Refurbished vs Used vs Certified Pre-Owned Phones – What Kind of Phone Should you Buy?

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Refurbished vs Used vs Certified Pre Owned Phones

The smartphone has come a long way since it was first debuted by Apple more than a decade ago. New models are being released almost constantly, and there’s always a temptation for users to trade in their existing handset for a new one. Foldable screens, superior cameras, quicker processors – they all make your quality of life that little bit better.

But upgrading whenever a new handset comes out can be prohibitively expensive – not to mention environmental damage questions. Fortunately, there are alternatives to buying a new phone outright. Let’s take a look at some of the options available on the used market, and try to demystify some of the terminologies out there.

What is a Refurbished Phone?

A refurbished phone is one that’s been found to be faulty, and either returned to a shop or sold to someone who knows how to repair it. Once the device has undergone the necessary repairs, it can be returned to the market.

What is a Refurbished Phone

Before you buy a refurbished handset, you’ll want to look into the seller and establish that they’re trustworthy. The manufacturer might issue certification to certain sellers, which is a way for consumers to distinguish the good refurbished products from the suspicious ones.

How to Shop for Used Phones?

A used phone is one that’s been previously owned. Phones in this category might have some signs of cosmetic wear, but they’re in perfect working order. Ideally, you’ll want to inspect the product to see the extent of the wear. What’s acceptable for one person might be unacceptable to the next. If you sell your iPhone, it’ll in turn be sold onto another customer in this form.

How to Shop for Used Phones

There’s no settled legal definition of the term ‘used’. Provided that the phone isn’t faulty, there’s no real way of forcing the selling party to take the product back if you decide that it isn’t acceptable. This is a risk that some consumers might be happy to take. Others might not be.

What Is a Certified Pre-owned Phone?

Refurbished vs Used vs Certified Pre Owned Phones and what is pre-owned phone

You know the importance of security and you’d like an additional layer of protection, you might look into what’s called a ‘certified’ pre-owned phone. These devices have undergone an inspection by someone who knows what they’re doing. Different manufacturing companies will have different criteria for issuing a certificate. They might check for dead pixels, and that all of the ports and buttons are working. The battery will also need to be able to build and hold a charge if the certificate is to be granted.