Refurbished devices are used products that have been repaired and returned to their original condition so that they can be sold virtually as if they were new. Their main advantage: they have a much lower price.
Considering the advantages of these types of used products, refurbished mobiles are an increasingly popular option for those who want to have the latest features without spending a fortune.
It’s also a good alternative for environmentalists and those who care about the environment (which we all should be), as it’s a great way to reuse a product that would otherwise be thrown away.
Without further ado, don’t miss our selection of the best smartphones refurbished that you can find currently for sale. For more information, see our buying guide below.
The best refurbished mobiles
OnePlus 8 Pro
We consider it to be one of the best mobiles today, and it could not be missing from this list. It went on sale in April of last year, but it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to find a refurbished model of the OnePlus 8 Pro on pages like Back Market for 40% less.
With this model, OnePlus has incorporated requested features such as IP68 water resistance or wireless charging. In addition, it has the best camera in the company’s history and its components are among the best in the industry.
More information: Test the OnePlus 8 Pro
Samsung galaxy s20
If you want a Samsung mobile, it is easy to find a used model with all the guarantees of quality in online stores. We found a refurbished Galaxy S20 on the Back Market for only $ 499 (original price: $ 909).
We like the S20 because it is a compact and very powerful terminal. Although if we compare the spec lists it does not exceed the S20 Ultra, the cheaper model will be more than enough, especially if you can now find it at such a discount.
More information: Test the Samsung Galaxy S20
Samsung galaxy s10 +
In Back Market, there are also older models. This refurbished Galaxy S10 +, for example, is available at a whopping 65% off. The S10 + was one of the best phones of 2019 and now costs just $ 355.
The store offers a free 24-month warranty, and you can also have it at home in just 48 hours. Back Market also gives you the option to try it out for 30 days, during which time you can return it and request a refund.
More information: Test the Samsung Galaxy S10 +
iPhone 11
Finding an iPhone 12 model in the refurbished market is a bit tricky, and even more so for a justifiable discount. On the other hand, the previous models are on sale in stores like Back Market. This is the case with this refurbished iPhone 11.
On Apple’s official website, this model is currently on sale for $ 689. But if you don’t mind that it doesn’t come with the original packaging, the $ 500 they’re asking Back Market will seem like a good deal. We are talking about a black model with 64 GB of space.
More information: iPhone 11 test
iPhone XR
Apple’s refurbished store is currently offering the refurbished iPhone XR for $ 280, down 66%. It comes in multiple colors, but this black 64GB model is the cheapest.
This model went on sale in October 2018, but it is still for sale on Apple’s official website as well. Although there are more powerful terminals from the brand, the A12 Bionic chip still performs very well, as does its 12 MP camera.
More info: iPhone XR review
Huawei p40
This Huawei model was not among our favorites in 2020, especially since it does not support Google services. However, if you can forget about it, the discount on this refurbished Huawei P40 is very interesting.
Today you can buy it at El Corte Inglés with a 39% discount. It costs $ 489 instead of almost $ 800. The cameras are some of the best around, and the 6.1-inch screen is impressive too. Performance is what you expect from any flagship.
More information: Test the Huawei P40
Sony Xperia 5 II
It wasn’t too long ago that Sony released it, but it is already possible to find the refurbished Xperia 5 II with a discount of up to 45%. We are not going to deceive you, it is still an expensive mobile, but its advantages justify it.
As the Japanese company is accustomed to us, it has a screen without notch with an aspect ratio of 21: 9. In addition, it always includes a port jack 3.5mm so you can use them with any pair of headphones you have at home.
More information: Review Sony Xperia 5 II
Xiaomi mi 10 pro
It’s been almost a year since Xiaomi put this model on sale, and that’s why it’s not hard to find it in the refurbished market now. El Corte Inglés offers this Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro with a 20% discount, now only for 636.90 $.
Just because it’s refurbished doesn’t mean you have to give up its best features, such as its power thanks to the Snapdragon 865 processor or its photographic capabilities thanks to its incredible camera with a 108 MP lens.
Oppo reno
Oppo quickly won over the Spanish public. The Oppo Reno was one of the first terminals of the Chinese company to arrive in our country, and it is still a very good smartphone considering that it is part of the mid-range.
We found a refurbished Oppo Reno at MediaMarkt for 208 $. It’s true that it’s not the best deal on this list, but if you don’t mind having the latest technology too much, we recommend that you consider it.
More info: Oppo Reno review
Realme X3 SuperZoom
It’s not one of the most powerful phones on the list either, but the Refurbished Realme X3 SuperZoom we found in PCComponentes will save you 36%. The current price is only 320.38 $.
Even though it is a refurbished model, you will still enjoy its quad rear camera with a 64 MP lens, Spandragon 855+ processor and a screen compatible with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
More info: Review Realme X3 SuperZoom
Everything you need to know before buying a refurbished mobile
Advantages and disadvantages of buying a refurbished mobile
The main advantage of refurbished phones (or any such device) is in the description itself: a mobile phone that is reintroduced to the market with the same guarantees as a new product after the previous owner returns it for. any reason.
This means you won’t have to pay full price for a smartphone new, but you will get the same quality from the device when it leaves the factory freshly produced. In fact, some phones sold as refurbished only have damaged packaging and haven’t even been used.
On other occasions, refurbished mobiles have been used by journalists like us who test products to make a meet again and they make them practically unused. The company or store then returns them to their original condition.
But even if the mobile problem is not serious, we have this guarantee anyway, so you don’t have to worry too much about the previous use of the refurbished product you are going to buy.
As we said at the start, that saving 20%, 30% or even more than the original price without having to forgo high-end features isn’t the only benefit. The possibility of avoiding more carbon emissions by purchasing an already used product and therefore reducing and reusing, two key concepts for protecting the environment, also comes into play.
All that experience of buying a refurbished product can also be viewed from a more negative perspective, with the main downside being that you don’t take home a smartphone New new.
If you’re one of those people who enjoys opening the box out of the oven more than with the product itself, this might not be your best option (although you should rethink your priorities). Also, if you want to give it as a gift, it probably won’t look that big.
On the other hand, it is not that easy to find refurbished cell phone models that have just been released for sale, and if you cannot wait a few months, your only option will be to buy an original model. That said, you’ll be surprised how quickly some new phones are entering the refurbished market.
And finally, another possible downside to buying a refurbished mobile is that its resale value will also be lower when you want to resell it used and buy another one. You can get more money for it if you keep it well and buy it original.
What is the difference between a refurbished mobile and a used mobile?
With our description of the advantages and disadvantages, you will have already been able to get an idea of what exactly is the refurbished cell phone and its main differences from used products.
All are used products if we understand them as devices that have already been used by someone else. But the key is that refurbished devices have undergone a repair process that is more like, in their physical conditions, a new mobile.
When buying a used product, it is important to pay attention to whether it has been reconditioned or not. Otherwise, you can expect it to have scratches and bumps, a button not working properly, or internal components to be damaged.
On the other hand, when buying a refurbished mobile (or any other device), this should not be the case. In fact, they usually have a one year warranty, so you can fix it at no cost if you have a technical problem.
If you have just bought a mobile, and you do not know if it is really new or if you have had a refurbished terminal, we explain how to find out in our article. How to know if your mobile is new or refurbished.
Where to buy refurbished mobiles?
There are a lot of shops in line where you can buy refurbished cell phones and other electronic devices, such as Certideal or Smaaart. The best known is certainly Back Market, which presents itself as “the first marketplace dedicated to electronic renovation”.
In recent times, and seeing the appeal that these types of products have, more and more conventional electronics stores have joined the refurbished market, mostly from their respective web pages.
This is the case, for example, of El Corte Inglés, Fnac or MediaMarkt. PCComponentes and Phone House also offer the possibility of buying refurbished mobiles. Amazon has its Amazon Renewed program, while Apple has its own store.
To note: We may receive a small commission for each purchase made through the links on our page, but this has no additional cost to you. It also does not affect our editorial independence. More information.
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