refurbished / renewed mobile phones
Discussion
Looking to get some feedback re iphones that have been renewed/refurbished i.e. ones on sale at Amazon.
Looking at a iphone 14 'new', without a sim card but am a little hesitant about £550/599 on a new phone (a basic sim card deal gives me all I want £6 a month / £72 a year. Paying monthly over 24 / 36 months works out quite a bit more, paying over 12 months isn't too bad, but still works out around £600. The new phone will be just a phone and for taking pics and videos, do all other stuff on my PC.
I don't want to go much older as looking at Which's site, 'security' updates on iphone 12/13 could run out in 2/3 years.
Argos has new iphone 14 £550, but Amazon has renewed iphone 14 pro at £500. Tesco mobile has new iphone 13, 12 months payments of £51 is £600.
One thing I don't understand is why something so new is getting renewed? Is it unrealistic to expect a phone to last 3/4 years+? What should I be considering in terms of 'insurance' / care / warranty. Argos are charging £8.99mpm or £64 for just one year.
How much does the warranty/care package differ?
Advice/opinions/experiences suggestions for a better 'deal' all welcome....thnx
I can't comment on the Amazon ones, but have had a 2nd hand Samsung S10 and S24, one from Ebay and one from CashConverters.
In the case of the S10 it was 2 years old and needed a new battery which Samsung did under warranty. The S24 however was registered literally 2 weeks before I bought it, no idea why anyone would get a top of the range £800 phone and sell it for half that within 2 weeks, but it comes with a 12m warranty and I was able to register it with Samsung so I don't think there is anything funny going on. Quite possibly someone has taken out a contract and sold the phone, then won't honour the contract but that is their problem, not mine.
There is nothing really to worry about if you buy it from a named brand/company. I certainly wouldn't bother buying new again, the savings on nearly new handsets are such that buying new isn't worthwhile. You get manufacturers warranty and a warranty from the seller as well. Any issues, send it back.
Look at places like Music Magpie, Cash Converters, BackMarket etc. What I liked about Cash Converters was you could see the actual phone, other places you select by condition (as new/good/fair) without actually seeing the handset.
In the case of the S10 it was 2 years old and needed a new battery which Samsung did under warranty. The S24 however was registered literally 2 weeks before I bought it, no idea why anyone would get a top of the range £800 phone and sell it for half that within 2 weeks, but it comes with a 12m warranty and I was able to register it with Samsung so I don't think there is anything funny going on. Quite possibly someone has taken out a contract and sold the phone, then won't honour the contract but that is their problem, not mine.
There is nothing really to worry about if you buy it from a named brand/company. I certainly wouldn't bother buying new again, the savings on nearly new handsets are such that buying new isn't worthwhile. You get manufacturers warranty and a warranty from the seller as well. Any issues, send it back.
Look at places like Music Magpie, Cash Converters, BackMarket etc. What I liked about Cash Converters was you could see the actual phone, other places you select by condition (as new/good/fair) without actually seeing the handset.
The renewed phones are ones that have been sold or traded in, some people change phones every year.
I’ve had used phones from music magpie before, they’re well described plus you can return it for a refund if you don’t like it. They also come with a years warranty.
If you can get a brand new phone rather than renewed, that’s best. The battery health on Amazon renewed only has to be 80% and that’s when you would normally replace the battery.
It’s also worth looking at the Apple renewed section of their website for any phones they have.
There’s also a new iPhone SE due out perhaps early next year - likely the same as the 14 on the outside but with a good chip and memory so it can run Apple intelligence. Likely to be under budget and brand new latest phone.
I’ve had used phones from music magpie before, they’re well described plus you can return it for a refund if you don’t like it. They also come with a years warranty.
If you can get a brand new phone rather than renewed, that’s best. The battery health on Amazon renewed only has to be 80% and that’s when you would normally replace the battery.
It’s also worth looking at the Apple renewed section of their website for any phones they have.
There’s also a new iPhone SE due out perhaps early next year - likely the same as the 14 on the outside but with a good chip and memory so it can run Apple intelligence. Likely to be under budget and brand new latest phone.
I bought a used iphone SE from ioutlet, near Plymouth.
About £100, so I won't be in tears if I break it, lose it while sailing or whatever.
It's obviously had new 'not official' battery.
I went for more memory and a cosmetic grade C, which just means the back of the case has a scratch.
I don't do banking on it. I use it as a phone, camera and GPS. A bit of casual internet.
I avoid having sensitive emails on it.
So I'm not paranoid about security.
I would buy from them again, a few friends have. I think there is something to be said for using a firm that refurbs ex-corporate stuff rather than the 'pawnbroker' type operations.
I wanted the small size of the SE, which narrowed my choices.
Previously, I've bought new Nokias, but the last one died because of the stupid micro USB connector which their cheaper phones still had last time I looked.
About £100, so I won't be in tears if I break it, lose it while sailing or whatever.
It's obviously had new 'not official' battery.
I went for more memory and a cosmetic grade C, which just means the back of the case has a scratch.
I don't do banking on it. I use it as a phone, camera and GPS. A bit of casual internet.
I avoid having sensitive emails on it.
So I'm not paranoid about security.
I would buy from them again, a few friends have. I think there is something to be said for using a firm that refurbs ex-corporate stuff rather than the 'pawnbroker' type operations.
I wanted the small size of the SE, which narrowed my choices.
Previously, I've bought new Nokias, but the last one died because of the stupid micro USB connector which their cheaper phones still had last time I looked.
I usually get a new phone every 3-4 years… first 24m on contract then sim only.
Currently have an IPhone 13 Pro Max (bigger size and battery helps as it degrades) and the cost per month over 4 years will be approx £25-30 a month with unlimited data.
Assuming the phone is worth £250-350 next year the total cost will be more like £20-25 a month.
U switch generally has some very good offers on the previous generation phones when new phones are released.
For the £700 total cost (£500-550 refurbished phone and £7 x24) you can get a new iPhone 15/16 for approx £800 all in. The likelyhood is the brand new phone will be worth the difference come the end of the two years.
Currently have an IPhone 13 Pro Max (bigger size and battery helps as it degrades) and the cost per month over 4 years will be approx £25-30 a month with unlimited data.
Assuming the phone is worth £250-350 next year the total cost will be more like £20-25 a month.
U switch generally has some very good offers on the previous generation phones when new phones are released.
For the £700 total cost (£500-550 refurbished phone and £7 x24) you can get a new iPhone 15/16 for approx £800 all in. The likelyhood is the brand new phone will be worth the difference come the end of the two years.
Edited by Froomee on Monday 25th November 07:22
Froomee said:
For the £700 total cost (£500-550 refurbished phone and £7 x24) you can get a new iPhone 15/16 for approx £800 all in. The likelyhood is the brand new phone will be worth the difference come the end of the two years.
That’s something I’ve found, I ended up with a 14 pro max on offer instead of the 14 plus I was intending to buy. Edited by Froomee on Monday 25th November 07:22
The higher resale value of the more expensive phone meant it actually cost me the same over 2 years.
Dave. said:
Cex have a 5 year warranty on everything.
What that warranty covers in not sure, but with looking into.
Early days but CEX seem good. What that warranty covers in not sure, but with looking into.
Mrs managed to bust the screen on her (very old) phone 3 weeks ago. Went into cex and got her a Samsung S21 5G for £200.
Phone was spotless it was just missing its box. She's well happy with it, only complaint is its grey she really wanted a "girly" colour. As you say 5 year guarantee - although I'm sure she'll bust/lose it long before then.
Presumably the 5 year guarantee only works because nobody keeps a phone for 5 years.
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