A refurbished or refurbished device is not simply a used product: it is an object that has been returned, tested, repaired (if necessary), sanitized and put back on sale after passing thorough technical checks. In the case of smartphones, these are often phones that have been returned for reasons not related to faults, but for simple afterthoughts or small aesthetic defects. Buying a refurbished phone can mean getting a device practically like new, with original performance and components, at a significantly lower price. In addition to the economic savings, there is also a non-negligible environmental advantage: extending the useful life of a smartphone reduces the impact due to the production and recycling of internal components, contributing to a more sustainable and circular economy. Not all refurbished products are the same: it is essential to know what to look for, what guarantees are offered by retailers and who carried out the refurbishment process.
What are refurbished ones?
The term “refurbished” can carry with it some ambiguities. Unlike “new”, which implies a product never used beforethe refurbished one has a history of previous use. This could be a device that was faulty and then repaired, or it could simply be a phone that was returned by a customer a few weeks or months after purchasing it. Unlike a used device, however, a refurbished one is subjected to a technical process of verification and refurbishment. In many cases this process includes restoring factory settings, replacing the battery (if its remaining percentage is below a certain threshold), installing original components and diagnostic tests on key elements such as the screen, camera, speakers, buttons, connectors, etc.
Many manufacturers and retailers offer refurbished smartphones guaranteed for at least one year, with new accessories and dedicated packaging. Alongside official manufacturers and retailers, there are companies specializing exclusively in reconditioning. Even in these cases, however, it is essential to carefully evaluate what is offered: has the device been professionally cleaned? Does it come with all the necessary accessories? Is there sufficient warranty to cover any future failures? And above all, what is the declared aesthetic level? Many retailers adopt scales such as “like new”, “excellent” or “good”, which indicate the more or less evident presence of signs of wear; still others use a scale in degrees, where “grade A” stands for a device with practically zero aesthetic defects up to “grade C”, which indicates a device with some obvious signs of wear.
Products defined as “open-box” deserve a separate discussion, i.e. devices that have simply been opened and then returned without having been used. These items generally do not require technical interventions and are often indistinguishable from new ones. Since the meaning of “open-box” can vary from one seller to another, it is always good practice to ask for precise clarifications before proceeding with the purchase.
Contrary to what you might think, a device that has been “artfully” reconditioned has nothing to envy of a new one. This is not just a used one. Refurbished phones, especially if treated by official manufacturers, are disassembled, sanitized, checked on dozens of hardware and software parameters, and equipped with new components where necessary.
What advantages do refurbished ones offer?
Among the more concrete reasons to consider a refurbished smartphone, there are at least three that are worth knowing a little more deeply, and which we list below.
- Less waste: choosing a refurbished phone means removing a still functioning electronic device from the waste cycle. It is a small gesture that contributes significantly to reducinge-wastei.e. electronic waste, one of the most difficult waste categories to treat globally. But it’s not just about throwing away fewer objects: many components of smartphones, such as the so-called rare earths – a set of metals used, for example, in magnets and circuits – are difficult to extract and highly polluting. Extending the life cycle of a device also means making the most of these critical materials, preventing them from going to waste.
- Fewer environmental emissions: according to reliable estimates, up to 95% of the emissions associated with a phone are concentrated in its first year of life, including the extraction, assembly and transportation phases. To give a more precise idea: the creation of a single smartphone can generate around 85 kg of CO₂e. Purchasing a refurbished device means reducing the demand for new devices and, consequently, lowering the emissions associated with their industrial production.
- Economic savings: a refurbished smartphone can save you from 15% to 30% compared to the price of the new model, especially if purchased directly from the manufacturer. Savings can increase further if you buy from reliable third-party retailers, although in these cases it is important to carefully evaluate guarantees and conditions. In general, the further you move away from the official channel, the greater the potential savings, but also the margin of risk: this is why it is essential to know what to look for, read the reviews and find out about the type of parts used in the restoration processes.
What to pay attention to before buying a refurbished one
The choice to buy a refurbished smartphone is not, however, without risks. It is important to avoid unverified private sellers or marketplaces that do not offer adequate protection: a price that is too low can hide defects that are difficult to detect in photos or, even worse, devices with malware, blocked by telephone operators (for example because they are stolen) or falsified products. In these cases, the absence of warranty or return policies can turn a supposed “deal” into a nightmare. Turning to certified sellers, who offer at least 30 days of return time and warranty coverage of at least 6 or 12 months, is essential to protect yourself.
