Buy Refurbished Android Phones Fix
The issue with refurbished phones is that you don't necessarily know which of the possible pathways it took to become refurbished in the first place. The truth is you may never know, even after you have the phone in your hands. But there are some excellent tips to follow when shopping for a refurbished phone.
buy refurbished android phones
Gazelle refurbishes and sells phones it buys from consumers and offers the last few years of popular devices from Samsung and Google (plus all of the latest iPhone models). This means there's a small diversity of brands but a great selection within the most popular ones.
You've probably heard of Gazelle if you've ever looked into reselling your phone. The site gives instant offers on phones (along with other devices like laptops and tablets), pays out via Amazon gift cards, PayPal, or paper checks, and refurbishes the devices you send to sell to someone else. This isn't just a great way to make a quick buck on your old tech; it's an environmentally friendly system that reduces e-waste by keeping gadgets in circulation for longer.
Best Buy sells refurbished, pre-owned, and open-box phones from various companies (though it's heavily weighted toward Apple) at discounts ranging from 10-30% off. Open-box deals, in particular, are great because they're typically devices that were just purchased, opened, and returned, not even used. Because of this, you can often find the latest models of phones for sale, rather than just old models.
Back Market works with phone refurbishers to form a marketplace where you can find refurbished devices of all types. Information on the refurbishing process is provided, and the listings are transparent about what damage is present, if any. Also, there's free shipping and a warranty.
One of the most appealing parts of Back Market is just how transparent it is with its customers. The company works with phone repair technicians and refurbishers to sell phones of various conditions and price points, with ratings listed for everything from the phone's physical condition to the amount of e-waste you're saving by buying a pre-owned device.
All Back Market's devices come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a minimum 12-month warranty. The company runs regular flash sales to offer eye-watering savings on phones to laptops, tablets, headphones, and even computer peripherals.
Verizon has certified pre-owned devices, but the selection is small and isn't always the best deal. For the most part, it only sells pre-owned Samsung phones and iPhones. Buying certified from the carrier gives you a bit of security, though, as Verizon will guarantee you're getting a working device and offers a 90-day warranty.
The Magenta carrier sometimes sells certified pre-owned devices at deep discounts, but stock fluctuates regularly (sometimes to the point where no phones are listed online). It is generally limited to Samsung and/or LG phones when available. Like Verizon, it offers a 90-day limited warranty for its certified pre-owned devices, which must first pass an 80-point inspection.
Never one to be outdone by Verizon, T-Mobile offers its selection of pre-owned phones. However, like Verizon, the number of worthwhile devices it keeps in stock is minimal at best. Still, when the company does have devices on hand, it backs them with the same 90-day warranty. It even requires every device to go through an 80-point inspection before it's listed to ensure consistently reliable quality.
AT&T sometimes sells "certified restored" phones, but they're only available online, and like with T-Mobile, the selection is more often than not empty. You're likely better off buying an unlocked refurbished phone elsewhere.
Lastly, there's AT&T, though even if you're an AT&T customer, the company's refurbished selection may not be worth holding your breath over. Like T-Mobile, AT&T has a pretty desolate selection most days, and you won't find any pre-owned devices in stores. In all honesty, you have a better shot at finding a great deal on a compatible unlocked phone from one of the other sites listed.
When you get the phone in, take a few minutes to check things over. While phones sold as refurbished should have passed through quality control, it's always possible that a defect can slip through the cracks. Even if you buy one of the best Android phones brand new, it's still worth it to check it over.
If everything passes your inspection, a pre-owned phone can still have a lot of life left in it. If your phone is a few years old, a newer refurbished phone will still offer a massive upgrade. Do your research, pick the right store, and compare prices before buying, and you're likely to come away with a good phone at a better price than you would ever find on a new-in-box phone.
In addition to the savings, buying a refurbished phone is good for the environment, because it extends the life span of the device, keeping it out of landfills. According to Back Market, a marketplace for renewed devices, purchasing a refurbished phone instead of a new one saves, on average, 45 kilograms of CO2 emissions and 34 to 40 kg of raw materials.
All the sellers of refurbished phones on SellCell have been rigorously vetted to ensure they are a quality company that produces refurbished devices to a high standard so you can rest assured you are getting a high quality product from a trusted company.
SellCell is completely free and totally impartial. We compare deals on refurbished phones from the leading brands and we show you independently verified customer reviews for each seller to help you make the right decision
To get the best deal when buying a refurbished phone or other refurbished device you ideally need to shop around as prices vary a lot. SellCell saves you the time and hassle of shopping around by instantly comparing prices from all the leading sellers in one handy place. Problem solved!
A refurbished phone is a pre-owned device that has been professionally refurbished back to perfect working condition. A refurbished phone is a genuine alternative to buying a new phone as it provides all the benefits of new phone but at a much cheaper price.
A fully refurbished device to 'Like New' condition looks exactly like a brand new phone. The refurbishing company will replace any element of the phone's exterior that shows any signs of damage or wear such as the screen or rear casing. By doing this they make the phone look brand new again with no scratches, marks or other blemishes.
Although the exterior cosmetic condition of a refurbished phone can range from looking like a brand new phone down to one that shows more than average 'wear and tear' all refurbished phones are 100% fully functional. The reason there is a range of different cosmetic conditions is that the grades cover different price ranges and consumers want that choice. Some want a fully refurbished phone that looks brand new, whereas someone else might want a phone that is fully working but they are not so bothered about the cosmetic condition because it is for their kids to use.
We think so yes. A refurbished phone is a high-quality device that provides all the benefits of a new phone but at a much cheaper price. Buying a refurbished phone is a viable alternative to buying a new phone. Not only is it easier on your wallet, it's also better for the environment buying refurbished.
Yes! It's not just Refurbished iPhones and Cell Phones. SellCell has the best deals on lots of other refurbished devices such as Tablets, iPads, Laptops, Macs, MacBooks, Smartwatches & more. Search for what you are looking for above.
At a time when all your household costs are increasing, your cell phone bill doesn't need to be one of them. At MoneySavingPro we can help you find the refurbished Android phone you want, on your favorite network, at a much lower cost.
The Samsung Galaxy S21+ has 128GB storage capacity. It includes a 6.7 inches screen and 64 MP camera. This refurbished Galaxy S21+ is available from Back Market with AT&T network coverage and prices starting from $268.
The Samsung Galaxy S10 has 128GB storage capacity. It includes a 6.1 inches screen and 16 MP camera. This refurbished Galaxy S10 is available from Back Market with T-Mobile, Verizon & AT&T network coverage and prices starting from $160.
Phones for kids: Refurbished Android phones offer an affordable way to get your kid the Android phone they want at a cheap price. And for even more savings MVNOs offer the best family phone plans with multi-line discounts.
Timing: Looking for the absolute lowest price on last year's model? Buy right around the time the new gen comes out - prices drop in that time period as people sell their flagship phones so they can afford the next one. For example, the price tag on the Galaxy S8 dropped as soon as the S9 came out.
A good rule of thumb is that a phone will no longer be supported if it's two to three years old. This varies from company to company, however. Google's older Pixel phones typically got three years of software updates, but it upped that to five years of guaranteed updates with the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro. Google also mandates that manufacturers must provide at least two years of updates for devices. Apple, by comparison, still provides software updates for phones going back almost seven years, because it has relatively few models to manage.
Finding out if your Android phone is supported will involve some digging. I found Nokia's tool for seeing updates of its phones after going through a series of support pages on its website. Samsung sent me its list after I contacted its PR team, and it's available online here. Google has a page that clearly tells you when your Pixel or Nexus phone will lose security support. (Spoiler alert: All Nexus phones and the first three generations of Pixel -- including 2018's Pixel 3 -- are all out of support.) Your best place to start is with the support pages on your phone manufacturer's website.
Refurbished phones have some small disadvantages. Namely, they come with a smaller warranty period. This may affect the confidence you as a consumer may have in the product. You also may not spot the latest smartphone immediately available as a refurbished phone, meaning you may have to wait. Naturally, you also do not get any pre-order deals and discounts, though you do start off with a lower price than the current retail price of the phone. If you like to buy insurance on your phone, some insurers may not offer this service on refurbished phones. And lastly, depending on the grade of refurbishing, there may be minor signs of use on your device, like a light scratch or blemish. 041b061a72