Is It Worth Buying A Refurbished Smartphone?

We all want to have the newest technology or at least something that is at the top of the line, but with the cost of living rising quickly and smartphone costs that are already high, this may be rather difficult. You might be thinking about going the reconditioned phone way.

The truth is that these devices have become a great alternative to paying full price owing to a wide choice of reputable vendors. Refurbished tablets in the UK and other electronics are often 15-30% cheaper than buying brand new, perhaps even more if you shop around. 

You typically get a good guarantee as well. It might sound like these devices have been damaged or had significant defects that have been patched up. The benefits and drawbacks of purchasing a used smartphone are listed below.

PROs of Buying a Refurbished Smartphone

Refurbished phones are more affordable

The ability to save money is the most compelling argument in favour of purchasing a used phone. For instance, Apple offers discounts on refurbished iPhones that typically total 15% off the list price of a product. Even though these aren’t usually the most recent models, you can often find the flagship models from the previous generation at these prices and benefit from the fact that they are essentially brand-new, come with all the original accessories, and come with the same one-year warranty as if you were purchasing them brand-new.

Refurbished equipment is covered by warranties

Warranties are absolutely essential when buying refurbished laptops, smartphones, or other electronics. Although buying used equipment can save you money, it’s a bit of a risk. Refurbished devices still offer cost savings, but they also come with the assurance that you may return them if they malfunction and receive a refund or a replacement.

Refurbished technology benefits the environment

Everybody has seen the news. Various sections of the world are already starting to experience the alarming effects of climate change, and the present scientific predictions don’t seem hopeful. The amount of energy and resources needed for tech manufacturing and delivery is one of the causes of this.

Buying a refurbished phone rather than a new one is better for the environment because it extends the life of an already existing product. The world won’t be saved by one refurbished iPhone purchase, but if enough people switch to refurbished handsets, it will undoubtedly help.

CONs of Buying a Refurbished Smartphone

Software upgrades may not be available for older refurbished devices

When purchasing a refurbished gadget, it’s important to consider how long the manufacturer guarantees to support the device’s software. It’s a sad fact that many perfectly functional phones stop receiving security updates each year, rendering them useless. These software updates guard you against any vulnerabilities discovered by hackers. Your smartphone is potentially unsafe once the security upgrades stop, so you should consider upgrading at this point.

Battery life might be shorter on some devices

While some sellers of refurbished phones will install new batteries, that’s not always the case. Be sure to check the listings to see if it mentions this, as devices that have been used for a couple of year will already have lost some battery capacity. This isn’t a fault, just the chemical nature of battery cells, which naturally degrade over time. In many cases you can have these replaced by professionals, but that will be an additional cost that you’ll need to factor into the overall price of the phone.

Author bio: Paula Napolitano is a Product Sales Manager for Wisetek Store UK, an e-commerce portal for refurbished laptops, refurbished tablets, and much more.

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