Do you want to know why do some people buy used or refurbished iPhones? The iPhone is a very popular device. Many people want to buy newly released unboxed iPhone. But it’s expensive, and not everyone can afford to buy it. The refurbished iPhone is the pre-owned iPhone. Refurbished iPhones are the best choice for anyone with less budget but also want an iPhone.
But why do some people buy used or refurbished iPhones? This is because a refurbished iPhone is the most affordable option to buy an Apple device without paying full price. According to Apple, you can have a huge discount on an Apple-certified refurbished iPhone. Buying a used or refurbished iPhone can save 15% to up to 20%. You are saving money by purchasing an Apple refurbished iPhone and protecting the environment.
Sounds interesting? Read the full article to know more about how you can make a smart refurbished iPhone purchase and save the environment.
The Pros For Which People Buy Used or Refurbished iPhones
Here is why people buy used or refurbished iPhones, not a new one;
- Budget Friendly: The cost of a new iPhone is high, and not everyone can afford to purchase it. Buying a refurbished iPhone is a budget-friendly option. It allows you to easily buy your high-quality phone like the new iPhone.
- Sustainability: Refurbished iPhones require fewer resources to refurbish. However, manufacturing a device from scratch requires a lot of resources. A renewed devices marketplace named Back Market says you can save up to 40 kilograms of raw material and 45 kilograms of carbon dioxide emission if you buy a refurbished phone rather than a new one.
- Looks Same as New One: Your refurbished iPhone looks the same as the new iPhone because the physical condition of this refurbished Apple product is the same as that of the new one. Since these phones are Apple-certified refurbished iPhones, they do not have any external or internal damage.
- Warranty: The main concern of many refurbished iPhone buyers is the warranty. The misconception is that used or pre-owned iPhones have no warranty. However, this is not true. You only need to check if the restored iPhone is an Apple-certified refurbished iPhone. This is because these refurbed Apple phones often come with a one-year warranty. It makes sure that your refurbished iPhone is in proper working condition. Do not buy any refurbished phone if it does not come with a warranty.
Things to Look for When Buying a Refurbished iPhone
There is a big market for refurbished Apple phones. You have to ensure certain things before buying a refurbished iPhone.
1. Make Sure Your Refurbished iPhone is not stolen:
You have to protect yourself from any risk or scam. This is because sometimes, stolen iPhones are resold as refurbished iPhones. To protect yourself from this, ask for the seller’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) or serial number. This way, you can verify the history of the used iPhone. It will show you if it was reported as stolen or lost. You can then use online services by carriers or third-party websites and check the status of the refurbished iPhone.
2. Check Your iPhone Carrier:
Apple has worked to make iPhones easy to use with any carrier. Every model of refurbished iPhone works with all the carriers. But if you are buying an older version of the iPhone, such as the iPhone X, you need to consider the model number. There are two iPhone X models: the iPhone X A1865 and the iPhone X A1901. Model iPhone X A1865 works with any carrier as it is a combination of CDMA and GSM. But the model iPhone X A1901 has GSM only, so it does not support many carriers.
3. Check Battery Condition:
Most of the time, old sellers try to get rid of their iPhones because of the battery issues. Their iPhone battery does not work correctly. So, you must check the battery health of a used or refurbished iPhone before buying it. You can easily check this by opening the Settings option on the device and searching “Batttery Health.” Click this option and check the maximum battery capacity. If the capacity is between 80% to 100%, it’s good. But if the battery capacity is less than 80%, there are better choices than this used iPhone.
4. Check for Any Damage:
Almost all of the iPhone models released in recent years are water-proof. But older versions of Apple products are not water-proof. If you want to buy an older model of refurbished iPhone, make sure the used phone has no water damage in the past. If you believe a refurbished iPhone 6 or any older model, open up the sim tray and check it. If you observe any red sign, this means that this used phone has been damaged by water. The indicator of water damage in iPhone 5 is present in the charging port. You can check the red sign in the charging pot.
5. Look for any Hardware Damage:
Every refurbished iPhone has normal wear and tear, such as scratches on the phone’s sides, screen, and back. However, significant screen scratches, issues with the Face ID, 3D Touch sensor, or Touch ID, scratches on the lens of a camera, or other hardware issues in refurbished iPhones can be major problems. You should ask to check the Apple used phone personally if you buy from a third-party seller.
Also, test the buttons, camera, and other hardware. If you are buying online and proper inspection of the refurbished Apple iPhone isn’t possible, you should buy it from an established and reputable seller offering returns.
6. Check the Storage Capacity:
Even though the cheap price of refurbished iPhones is very attractive, remember that used or refurbished iPhones usually aren’t the newest ones. It means they may have less storage space than the new ones. The latest iPhone models have up to 512 GB of music, pictures, and app storage. But some cheap used iPhones may have only 16 GB, which is much less.
You may not take storage capacity seriously, mainly if you use iCloud for your music and pictures. But having at least 64 GB or more of storage capacity in your refurbished iPhone is good. The bigger, the better in this case.
7. Evaluate Features and Pricing:
You have to ensure you understand you may not get some features when you buy an older model of a used or refurbished iPhone. Usually, these cheap refurbished iPhones are a newer version (a totally repaired iPhone can be $100 or less). It’s a smart choice if you want to save money. Just be sure you’re okay with the features this older model might not have.
To ensure you know all about the refurbished iPhone features, you must compare its features with other iPhone models. That way, you can make sure it is what you expect from your newly bought refurbished iPhone.
Where to Buy Refurbished iPhones?
You need to do a little research when buying a used or refurbished iPhone from retailers. There is a difference between used and refurbished iPhones. Many untrustworthy retailers sell faulty used iPhones. Such phones do not come with a warranty or may have issues with the battery. Ensure to buy refurbished iPhones from trustworthy cell phone carriers, manufacturers, and big retailers such as Walmart and Amazon. The refurbished iPhones from these retailers are usually certified, so they are properly checked and upgraded.
The refurbished iPhones from the refurbished Apple store have the exact replacement parts of the new models. Apple’s refurbished iPhone has a new outer shell, battery, cables, accessories, and even a box. Apple takes strict actions under the Apple-certified refurbished program to test and do all the necessary repairs before reselling.
Conclusion
You now know why some people buy used or refurbished iPhones. Buying refurbished iPhones is an excellent idea as they are a more affordable option than buying brand-new ones. Refurbished iPhones are a budget-friendly way to own an iPhone without paying the total price.
It is cool that refurbished iPhones have been fixed, improved, certified, and often available in brand-new packaging. So you don’t have to worry about the problems often with buying a used or refurbished iPhone. Also you can contact ScreenFixed iPhone Repairs Company if you will be in need of any smartphone repairs in Brisbane, Sydney or Australia. You are saving money by choosing a refurbished iPhone and helping the environment by reducing electronic waste and the pollution of making new phones.
But if you want the newest, fanciest features and want to show off the latest technology, you can go for a brand-new iPhone. However, going with a refurbished iPhone is smart if you want to save money and still have an iPhone that works great for everyday routine.