your options.

Should you buy refurbished or new?

Buy new if you need a feature exclusive to the latest model, want an untouched device, or rely on a camera or performance upgrade that you know you’ll use.

Buy refurbished if you want a good phone for everyday use, would rather pay less, and are comfortable with an older model that may have cosmetic wear. A phone like the iPhone 16 Pro or Google Pixel 9 can still do the things most people use a phone for, while costing hundreds less than the latest flagship.

The newest phone is usually the best phone on paper. That doesn’t mean it’s the best use of your money. Check our database of vetted refurbished phones or use the Phone Finder Tool to choose a model that fits your needs and budget.