Prices on new tech keep going up, and a lot of us are looking for a smarter way to shop. According to a recent poll from CNET, almost half of U.S. adults considered buying refurbished tech in the past year. Most said the reason was simple: the budget.
So what exactly is refurbished tech and how is it different from just buying something used? There is a real difference, and knowing it can save you a headache.
Used vs. Refurbished: What Is the Difference?
A used product is sold pretty much as the last owner left it. No repairs, no inspection, no guarantees. A refurbished product has been looked over by a technician, tested, repaired if needed, and graded before it ever reaches a buyer.
Steven Athwal, founder and CEO of The Big Phone Store, a well-known U.K. refurbished tech retailer, puts it plainly. “A refurbished phone gets inspected, tested, repaired (when it’s needed) and graded before it goes anywhere near a customer,” he says. “Used means exactly what it says: Someone owned it, they’ve finished with it and it’s being sold as-is. There’s no guarantee of checks, fixes, warranties, repairs.”
Used items are usually cheaper. Refurbished items cost a little more but come closer to the quality of new. Apple’s certified refurbished products, for example, are priced at about 15% off new, according to Apple’s website.
Five Things to Know Before You Buy
Whether you go used or refurbished, here is what to keep in mind before you hand over any money.
1. The device may not last as long as a new one.
All gadgets wear down over time. Batteries hold less charge. Screens get scratched. Buttons get sluggish. When you buy secondhand, some of that wear has already happened. Refurbished items are better here, a technician may have replaced the battery or cleaned out the hardware, but used items come with whatever flaws they picked up along the way.
2. Quality varies widely.
“The quality entirely depends on who’s doing the refurbishing,” Athwal says. Before you buy, he recommends asking whether testing is done in-house, what the grading standards actually mean, and what happens if something goes wrong. Reading buyer reviews helps too.
Also keep in mind that even the best technician cannot fix a device that is simply too old to receive software updates anymore. Once a device stops getting updates, it will likely stop working altogether at some point.
3. There may be visible wear and tear.
Used items in particular may show their age. A cracked screen, chipped plastic, or other cosmetic damage is common. Refurbished items are generally cleaned up, but even a careful technician might miss a fraying cable or a single dead pixel. Look carefully at any photos before buying online.
4. Warranty coverage will be different or may not exist.
Popular refurbished seller Back Market offers an automatic 12-month warranty on all purchases, with the option to extend it for a fee. But that warranty comes from Back Market, not from the original manufacturer. So if you buy an iPhone through Back Market, Back Market handles any issues, not Apple.
Used products from individual sellers typically come with “buyer protection” from the platform you used. If the item arrives broken or does not match the listing, you can usually get a refund, but you will need to show it fits the platform’s policy.
5. Used items sometimes do not work at all.
This is rare with refurbished products, but it does happen with used ones. Some sellers list items without checking whether they still work, especially in bulk sales or at yard sales and flea markets. Always read the full description carefully. Sellers sometimes mention that a product is broken in very small print or buried in a long paragraph.
Where to Shop for Refurbished Tech
These are some of the most reliable places to find certified refurbished gadgets:
- Back Market — A large catalog covering phones, computers, audio equipment, and more, with a solid warranty policy and thorough refurbishment process.
- Micro Center — Has locations throughout the United States. Known for skilled repair teams and strong customer support.
- Best Buy — Offers a wide selection of refurbished tech. Look for the “Geek Squad Certified Refurbished” label, which means Best Buy’s own experts handled the repairs rather than a third party. Athwal notes that working directly with an established retailer makes communication and support much easier.
- Official manufacturer websites — Many major brands sell their own certified refurbished products at a discount. These include the Apple Certified Refurbished store, the Nintendo refurbished systems page, the Dell Outlet, and Sonos Certified Refurbished.
Where to Shop for Used Tech
If you want to go the used route and stretch your dollar further, here are good places to look:
- eBay — The classic online auction site still has plenty of used tech, along with a broad buyer-protection policy.
- Mercari — Originally founded in Japan, this marketplace holds your payment until the item arrives and you rate it, or three days pass after delivery without a dispute.
- Facebook Marketplace — One of the largest online marketplaces around. It tends to focus on local, in-person transactions. Just know that paying in cash means no buyer protections and scammers do use the platform, so shop carefully.
- Buy Nothing groups — Also on Facebook, these local groups let people give away items they no longer want, including tech, completely free. There are thousands of groups worldwide.
- Garage sales and flea markets — A great option if you enjoy browsing in person. Prices can be very low, but always check whether the item actually works before you buy.
Is It Worth It?
Buying refurbished from a reputable seller is, in Athwal’s view, absolutely worth it. You have a strong chance of getting a quality item while spending less. Used tech can be a great deal too, though the risks are higher.
“It’s the cheapest phones that are likely going to have all the hidden faults and end up costing you so, so much more in the long run,” Athwal says.
The bottom line is simple. Know the risks, read the fine print, and buy from someone trustworthy. Do that, and buying secondhand tech can be one of the smarter moves you make with your money this year. “If a price looks too good to be true,” Athwal adds, “it usually is.”