Used and refurbished mobile phones are often thought of as the same thing. Although neither of them are technically new, the difference between used and refurbished is the difference between chalk and cheese. Let’s explore some of the differences and get to the nitty gritty of what makes the two unique.
As the name suggests, a used phone is a second hand item that has been pre-used and pre-loved. It’s most likely been used for some period of time, until the owner has decided they want an upgrade. Used phones are usually outdated models, they may or may not be in good working condition, and will probably have cosmetic flaws. These phones have no warranty, leaving you uncertain if they will work for another year or another five minutes. Refurbished phones for sale, on the other hand, are next to new. They’ve usually been owned, but only for a matter of days, returned to the manufacturer due to faults noticed with first-use. While they have technically been owned before, they’ve usually hardly been used, if at all. Refurbished phones have had all damaged parts replaced so that they function as new, and come with a warranty that proves it. They’ve been repaired, cleaned, and double checked for quality assurance. They’ve also been unlocked, so when they’re re-bought they can be used with any carrier.