Where to buy a second-hand or refurbished iPhone

If you’re on the hunt for an iPhone but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to Apple’s newest models, buying a used or refurbished iPhone is a great way to pick up a bargain. While this might sound like a risky option, it doesn’t have to be. Specialist retailers offer warranties and check devices before reselling them. We’ll help you find a reputable source for second-hand iPhones.

With Apple focusing on its 15-series iPhones from late 2023, you can find excellent deals on older phones such as the 14-, 13- and maybe even 12- series. (Apple still sells the standard iPhone 13 and 14 models, but has discontinued many of the variants, which means refurbished is the way to go with those models.) The older iPhone you’re prepared to buy, the bigger the savings you can enjoy.

In this article we cover everything there is to know about safely buying a refurbished iPhone, whether you’re looking to buy SIM-free or on contract.

Where to buy a refurbished iPhone SIM-free

Apple itself should be your first port of call, if only to establish a benchmark of what is reasonable to pay for your chosen handset: check to see if the Refurbished Store has the iPhone model you’re looking for. (That’s the U.S. store. British readers should try the U.K. Refurbished Store.) At time of writing we’re seeing a range of models from the iPhone 12 to the iPhone 13, but iPhone 14 will be added in due course.

Apple’s store tends to be the most expensive place to buy refurbished iPhones–although it’s still significantly cheaper than buying new. (The standard reduction on the Apple Refurbished Store is 15 percent.) But there are advantages that come with this higher price. The refurb phones all come with the same one-year limited warranty that you’ll find on the brand-new versions, for example. And it’s worth noting that any parts used in the refurb will be official Apple ones, and all devices come with brand-new batteries.

It’s worth shopping around, however, to make sure you’re getting a good deal. There are plenty of other companies that make a living from refurbishing and selling iPhones. Here are some of the more prominent resellers of refurbished and used iPhones:

Refurbished iPhone sellers in the U.S.

Decluttr: A popular destination for refurbished devices, often with sales that slash even more money off. You can also trade in any of your old tech, gadgets, and media (including books and CDs) to get steeper discounts.

The iOutlet on eBay: Offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles. 

Amazon Renewed Store: This site’s greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy and its “Renewed Guarantee” lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product.

Best Buy: Best Buy doesn’t offer a great deal of information on pre-owned iPhones’ condition, but you can return within 14 days if the item is “unopened or defective in any way.”

Walmart: Walmart doesn’t sell refurbished iPhones directly; rather, they are sourced from other sellers. Return policies vary from seller to seller, but there are minimum requirements that apply universally.

Refurbished iPhone sellers in the U.K.

Music Magpie: The UK version of Decluttr and a good place to start looking for refurbished iPhones. You may find that sales reduce the price still further.

The iOutlet or The iOutlet on eBay: Offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles. 

Amazon Renewed Store: While you can’t really sell on Amazon Renewed unless you’re a business, those looking to buy a refurbished iPhone Amazon Renewed have plenty of options to choose from. Its greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy and its “Renewed Guarantee” lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product.

Envirofone: Also allows you to trade in your old phone for credit towards purchasing a refurbished phone.

4Gadgets: Offers a 12-month warranty for all online orders.

Reboxed: Pledges that devices “are fully tested and in perfect working order.” All come with a 12-month no quibble warranty.

Smartfone Store: Look out for the additional 10 percent discount for students and young people.

Refurb-Phone: Like most refurb sellers, this site offers a 12-month warranty. Less commonplace is its policy of allowing returns within 14 days if you simply change your mind.

The Big Phone Store: Says it ensures refurb phones “are thoroughly tested, repaired, and cleaned before being sent out.” Backs this with a 12-month warranty.

Laptops Direct: You get a 12-month warranty on parts and labor. Watch out for slightly confusing grading system: “A3,” for example, means “Average condition.”

Back Market: You get 30 days to change your mind and a 12-month warranty… or occasionally more.

Best refurbished iPhone deals now

The large number of refurb sellers and variations of condition and warranty mean it’s impossible to provide exhaustive details of the best deal for every buyer. The best option, if you have time, is to visit each of the sellers listed above and shop around for the best price that meets your requirements.

For the reader in a rush, however, we have assembled the standout deals for each model using the following criteria: the lowest price currently available from a reputable seller with the minimum storage allocation, unlocked, and the highest condition grade where applicable. This should help you pinpoint the sellers offering the best value.

And here are the best deals in the UK.

Where to buy a refurbished iPhone on contract

You can pick up refurbished phones on contract as well from the following carriers and resellers:

US carriers

Verizon

AT&T

T-Mobile

UK carriers

GiffGaff

Mobiles.co.uk

O2 Like New

Vodafone

Carphone Warehouse

Fonehouse 

Outside of specialist retailers, there’s also eBay and eBay UK (just be sure to check the seller’s feedback and read the descriptions carefully), and, in the UK, CeX.

Buying older iPhones new on contract

Another way to dampen the financial impact of buying a new iPhone is to go down the tried and tested route of contracts offered by mobile providers. You’ll find older iPhone models in the online stores of various UK carriers, such as the iPhone 8 or XR, on much cheaper tariffs than the iPhone 14 range.

Prices change all the time, so we’d recommend reading our Best iPhone deals guide on a regular basis to see which offers are currently available.

Should I buy a refurbished iPhone? What is refurbished?

You might be concerned about buying a refurbished handset, thinking that it would be like buying a second-hand iPhone, but there’s no reason to be worried. Remember: refurbished and second-hard aren’t the same thing. Refurbished iPhones are pre-owned but are wiped, tested, and repaired to work like new. 

The iPhones Apple sells in the Refurbished Store were returned to Apple for a variety of reasons:

The previous owner could have exercised their consumer rights and returned the handset unused within 14 days (as per Apple’s refund and exchange policy).

The iPhone may have been used as a demonstration model.

The iPhone may have been returned to Apple due to a fault.

The third point on that list may concern you, but you can be sure that Apple will have identified and fixed any faults before reselling the device. The company says refurbished products undergo “full functional testing” and are provided with “genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary).” They also get “a thorough cleaning,” incidentally.

There are plenty of benefits to buying a refurbished iPhone:

You get a one-year warranty.

You get 90 days of tech support.

Because you’re buying from Apple directly, there are no shipping costs and free returns.

You can also take advantage of Apple’s 14-day returns policy if you change your mind. (Note however that Apple isn’t the only seller to offer such a policy.)

Refurbished vs second-hand: What’s the difference?

If it’s not already clear, a refurbished iPhone is tested and repaired so the handset works like new (or as close to new as possible). A second-hand iPhone, on the other hand, is simply sold as is, which means the device may not last as long, and may have small imperfections or defects. The battery in particular will be a worry in the long term.

There are other risks to buying second-hand too. If the previous owner hasn’t dissociated their Apple ID from the device you may get permanently locked out of the iPhone. Unfortunately, Apple’s customer service wouldn’t be able to help you unlock the phone either, as the company has strict security policies. Such a situation would be less of a concern if you know and can easily contact the previous owner (and they remember their Apple ID details), but we’d prefer avoiding such complications to start with.

This is just another reason why buying refurbished is a more reliable route to go if you did want to pick up a previously owned iPhone.

What does refurbished Grade A mean?

When you shop refurbished you might see grade scores such as A, B, or C; this indicates the condition of the phone. Is it dinged up? Does it have scratches? Or is it completely blemish-free and pristine? The grade gives you a general idea.

We say “general” because these grades aren’t set by an independent body, which means they can vary from retailer to retailer. This is how the grades usually break down:

Grade A: Looks like new or has very few signs of wear

Grade B: Might have some minor scratches and some wear

Grade C: Looks used and has obvious signs of wear

But some sites go with Fair, Good, and Excellent or some other variation. (One site we’ve visited appears to grade everything as A plus a number–so a comparatively poor handset would be rated as A3. This may strike some readers as a little confusing.)

Needless to say, Grade A/A1/Excellent refurbished devices will be more expensive than Grade C, but you’ll still be paying far less than you would for a brand-new device. 

Pay attention to refurbished warranties 

Given that the quality of refurbished iPhone devices can vary from retailer to retailer, it’s important to pay attention to the warranty. How long is the phone covered? The warranty allows you to get help or free repairs from the seller if you run into any issues after purchase. Retailers typically offer a year, and many allow “quibble-free” returns if you change your mind within 14 days. Check the fine print.

More refurbished Apple guides

Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch?

Why you should buy a refurbished Mac

Should I buy a refurbished iPad & best deals

Where to buy a refurbished MacBook or Mac

iPhone