In the tech-focused world of today, phones are constantly evolving year on year, and it can be difficult to keep up with each new model arriving on the market.
Apple is renowned for bringing out an updated version of the iPhone annually, with this year seeing the rise of the popular iPhone 13 series. Whereas Samsung have recently given a nod to the nostalgia of our beloved 90s flip-phones, with the launch of the Galaxy Z Flip3.
For many of us a refurbished mobile phone gives us access to all the latest technology for a much more affordable price point. But what are the drawbacks to a refurbed phone and is it really worth it?
In this article, we uncover the pros and cons to consider when investing in a refurbished mobile phone.
Pros
Affordability
One of the main reasons people opt for a refurb over a new phone is because the price of new models can be notoriously extortionate. For many of us, paying into the thousands for a mobile phone simply isn’t feasible. Whereas used phones are substantially cheaper than retail price for a box-fresh phone.
Accessibility
If you’re someone who often likes to update their mobile phone to the latest releases, opting for a refurbished phone can make new models much more accessible to you. Trying to keep up with every new mobile phone launch on the market can be tiresome and extremely costly. A refurb means you’re spending considerably less each time on a new phone, so you can chop and change to different models without breaking the bank by paying full retail price.
Trade in your old phone
Lots of electronic companies who sell refurbished mobiles also allow you to cash in your old phone x to get money off your new one. Why pay more when you don’t have to?
Cons
Reliability
It’s no secret that the main downfall with used or refurbished phones is that they have, on occasion, been known to be less reliable. This is usually due to the phone being previously faulty before being repurposed and sold on as a refurbed mobile phone.
Stock Issues
Due to the nature of refurbished phones being previously owned, this makes it highly unlikely that you can get the very latest new model that’s just come on the market – because nobody has had chance to purchase it yet, before eventually disposing of it to be sold on as a used mobile phone. With this in mind, refurbished phones are usually always one model behind the latest releases.
