The Benefits of Buying Refurbished iPhones

Despite many imitators on the market, the iPhone is still one of the most sought-after tech accessories on the planet. Since it came on the market in 2008, there have been no less than 34 iterations of this iconic phone.

One of the key challenges for anyone who wants an iPhone is the price. Retailing over £1,000 in most cases, they can make a big dent in your finances even if you do opt for a monthly payment plan with one of the big phone companies. The other options, of course, are to buy second-hand or go for a refurbished phone.

Here we look at the pros and cons of buying a refurbished iPhone and how to find the right retailer.

What is a Refurbished Phone?

A refurbished iPhone has been previously owned by someone but has been restored to good working order by a third-party retailer. These can be phones that were returned to the original vendor early or were given to a tech company that offers refurbishment when someone upgraded to a new model.

If you buy second-hand direct from the owner, you can sometimes get a cheaper deal but you cannot be quite sure that the phone is fit for purpose or doesn’t have any faults. With a refurbishment, the company or individual carries out a specific series of tests exploring, for example, how the Wi-Fi connection works, whether all the buttons operate properly and ensuring data is wiped that shouldn’t be there.

What you should end up with is a thoroughly checked, clean phone that works as good as new and has the latest operating system for that make or model.

What are the Benefits of a Refurbished iPhone?

First of all, buying a refurbished iPhone should save you some money. A lot will depend on the age of the phone, the condition it is in and other elements such as the storage capacity.

An unlocked 2016 iPhone SE in excellent condition, for example, could cost as little as £40-50 while a newer model such as the iPhone 12 Max is more likely to be around £600. Those are still significant savings on the original cost of a brand-new phone.

When you buy from an established retailer you also get some certainty with a warranty which normally lasts for 12 months. You don’t get that kind of safety net if you are buying directly from someone selling their phone on eBay or other platforms. That means if the phone develops a fault during that 12 months, you’ll get it repaired for free or replaced if you buy from a reputable retailer.

Because the phone has been thoroughly checked, you should be reasonably sure that there are going to be few if any nasty surprises. You can also be confident that data that shouldn’t be on your phone has been properly wiped.

In addition, all refurbished iPhones should be properly unlocked and can be used on any network. All you need to do is put in your sim card and then go through the set-up process as if it was a new phone.

Good refurbishment companies will also offer the chance to buy outright or pay in monthly instalments, although it’s worth checking how much the latter might increase the cost overall when you add in any interest rate.

Are There Disadvantages?

There are a few cons when it comes to buying a refurbished iPhone. The first is that you may not have all the original packaging and accessories. The phone should come with a charger and generic boxing at the very least but you may be missing things like headphones.

With any older phone, you won’t get all the updates that the latest model has such as a more advanced camera or faster operating system. In truth, over the past few years, the advances in phone technology have slowed down and most older models will more than fulfil your needs.

What is Refurbishment Grading?

There are levels of grading that are applied consistently across iPhone refurbishments and these are designed to give you a good idea of the condition. These are ratings that move from A to D.

An A-rated refurbishment means that the phone is almost as good as new and in great condition. There might be a few marks here and there but nothing too noticeable.  A B-rating is slightly more worn with the odd scratch or chip but nothing major. With a C-rating, there will be more blemishes and the phone will look more used even after its refurbishment.

The D rating is applied to phones that have some fault or significant damage. Most refurbishment businesses don’t sell these types of phones. There are a few on eBay but you need to be prepared to fork out some extra money to carry out repairs and there’s no guarantee that these will work in end.

Some networks use a slightly different grading system such as ‘perfect’ or ‘nearly perfect’ which is the same as the A-D rating. Of course, one of the other benefits of buying an iPhone that is A or B rated is that, as long as you keep it in good condition, you can expect to maintain its resale value if you finally want to upgrade or change phones later.

Where Can I Find Refurbished iPhones?

The good news is that you can find refurbished iPhones widely available online and there are plenty of different companies to choose from. It’s always important to check the site properly and do your due diligence such as viewing reviews and looking at how they present themselves online. Always look for a secure checkout and adequate information on the products they are selling.

Why Choose WeSellTek.com?

We’re a customer-focused company that started up nearly 6 years ago. We specialise in refurbishing phones of all makes including new and older iPhones. Over the years, we’ve gained a solid reputation for excellent refurbishments and no-nonsense sensible pricing.

If you would like to find out what we currently have on offer in the way of refurbished iPhones, check out our website today