Looking to buy a refurbished phone? Here’s what you need to know before you decide to do so.
New phone time comes for us all. Whether through age, damage, market competition or otherwise, our mobile devices inevitably lose their luster, and so comes the point when they need to be retired to make way for new blood. Finding a new phone is a difficult proposition, there have never been so many new options to choose from, and finding the right one can become an overwhelming obsession. But what if the right phone isn’t in fact new? Last year’s flagship devices will often offer better performance in almost all categories (camera, power, display, battery etc) than mid-range competitors launched the year after, and at a very similar price point. So why doesn’t everyone buy old? Whether pre-loved or pre-hurt, finding not only the right device but one in the right state of repair can be a significant challenge in itself. While there are a host of players offering refurbished devices for sale, each has their own standards of repair and not all are equal. Read on for our guide on buying refurbished devices, what to look for and what to avoid. When buying a new phone, the transaction is simple – you are the first owner and the device will be pristine. When buying refurbished, things become a little more complicated. If ‘New’ is the perfect state a device can be in, everything that then follows is in degrees of degradation from that point. There are a host of players selling refurbished phones both domestically and internationally. These can range widely in quality and service, though some may offer attractive price-tags they may come with significant caveats in tow. A good example of this can be found in Gumtree/Craigslist or equivalent. Many devices in varying states of repair can be found, but care needs to be taken to ensure you have a positive transaction.
