Refurbished

iPhone SE 3

RefurbMe lists a few different carrier-locked iPhones:

• AT&T
• T-Mobile
• Sprint
• Verizon
• Tracfone
• Cricket
• Xfinity Mobile

You'll find all the carrier options under the Carrier header in the left-hand side menu. If you have a different carrier, or you might want to switch carriers in the future, your safest option is to go for an unlocked phone. You can also learn how to unlock an iPhone.

Yes. Refurbished iPhones support eSIM if the original model includes eSIM hardware. The refurbishment process does not affect eSIM capability. Any iPhone XS or later supports eSIM, and all iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air are eSIM-only worldwide (no physical SIM tray).

eSIM support was introduced with the iPhone XS lineup in 2018:

• eSIM + physical SIM: iPhone XS, XR, 11, 12, 13 (all variants), iPhone 16e, and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation). Also iPhone 14, 15, and 16 in markets outside the US.
• eSIM-only (no SIM tray): iPhone 14 and later sold in the United States. All iPhone 17 models (17, Air, Pro, Pro Max) are eSIM-only worldwide regardless of market.
• No eSIM: iPhone X and older models.

eSIM is a digital SIM that is built into the phone. Instead of inserting a physical SIM card, you activate a carrier plan by scanning a QR code or using your carrier's app. You can store multiple eSIM profiles, making it easy to switch carriers or use separate plans for personal and work lines.

No. The previous owner's eSIM profile is removed during the refurbishment process, along with all other user data. When you set up your refurbished iPhone, you can activate your own eSIM through your carrier. Contact your carrier or check their website for eSIM activation instructions.

Most major carriers support eSIM, but availability varies. Check with your carrier before purchasing if eSIM support is important to you. If your carrier does not support eSIM, make sure the refurbished iPhone model you are buying has a physical SIM tray.

Not all refurbished iPhones receive a replacement battery as part of the refurbishing process. Whether or not the battery is replaced depends on the refurbisher and the condition of the original battery when the device is inspected.

The Apple Store guarantees that every refurbished iPhone comes with a new battery. This is one of the strongest selling points of Apple Certified Refurbished products. If you want to browse Apple refurbished iPhones on RefurbMe, filter by Apple Store products.

Third-party refurbishers such as Back Market, Amazon Renewed, and others handle batteries differently:

• Back Market requires sellers to ship iPhones with a battery health of at least 80%.
• Amazon Renewed tests battery capacity and replaces it if it falls below their threshold.
• Other refurbishers vary: some replace every battery, while others only replace batteries that fail testing.

When an iPhone gets refurbished by a professional refurbisher, it gets fully tested. If any parts are faulty, including the battery, they will be fixed or replaced.

After receiving your refurbished iPhone, you can verify the battery health yourself:

• Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging.
• Check the Maximum Capacity percentage. A new battery shows 100%; anything above 80% is considered healthy by Apple.
• If Peak Performance Capability shows a warning, the battery may need replacement.

For more details on what to expect, see our guide on what battery health refurbished iPhones have.

If you receive a refurbished iPhone with unexpectedly low battery health:

• Contact the seller immediately, as most refurbishers offer returns or exchanges within their return window.
• Check whether your purchase includes a warranty that covers battery issues.
• Use RefurbMe to compare refurbishers and choose one with a clear battery policy for your next purchase.

No. A refurbished iPhone from a professional refurbisher should never have an activation lock. Reputable sellers remove iCloud Activation Lock and erase all previous user data as a standard part of the refurbishment process.

Activation Lock is an Apple security feature tied to iCloud. When enabled, the iPhone cannot be set up or used without the original owner's Apple ID and password. It is designed to protect against theft, but it can also prevent a new owner from using a legitimately purchased device if it was not properly removed before resale.

All refurbishers listed on RefurbMe are vetted professionals who follow proper procedures to remove Activation Lock before listing any device. This is one of the key differences between buying from a certified refurbisher and buying from an individual seller on a marketplace.

If you buy a refurbished iPhone and encounter an Activation Lock screen during setup, contact the seller immediately. This should be covered under the seller's warranty and return policy.

When you receive your iPhone, you will know during the initial setup process whether Activation Lock is present. If the phone asks for a previous owner's Apple ID, it has not been properly cleared. For extra peace of mind, you can read our guide on what a locked phone means and how to handle it.

Yes, refurbished iPhones support 5G if the original model includes 5G hardware. The refurbishment process does not remove or disable 5G capability. Any iPhone 12 or later will connect to 5G networks just like a brand-new unit.

5G support was introduced with the iPhone 12 lineup in 2020. The following models and all later generations support 5G:

• iPhone 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
• iPhone 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max
• iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max
• iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 / 16 Plus / 16 Pro / 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 16e
• iPhone 17 / iPhone Air / 17 Pro / 17 Pro Max
• iPhone SE (3rd generation)

Any iPhone model older than the iPhone 12 (such as iPhone 11, XS, or XR) does not support 5G, regardless of whether it is new or refurbished.

On RefurbMe, you can use the Features filter to select 5G-compatible models. You can also browse specific model pages directly, since any iPhone 12 or newer will have 5G built in.

A 5G-capable iPhone will still work on 4G LTE networks if your carrier plan does not include 5G. You do not need to upgrade your plan to use a refurbished 5G iPhone, but you will only get 5G speeds if your carrier and plan support it.

Refurbished iPhones receive exactly the same iOS updates as new iPhones of the same model. Apple does not distinguish between new and refurbished devices when delivering software updates. What determines update longevity is the model, not how it was purchased.

Apple typically provides iOS updates for 6 to 7 years after a model's original release. For example, the iPhone 8 (released in 2017) received its last major update with iOS 16 in 2022, giving it about 5 years of support. More recent models like the iPhone XS and later have seen even longer support windows. The current version is iOS 26, announced at WWDC in June 2025.

When choosing a refurbished iPhone, check whether the model is still receiving the latest version of iOS. Models that support the current iOS version will continue to receive security patches and new features. You can find more detail in our guide on how long Apple supports iPhones.

Since refurbished iPhones are typically 1 to 4 years old at the time of purchase, you may have fewer years of updates remaining compared to buying new. To maximize your update window, consider buying a more recent model. On RefurbMe, you can sort results by newest to find the latest models at refurbished prices.