What does refurbished mean?

Refurbished means a product has been professionally inspected, repaired if needed, and restored to full working condition before being resold. A refurbished device was either pre-owned, returned during a trial period, or used as a display model. Unlike used products, refurbished items go through a structured process that ensures they work like new, and they come with a warranty.

Across every iPhone RefurbMe has tracked, the median refurbished price sits about 80% below the original Apple launch price (as of July 2026). That figure spans years of older models, so a current model saves less and a legacy one more, but it shows how far refurbished pricing can fall under new. Source: RefurbMe iPhone stats.

How the refurbishment process works

Every refurbished device goes through a multi-step process before it reaches you:

1. Inspection. The device is checked for hardware and software defects.
2. Repair. Any faulty components are replaced with working parts. Some refurbishers install new batteries in phones and laptops.
3. Cleaning. The exterior is thoroughly cleaned and polished. Internal dust and debris are removed.
4. Testing. Full functional testing confirms that every feature works correctly, from the screen and speakers to wireless connectivity and cameras.
5. Grading. The device is assigned a cosmetic grade based on its appearance: Excellent (Grade A), Good (Grade B), or Fair (Grade C).
6. Packaging. The device is packaged with any included accessories and shipped with a warranty.

Is refurbished the same as renewed, restored, or reconditioned?

Yes, in practice. These labels all describe a pre-owned device that was inspected, repaired, and resold; the word choice depends on the seller. What actually varies is the warranty, the cosmetic grade, and who did the work, so check those three things rather than the label.

Term	Who uses it	Same as refurbished?
Renewed	Amazon's brand name for its refurbished program	Yes (renewed vs refurbished)
Restored	Loose retail label with no fixed standard	Mostly (restored vs refurbished)
Reconditioned / recertified	Retailer and carrier programs	Yes (refurbished vs recertified)
Remanufactured	Rebuilt with replaced core components	A deeper process (remanufactured vs refurbished)
Pre-owned / used	Any second-hand item, sold as-is	No (refurbished vs pre-owned)

The label also depends on who did the work: Apple refurbishes its own devices, while independent sellers run their own programs. Learn the difference between manufacturer refurbished and seller refurbished.

What comes with a refurbished product

Refurbished products are sold by professional refurbishers, and you can expect:

• A warranty (typically 12 months, sometimes extendable).
• A return policy (usually 14 to 30 days).
• A lower price than buying the same model new, with the gap widening as models age.
• All previous user data wiped clean.
• A device that is 100% functional.

Refurbished vs used vs open box

These three labels are easy to confuse, but they mean different things. A used product is sold as-is with no testing and no warranty. An open-box product was returned unused, so it is essentially new but no longer sealed. A refurbished product sits in between: it was professionally tested and repaired, then backed by a warranty.

	Refurbished	Used	Open box
Tested and repaired	Yes, professionally	No, sold as-is	Usually not, just opened
Warranty	Yes (30 days to 1 year or more)	None	Limited or none
Cosmetic grading	Yes (Grade A, B, or C)	Not graded	Like new
Data wiped	Yes, every device	Depends on the seller	Not applicable (unused)
Price vs new	Lower, backed by a guarantee	Lowest, highest risk	Just below new

Learn more about the difference between used and refurbished.

Who refurbishes Apple products?

Refurbished Apple products come from two sources:

• Manufacturer refurbished (Apple Store). Apple refurbishes its own returned and defective products. These are sold in Excellent condition only with new batteries and original accessories. Learn more about what manufacturer refurbished means.
• Third-party refurbishers. Independent sellers like Back Market, Amazon Renewed, and others source, inspect, and resell devices. They offer a wider range of cosmetic grades and often deeper discounts.

You can compare refurbishers on RefurbMe to find the best deal across all sellers.

Why buy refurbished?

Buying refurbished lets you get a fully functional Apple product at a fraction of the retail price. It also helps reduce electronic waste by giving devices a second life instead of sending them to landfill.