An Extensive Guide to Buying A Refurbished Phone

Posted by Vinod Kumar on July 30th, 2018

Have you often come across a listing that says it is a refurbished phone and is being sold for a lesser price? Maybe, you want to know why it is cheaper than the newer models and how reliable it is to put your money into it. Let’s just look at the details before you go ahead and buy a refurbished phone UK.

What are Refurbished Phones?

There are so many scenarios when this happens! Many stores offer the opportunity to purchase a phone, use and return it within 30 days if the user is not satisfied. Similarly, when consumers request the company to change the screen or battery under product warranty, manufacturers might give them a new phone. The repaired phone thus made available at a later date is one example of refurbished phones.

While these are some of the common situations, older phones are sold back to the seller, online retailer when people upgrade to the latest model. They replace any defective parts, ensure it is of top-notch quality and sell it to new users as a refurbished model.

Why are Refurbished Phones Cheaper?

Refurbished models are cheap because many of these models are older and may have slightly outdated hardware. If you are on a budget and require a reliable phone like the Nexus 5 or Samsung Galaxy S5, you can get a refurbished Android phone for unexpectedly cheap rates. In fact, replacements parts can be non-branded to help keep the cost down.

The Process Behind Refurbishing a Phone

Be it refurbished Android phones UK or Apple models, the process behind refurbishing is very transparent. It will actually give you the confidence to purchase it. Just like a new model, a phone’s hardware is tested which will include the battery life, screen quality, components like a wireless antenna, etc. to ensure they are in perfect working condition.

Once the quality test is complete, these phones are packed again and sold as refurbished phones. The process also involves reinstalling the stock software, wiping the memory clean so that they are as good as new. From a different perspective, you can even claim these phones are much better than new ones as they are tested twice in the factory for quality. Some refurbished phones may have certified hardware components used as replacements.

Reliability Factor and Warranty

The models are quality tested to ensure they are in good working condition. The reliability factor comes from the process when these models are tested multiple times, repairs are done or rather components are replaced to offer a new experience.

The refurbished phones UK can come with a warranty period. Some dealers may offer a limited warranty period which is usually 90-days. In some cases, it can be extended to a whole year if you pay more to purchase a protection plan.

Claiming your warranty is very similar to how you would do with a new phone. If the refurbished Android phones UK has a hardware failure or it doesn’t work as it should, you can claim your warranty. Read the terms and conditions carefully before purchasing. Sometimes, the warranty may be provided in the form of repair or replacement.