Why Should You Buy Refurbished Mobile Phone in Australia?
Smartphone prices have climbed from merely painful to downright outrageous. Don’t get us wrong. We love all the new and flashy features the flagships of today offer. But how many of us can really afford to cough up over $2000 on a new device? A 512GB 12GB Samsung Galaxy Ultra can easily set you back at about $2000. Yikes! Even with Samsung’s trade-in offer, which promises a $400 discount for up two eligible devices, $1200 is still a lot of money to spend. Fortunately, there is another option – refurbished mobile phones.
Refurbished gadgets are the best of both worlds; you can get high-quality refurbished phones for cheaper without the typical risks associated with used devices – provided you know how to shop wisely. You are allowed to be skeptical, especially if you’ve never used or even thought of buying a refurbished smartphone. So, are they worth it? Before we can answer that, let’s take a look at exactly what refurbished means.
What is a Refurbished Device?
The word “refurbished” oftentimes carries a lot of stigmas. Most people usually equate them to “used” gadgets. But there’s a difference. Used devices are products that a person has bought, used, and sold. You can think of them as hand-me-downs. Such devices can have some light scratches but with significant battery degradation. With no warranty or return policy, ultimately, buying a used smartphone would basically mean that you are throwing away money. Comparatively, a refurbished smartphone is a handset that was bought and returned but not before undergoing a rigorous cleanup, repair, testing, and other forms of maintenance before being put on sale again. Essentially, they lie somewhere between new and used. But why were they returned in the first place? There are a few possible reasons:
• The item was somewhat faulty or defective.
• The buyer changed their mind.
• The package showed signs of damage on arrival.
• The device had cosmetic damage.
In a nutshell, refurbished gadgets are not synonymous with used smartphones. But the question still stands, should you buy a refurbished phone?
Here are some reasons why refurbs are excellent alternatives to new devices.
Price
The most alluring thing about refurbished devices is the price – a refurb is always the cheaper way to go. For instance, if you are looking to buy an iPhone 13, you will likely spend at least $1,349 AUD on a new device. And that’s for just 128GB of storage. On the other hand, a refurbished 128GB iPhone 13 will maybe set you back $1,049 AUD. The savings will vary depending on where you buy it and the device’s refurbished grade, but you will always spend less.
Better Than Used
With a used device, you never know what you are getting. The smartphone could come with a faulty battery, significant cosmetic damages, and other flaws that may render them defective. You will need to depend on the seller’s honesty to determine the condition of the device. In comparison, refurbished devices go through multiple stages of testing before they are sold. But aside from working like-new, you are guaranteed that the phone you are buying is not stolen, isn’t locked, and has no leftover personal data.
Warranty
Warranties are important. They afford you the right to ask the manufacturer or seller to address any issues with the device, provided you’ve met their terms and conditions. Unlike used devices, refurbished gadgets from reputable sellers will often come with a 12-month warranty. Therefore, if your refurbished phone fails to be of acceptable quality, you are entitled to a replacement or full refund.
Environmental Impact
Smartphones are a growing source of e-waste. It comes as no surprise as many of us probably switch out our old phones for new ones every two or so years. By opting for a refurbished smartphone instead of a new one, you help to reduce the detrimental environmental impacts of these devices.
Which Refurbished Smartphone Should You Buy?
You can find a range of refurbished phones in Australia. Some of the best deals on refurbished devices you can consider include the following:
Apple iPhone X
Released back in 2017, the iPhone X packs some seriously decent features, even when pitted against more recent phones. It has a gorgeous 5.8-inch OLED screen, Face ID, dual rear cameras, and excellent performance.
Samsung Galaxy Note 10
At the time of its release, the Galaxy Note 10 brought the best of Samsung’s Note line in a thinner, lighter, and more compact form factor. It has a sizeable 6.3-inch display, triple rear camera set up, and under the hood, either Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 855 or Exynos 9825 processor. You can find a refurbished Galaxy Note 10 for as low as $500 AUD.
Apple iPhone 11
The iPhone 11 lineup is a few years old, but it’s still one of the best iPhones around. It combines a 6.1-inch display on a premium-feeling body and comes with the powerful A13 Bionic chip. The price of a new iPhone 11 from Apple starts from $849 AUD. You can save a couple of dollars by opting for a refurbished iPhone 11, with prices starting from $539 AUD.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3
The Galaxy Z Fold 3 is one of the best foldable phones on the market. But given the price of a new device, which is about $2,499 AUD, buying a refurbished gadget with that sweet, sweet refurb discount is an offer that you can’t turn down. You can purchase the refurbished Galaxy Z Fold 3 phone starting from $1599 AUD for a 256GB Grade B gadget.
Of course, these are not your only options for refurbished phones in Australia. You can also nab great deals on a Google Pixel 3 ($199 AUD), Huawei P20 ($239 AUD), iPhone 7 ($179 AUD), iPhone 8 ($299 AUD), and plenty more. The bottom line is, that refurbished devices are worth considering, especially if you wish to grab your hand on a flagship phone. They are not only cheaper than new devices, but you also get to make a contribution towards saving the environment.
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