If you need to buy a new phone, refurbished is a great option. You know that, clearly, because you’re reading this. You’ll save a lot compared to buying a brand new phone, and going down the refurbished route shouldn’t be scary.
Refurbished phones are available to buy from major retailers (such as Amazon and Argos), as well as network operators and dedicated websites such as Back Market, Music Magpie and Envirofone. The big attraction of refurbished phones is that you get a warranty which means peace of mind, something you don’t necessarily get when buying a used phone from Facebook Marketplace, ebay or your friend.
Different grades are available which reflect the phone’s condition. You’ll pay the least if you’re happy to accept the odd scratch or scuff, but because stock comes from people trading in their old phones, availability of specific colours and storage capacities changes all the time.
This means that if you see a deal you like below, don’t hang about: buy it quickly. Below we’ve hand-picked the phones we think represent the best deals right now.
If you want to sell your current phone quickly and easily, it’s worth using Compare & Recycle to see which company will give you the most money for your old one.
Best refurbished phone deals in the UK
Apple iPhone 13 (128GB) – Excellent condition
1
From: Smart Cellular
Was: £749
Now:
£349.99
(£399.01 off)
Now the iPhone 15 is out, the iPhone 13 has dropped significantly in price – refurbished 128GB models in Excellent Condition like this one are much cheaper now. Apple charges £759 for a refurbished iPhone 13 with 512GB of storage, which makes this deal look even better.
You don’t have to have a Starlight one: other colours are available. You get an 18-month warranty and a guaranteed minimum battery capacity (versus new) of 80%.
Apple iPhone 12 (64GB) – Good condition
2
From: UR
Was: £799
Now:
£254.95
(£544.05 off)
This refurbished iPhone 12 in Good condition is over £500 cheaper than when it originally launched – it was £799 back in 2020.
Reasons to buy from UR includes a free case, glass screen protector, a 12-month warranty and 12 months of insurance against theft and accidental damage.
Samsung Galaxy S22 – 128GB – Excellent condition
3
From: Smart Cellular
Was: £769
Now:
£309.99
(£459.01 off)
Launched in 2022, you can already get a refurbished Galaxy S22 for half the original price.
This one is in excellent condition, and there’s free delivery and an 18-month warranty.
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 – Good condition
4
From: Giffgaff
Was: £999
Now:
£369
(£640 off)
The Z Flip is one of the most popular clamshell-style folding phones. This Z Flip 4 is in ‘Good’ condition, which means there will be some signs of use, but at over £600 off the original price, it’s great value.
Plus, you get a 12-month warranty and at least 80% of the original battery capacity.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) – Excellent condition
5
From: Back Market
Was: £999
Now:
£334
(£665 off)
If the iPhone 12 Pro is enough for your needs, and it will be for a lot of people, then this 128GB model in Excellent condition is great value at a fraction of the £999 Apple originally charged for it.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra – 256GB – Excellent condition
6
From: Amazon
Was: £1249
Now:
£500
(£749 off)
Samsung’s flagship phone from 2022 still a very desirable handset, and even more so at this price.
This refurbished 256GB model is in excellent condition and you get a one-year warranty with it.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max – 128GB – Very Good condition
7
From: Music Magpie
Was: £1099
Now:
£389.99
(£709.01 off)
It may now be a few year years old, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max is still an excellent phone. And this huge discount from Music Magpie is pretty appealing.
Apple iPhone 12 mini (64GB) – Good condition
8
From: UR
Was: £579
Now:
From £229.95
(£349.05 off)
This price is for a Good condition model, which means noticeable wear and tear, but you’re saving almost £350 compared to the iPhone 12 mini’s original RRP.
Plus, UR provides a case, glass screen protector, a 12-month warranty and 12 months of insurance against theft and accidental damage.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G (128GB) – Excellent condition
9
From: UR
Was: £679
Now:
£239.95
(£439.05 off)
The Galaxy S21 is still a great phone, despite the S24 range having now launched.
When we checked, a few colours were in stock in Excellent condition. You can save another £20 if you opt for Good condition instead, or spend £20 more and get one that’s indistinguishable from new.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max – 64GB – Good condition
10
From: Smart Cellular
Was: £1149
Now:
£249.99
(£899.01 off)
The iPhone 11 Pro Max is no longer available from Apple, but cost £1149 at release, which means this deal saves you almost £900 on an unlocked, refurbished phone in ‘Good’ condition.
Smart Cellular offers free delivery and a generous 18-month warranty. You may also be able to get a £15 discount if this is your first order.
Apple iPhone XR (128GB) – Fair condition
11
From: Envirofone
Was: £799
Now:
£184.99
(£614.01 off)
Looking for an iPhone under £200? The XR is a good option, as it’s still able to get iOS updates so you don’t miss out on the latest features.
Envirofone has various models in stock in Fair condition. If you don’t mind paying a bit more you can get one in Good condition.
Where to find refurbished phone deals in the UK (SIM-free)
Here are the best places to browse for a refurbished phone, along with any promotions you might be able to use:
Where to buy refurbished phones on contract
You can also get refurbished handsets on a monthly contract (and sometimes buy them outright) from network operators including:
Where to find refurbished phone deals in the US (SIM-free)
Here are the best places to buy a refurb phone in the US.
What do refurbished grades mean?
Each retailer has its own grading system, which means a ‘Good’ condition phone from one might be in very different condition to a ‘Good’ phone bought from another.
That’s why it’s crucial to read the description of what each grade means on the retailer’s website.
Some start their grading at ‘Good’ (which means the worst condition they sell) and go up to Excellent or Like New.
Back Market
Others are more honest, calling phones with obvious signs of wear and tear ‘Fair’ condition. Just make sure you read descriptions of exactly what each grade means before buying so you know what to expect from a phone in ‘Fair’ condition.
Refurbished vs second-hand or used – what’s the difference?
There’s a difference between buying refurbished and simply buying second-hand. While refurbished devices are technically pre-owned, they are repaired and reconditioned to work like new. Buying a second-hand phone, however, means you get the device as is, which means the lifespan may not last as long.
Refurbished phones often come with a one-year warranty no matter where you buy from – in fact, we’d urge you to take a look at the warranty policy before you buy. Ensure there is one!
Read our guide to Refurbished vs Used, where we look at which is better and why.
If you’d still prefer to buy new, but are on a budget, read our round-up of the best budget phones.
Leave A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.