Is a refurbished Apple device as good as new?

In most cases, yes, especially if you buy Apple Certified Refurbished. Apple tests every certified unit to the same functional standards as a new device, replaces the battery and outer shell, and backs it with a full one-year warranty. The only meaningful difference is that a refurbished device has been previously owned, and the discount reflects that history.

What is the difference between used and refurbished?

A used device is sold as-is by an individual with no professional testing or repair. A refurbished device has been professionally inspected, repaired if needed, cleaned, and certified before resale. Refurbished devices come with a warranty; used devices typically do not.

How much cheaper is refurbished vs. new?

Apple Certified Refurbished devices are typically 15% below the new retail price. Certified third-party refurbishers like Back Market and Amazon Renewed offer 30-50% savings. The exact discount depends on the model, generation, and cosmetic condition grade you choose.

Does a refurbished Apple device come with a warranty?

Yes, Apple Certified Refurbished devices carry a one-year limited warranty identical to what comes with a new device. Top third-party refurbishers also offer one-year warranties. RefurbMe only lists devices that include a warranty, so every device in our comparison comes with coverage.

Should I buy refurbished or used?

Refurbished is the better choice for most people. You get a professionally tested device with a warranty and a defined return policy, protections that used devices rarely offer. The price difference between refurbished and used is often smaller than buyers expect, making the extra peace of mind well worth it.

Is it safe to buy from Back Market or Amazon Renewed?

Both are established certified refurbishing platforms with multi-point inspection processes and customer protections. Back Market grades devices by cosmetic condition and backs every sale with a warranty. Amazon Renewed applies a similar inspection standard under its Renewed program. Neither is risk-free, but both are substantially safer than buying from an anonymous private seller.

Used vs. Refurbished vs. New Apple Devices: A Complete Guide

The decision between buying used, refurbished, or new is one of the most common questions Apple shoppers ask, and the answer matters more than ever. Flagship iPhones now retail at nearly $1,400, and MacBooks routinely top $2,000. At the same time, the global refurbished device market has grown to roughly $52 billion and is expanding at 22% per year, which means the selection, quality, and buyer protections available on refurbished devices have never been better.

This guide breaks down exactly what separates each category, what discounts you can realistically expect, and which choice makes the most sense depending on your priorities.

Used vs. refurbished vs. new Apple devices at a glance
What is the difference between used, refurbished, and new Apple devices?
What are Apple Certified Refurbished products?
How much can you save on each category?
Purchasing a used, refurbished, or new Apple device
FAQ

Used vs. refurbished vs. new Apple devices at a glance

	Used Apple devices	Refurbished Apple devices	New Apple devices
Working condition & physical appearance	Depends on the individual seller, can show light scratches to heavy cosmetic damage that affects usability.	Professionally restored to like-new condition, with genuine Apple replacement parts as needed. The cosmetic conditions are graded A (excellent), B (good), and C (fair).	Perfect, straight from the factory.
Inspected & cleaned	No	Yes	Yes
Battery condition	Varies based on prior usage, could be significantly degraded.	Apple Certified Refurbished devices ship with a new battery. Third-party refurbishers may not replace the battery if it passes functional tests.	Excellent, 100% capacity.
Warranty	May or may not include a warranty, depends entirely on the seller.	Apple Certified Refurbished: 1-year warranty, same as new, plus AppleCare+ eligibility. Third-party sellers offer varying warranty terms, typically 1 year.	1-year limited warranty + AppleCare+ eligibility.
Typical discount vs. new	20-60%+ off, but with no quality guarantee.	Apple Certified: ~15% off. Top third-party refurbishers: 30-50% off.	No discount. Occasional sales only.
Shipping & return policy	Depends on the platform (eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace).	Apple Certified ships free in a new white box with all accessories. Third-party policies vary by seller.	Free shipping from Apple. 14-day return window at the Apple Store; 30 days at Amazon.
Packaging & accessories	Varies, accessories may be missing or aftermarket.	Apple Certified: brand-new white box with all original accessories and cables.	Standard original packaging with all authorized accessories.
OS and storage	OS depends on the model and seller, may not be current.	Fully restored OS, wiped clean.	Latest OS, fresh storage.
Where to buy	eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or trade-in programs.	Apple Store, Back Market, Amazon Renewed, Gazelle, Mac of All Trades.	Apple Store, authorized retailers, or any major e-commerce platform.

What is the difference between used, refurbished, and new Apple devices?

The first thing to clarify is what each term actually means, because the differences are significant.

Used Apple devices

A used or pre-owned Apple device comes from an individual who owned and operated the device before reselling it, usually through a marketplace like eBay or Facebook.

It is not factory-tested or professionally repaired, and may arrive with light scratches, heavy cosmetic damage, a degraded battery, or other wear and tear, with no recourse if problems emerge after purchase.

Also check out these related comparisons:

👉 Pre-Owned vs. Refurbished 👉 Open Box vs. Refurbished 👉 Renewed vs. Refurbished 👉 Restored vs. Refurbished 👉 Refurbished vs. Recertified

Refurbished Apple devices

Refurbished Apple devices are units returned shortly after their original sale, or used as display models, that have since been professionally inspected, repaired, and restored. A manufacturer or certified seller replaces failing components, cleans the device, resets the software, and bundles it with a fresh warranty.

Refurbished Apple devices are thoroughly tested, repaired where needed, and cleaned before being resold. Unlike used devices, every unit must meet a defined standard before it ships.

New Apple devices

A new Apple device goes straight from the factory to the store shelf and arrives in your hands without ever being activated. It carries the manufacturer's full one-year limited warranty and includes every accessory in the original box, no exceptions.

New devices make the most sense when you want the absolute latest model on day one, or when Apple's launch pricing happens to be discounted through a carrier or retailer promotion.

What are Apple Certified Refurbished products?

Refurbished Apple devices occupy a compelling middle ground: lower cost than new, but far less uncertainty than used.

The Apple Store devices we compare on RefurbMe, our Apple refurbished comparison platform, are classified as Apple Certified Refurbished. Every unit completes a rigorous refurbishment process that meets the same functional standards as a factory-new Apple product.

Here is what Apple's certification process actually covers:

Full hardware and software testing across every component
Replacement of the battery and outer shell with genuine Apple parts (for iOS devices)
A clean OS installation with no trace of prior user data
New packaging, the iconic white box, with all original accessories and cables
A one-year limited warranty identical to what you get with a brand-new device
Eligibility for AppleCare+ extended coverage
Free shipping and free returns

The result is a device that is functionally indistinguishable from new, at a price Apple officially discounts by at least 15% below retail.

👉 Learn more: Apple Ecosystem: Everything You Need To Know

How much can you save on each category?

Discount depth varies widely depending on where you buy and what you accept in terms of cosmetic condition.

Apple Certified Refurbished typically lands around 15% below the equivalent new retail price. That is the smallest discount of the three categories, but it comes with the tightest quality controls and a warranty identical to new.

Third-party certified refurbishers, such as Back Market, Amazon Renewed, and Gazelle, offer more aggressive pricing. Savings on popular models regularly run 30-50% off new retail. An unlocked iPhone 15, for example, can be found refurbished for around $389 through a certified third-party seller, compared to $699 or more new, a saving of roughly 44%. Back Market alone reported forecasting over €3 billion in gross merchandise value for 2025, reflecting just how mainstream certified third-party refurbished has become.

Used devices (eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace) can hit 50-60% or more off retail, but the discount is not guaranteed, the condition is not verified, and there is no warranty unless the seller voluntarily provides one.

One additional tip: refurbished iPhone prices on third-party platforms tend to dip their sharpest in April and May, historically the two months with the steepest price drops of the year, averaging 4-6% monthly declines. If timing your purchase is an option, spring is the season to watch.

Purchasing a used, refurbished, or new Apple device

With those distinctions clear, the right choice comes down to a few practical questions.

Buy new if: you want the latest model on release day, you depend on features exclusive to the newest hardware, or you simply prefer the certainty of a factory-sealed device.

Buy refurbished if: you are willing to wait a few months post-launch, want strong buyer protections (warranty, return policy, tested quality), and want to save 15-50% without taking on the risks of the used market. Buying from a certified refurbisher, whether through the Apple Store or a platform like Back Market, is better for the environment too, extending the lifecycle of hardware that would otherwise be discarded.

Buy used only if: you are confident in your ability to assess a device's condition in person, you know the seller, or you are buying a model old enough that a missing warranty is an acceptable trade-off for a dramatically lower price.

Buying a used Apple device is the cheapest option on paper, but it is also the riskiest. Devices often arrive without a warranty, without a verified return policy, and with undisclosed damage. Buying refurbished gives you the security of tested quality and documented buyer protections, which is why RefurbMe only lists devices that come with a warranty, no exceptions.

On RefurbMe, you can compare refurbished Apple devices in real time from multiple reputable sellers. Our list of refurbishers shows exactly what to expect from each one on warranty, shipping, and return policy, side by side.