There are so many places where you can buy refurbished phones, but one thing is certain: the refurbished electronics market is here to stay and will reach $272.91 billion by the end of 2031, according to Transparency Market Research. The number of deals is astounding, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the many choices. To help make your path to purchase a lot easier, we’ve put together the reviews of the six best places to buy refurbished iPhones, comparing and examining them based on the testing process, warranty, and pricing.
Table of contents
Apple Certified Refurbished
As the maker of the iPhone, Apple is one of the most trusted names in the refurbished phones space. It’s easy to know why so many people buy a refurbished iPhone from the company that made the phone in the first place.
It is obviously one of the best places to buy a refurbished iPhone since its quality standards are the same as factory-new ones. In fact, they are hard to distinguish from new models, although they are a bit more expensive than in other third-party sellers due to this.
Testing process
Apple refurbishes its iPhones through the Apple Certified Refurbished program. The company itself tests, certifies, and repairs its smartphones. They will also come in branded Apple packaging, which includes a brand-new battery and outer shell.
Warranty & shipping
One of the big draws towards Apple’s refurbished store is that its products come with an excellent warranty deal. You’ll get Apple’s one-year limited warranty included in the price, and there’s also the option to extend the AppleCare warranty for a fee. In addition, all refurbished products sold by Apple come with free next-day shipping and have a 14-day return policy.
Products & pricing
64GB storage
Black
128GB storage
Black
256GB storage
Black
Amazon Renewed
Amazon has been selling refurbished phones for a while, but it recently expanded its efforts as the market has grown significantly. Because so many of us already shop at Amazon—it has between 300 and 600 million customers—it’s no wonder why so many people buy their smartphones from Amazon too.
Testing process
Amazon certifies its refurbished iPhones so they work and look like new. They will arrive packaged in a generic box, often including the accessories you’d expect with a new version of the handset—the exceptions are listed on the product page.
Warranty & shipping
Amazon is generally quite good for returns and warranties on other products; there’s no difference with its refurbished phones section. Amazon Renewed products are backed for a minimum of 90 days by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee. However, they can be covered for one year if they are in a premium cosmetic condition. Most products are eligible for Prime shipping.
👉 Learn more: Is Amazon Renewed Reliable? A Complete Buying Guide
Products & pricing
decluttr
decluttr is a platform focused on buying and selling tech items, including tablets, laptops, watches, and, of course, iPhones. They have an astounding number of positive reviews and publish the Annual Phone Depreciation report where you can see how smartphones’ prices decrease yearly.
In addition, we have partnered with decluttr to offer a discount on tech trade-ins. Use the code REFURBME to get 10% extra on tech trade-ins (capped at $30 extra per category).
Testing process
decluttr has an extensive in-house refurbishment with up to 90 quality checks in some cases. This process ensures that you receive the best possible quality when you buy an iPhone for a reduced price. In any case, the performance and functionality of a refurbished iPhone are the same as a brand-new one.
Warranty & shipping
They offer a 1-year warranty that covers technical defects and faults caused by improper workmanship or materials. It begins the day of your purchase. Lastly, they have free tracked shipping on all orders.
Products & pricing
16GB storage
Silver
Back Market
Back Market has made a name for itself in the international market with serious discounts, a large catalog of deals, and its expertly endorsed refurbishing service. This includes a large number of refurbished iPhones to buy safely, making it one of the best places to buy a refurbished iPhone.
Testing process
Sellers offering their refurbished devices on Back Market must go through a rigorous selection process and meet their quality requirements. In addition, they track each seller in real time. The iPhone battery is replaced if it has less than 80% of its capacity and less than 500 cycles.
👉 Learn more: Is Back Market Legit? A Complete Review and Guide
Warranty & shipping
All Back Market products come with a 30-day trial, a 2-year warranty, express delivery, and the possibility to pay in installments.
Products & pricing
Gazelle
Gazelle has sold certified pre-owned, used, and refurbished phones since 2014. Still, the company has quickly risen to become one of the top names in the refurbished industry. It has a large number of positive reviews from its customers, mainly due to its “no strings attached” policy. Besides, you can buy a handset with no contract or commitment included.
Testing process
A Gazelle-certified device has gone through its 30-point inspection program. This extensive testing system ensures the iPhone is in perfect working order, offering extra confidence when buying a handset through this retailer.
Warranty & shipping
This retailer’s smartphones come with a 30-day warranty and a pretty simple return policy. If you aren’t satisfied with your purchase of a Gazelle device, you can return it within 30 days of delivery and receive your money back. Gazelle also offers free shipping on all its products.
Products & pricing
64GB storage
Red
64GB storage
Black
64GB storage
White
RefurbMe
We know that going to all these retailers and comparing prices and deals one by one can be tedious and time-consuming.
This is why here, at RefurbMe, we do it for you. We are a price comparison site for refurbished Apple products. We help our users find the best savings on refurbished iPhones in real time, saving money, time, and effort in the process.
Testing process
We have compared the reconditioning process of all the merchants we work with. Follow the link to see and compare them at a glance.
👉 Compare testing processes of all merchants at once
Warranty & shipping
Refurbishers listed on RefurbMe provide a minimum of a 30-day warranty, but most offer a 1-year warranty.
👉 Compare warranties of all refurbishers
In terms of shipping, all merchants listed provide free shipping.
Products & pricing
32GB storage
Black
128GB storage
Black
Moreover, you can even set up stock alerts and price alerts, and we will send you an email when the iPhone you’re looking for has come back in stock or has had a price drop.
Conclusion
Buying a refurbished phone doesn’t need to be a hassle. We believe that trying to save money on the tech you love shouldn’t take so much time.
As a result, we created RefurbMe to have everything in one place; gone are the days of visiting a store one by one to find the best price with the features you want!
We work with the best places to buy refurbished iPhones we reviewed in this article. So, choose your favorite iPhone on RefurbMe and save money on your next purchase!
