Swappa is a marketplace for newish tech, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that we are big fans of buying gently used tech. But if you’re still on the fence about whether you should buy used, refurbished, or new products – consider this – Apple released the iPhone 14 and iOS 16 in September 2022. A year earlier Apple released the iPhone 13 and iOS 15. In fact, Apple releases a new iPhone and a new version of iOS every year. To that point, iOS 16 runs on the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which launched in September 2017.
So ask yourself this; If iOS 16, released in late 2022, is supported on a smartphone released in 2017 – should you really worry about buying a smartphone that is one or two, or even three years old?
Continue reading to learn why you shouldn’t buy a brand-new smartphone.
What does refurbished mean?
According to Dictionary.com, refurbish means “to furbish again; renovate; brighten.” Synonyms for refurbished include repaired, restored, fixed, and rebuilt. Essentially, this means that if you’re buying a refurbished smartphone, you are purchasing a phone that has been repaired and/or rebuilt.
Sounds simple, but when it comes to refurbished smartphones there is not always a firm definition. Refurbished, as it pertains to smartphones, can mean different things to different companies. For example, Apple notes they always replace the outer shell, and Samsung notes they always assign a new and unique IMEI.
Apple and Samsung also perform a thorough cleaning as part of the refurbishing process. But perhaps the most common change during a refurbishing process is replacing the battery, which is something done by Apple and Samsung.
How does refurbished differ from gently used?
A refurbished phone goes through a process where it is checked, cleaned, and repaired, which is most often done by a company. Refurbished phones, in many cases, will look and function like new ones. In comparison, a gently used smartphone typically goes directly from the current owner to the new owner.
But it is important to note that not all smartphones need to be refurbished, which is to say that you shouldn’t rule out buying a gently used one. In fact, buying a gently used smartphone directly from the current owner is a great way to save money. And, if you buy your gently used smartphone from a trusted marketplace like Swappa – you can buy with confidence knowing that you will get what you ordered.
Why buying a refurbished smartphone is good
Buying refurbished smartphones is good for several reasons, some of which are the same reasons why it is better to buy a gently used smartphone.
- Keep devices in use for longer: Modern smartphones receive software and security updates for years into the future, which is to say a phone that is a year or two old should never be considered outdated.
- Get devices that are no longer available from the manufacturer: Apple kept the iPhone 13 mini available when they released the iPhone 14, but the iPhone 12 mini is still a great smartphone and you can’t buy one from Apple. Buying a refurbished or gently used iPhone 12 mini is a great way to get the phone you prefer.
- Save money: Perhaps the most important reason why it is better to buy gently used or refurbished tech – you keep more of your money in your bank account.
Refurbished smartphones are a great option, but if you want to save the most money you should consider buying a gently used smartphone, and you can shop with confidence when you buy from a seller on Swappa.
As an example, a refurbished unlocked iPhone 11 Pro with 64GB of storage is $559 (as of October 2022) if you buy from Apple. On Swappa, you can find an unlocked iPhone 11 Pro (64GB) in good condition for well under $400.
Are there any disadvantages to buying used or refurbished?
There is no disadvantage to buying a gently used or refurbished smartphone. That said, different companies set different standards for refurbished so if you’re buying a refurbished smartphone, you should confirm the details. Take note of things such as what parts have been replaced, whether the replacement parts are genuine or third-party and whether any accessories are included.
Similarly, if you are buying a gently used smartphone, you should review the listing details carefully, or check with the seller before buying. For example, some sellers include accessories like a charging cable or case, while other sellers will sell a gently used smartphone by itself.
While not technically a disadvantage of buying used or refurbished, there are some buyers that simply want a brand new, never opened, never used smartphone that ships with brand new accessories.
If you’re buying from a reputable seller through a reputable marketplace like Swappa, you can buy with confidence and save money, which is likely the biggest advantage of buying a gently used or refurbished smartphone. Prices tend to be best for gently used smartphones, then go higher for refurbished smartphones, and even higher for brand new smartphones.
Will a gently used or refurbished smartphone last?
In general, you should expect a gently used or refurbished smartphone to last several years into the future.
Of course, any electronic device could have issues, even a brand-new one, so there is always a good reason to be cautious. But simply put, if you buy from a trusted marketplace or trusted seller, take note of the return policy, and check to see if there is any warranty – you should be able to buy with confidence.
Refurbished smartphones that are purchased from Apple or Samsung have a warranty. Smaller cell phone repair shops that sell refurbished smartphones may also include a warranty.
Save money and find your next smartphone on Swappa
Swappa is the safest place to buy gently used tech, or as we tend to call it – newish tech. Meaning, it is not brand new, but it is in close to new condition and always fully functional.
Some of the perks you can expect when buying on Swappa include getting:
- A support team that works 24/7/365 in case you have a question or need assistance.
- A moderation team that reviews listings to make sure all devices meet our listing criteria requirements.
Along with reviewing listings and keeping the junk out of the Swappa marketplace, our team also actively works to ensure you won’t have to deal with any jerks. Of course…any marketplace can claim to be safe and to have happy users — so we encourage you to review some of our Trustpilot reviews and judge for yourself.