If you’re on the hunt for an iPhone but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to Apple’s newest models, buying an old, used or refurbished iPhone is a great way to pick up a bargain. While this might sound like a risky route to take, it doesn’t have to be the case, as there are a number of specialist retailers that offer warranties and check all devices before sending them out.
Now that Apple’s iPhone 13 range is here, you can find excellent deals on refurbished models as new as the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12 (especially now that Apple has discontinued selling the Pro models on both phones).
We’re looking at everything there is to know about buying a refurbished iPhone here – whether SIM-free or on contract.
Where to buy a refurbished iPhone SIM-free
Apple itself sells iPhones in its own Certified Refurbished Store in the UK, something that it’s been doing in the US Refurbished Store for some time.
One of the main reasons for buying from the Apple Refurbished Store, aside from the lower cost, is that the devices all come with the same one-year limited warranty that you’ll find on the brand-new versions. It’s also worth noting that any parts used in the refurb will be official Apple ones and all come with brand-new batteries.
The standard reduction on the Apple Refurbished Store is 15 percent.
It’s not the only place that sells refurbished iPhones though; there are plenty of companies that make a living from refurbishing and selling iPhones. Our top picks include:
- Music Magpie ( Decluttr in the US)- Music Magpie is a popular destination for refurbished devices, often with sales that slash even more money off. You can also trade in any of your old tech, gadgets, and media (including books and CDs) to get steeper discounts.
- The iOutlet or The iOutlet on eBay – Like Music Magpie, the iOutlet offers competitive pricing for refurbished devices and also accepts other gadgets such as iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles.
- Amazon Renewed Store – While you can’t really sell on Amazon Renewed unless you’re a business, those looking to buy a refurbished iPhone Amazon Renewed have plenty of options to choose from. Its greatest benefit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s standard returns policy and its “Renewed Guarantee” lets you get a refund or replacement within 1 year of receiving your product.
- Envirofone – Envirofone also allows you to trade-in your old phone for cash towards purchasing a refurbished phone. However, it mostly specializes in phones so you won’t be able to trade in your DVDs or books for cash.
The following refurbished retailers are also worth checking out:
- 4Gadgets
- Reboxed
- Smartfone Store
- Refurb-Phone
- The Big Phone Store
- Laptops Direct
- Appliances Direct
- Back Market
Best refurbished iPhone deals now
Refurbished iPhone Deals
Apple iPhone 12 (64GB) – Refurbished
Reboxed has a total of £155 off the iPhone 12 in Good condition when you add our exclusive code MACWORLD15 at checkout. The code applies sitewide, so you can apply it to any refurbished iPhone you wish!
Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max (128GB, refurbished)
The iPhone 13 Pro Max superseded it last autumn, but this chunky discount on a refurbished 12 Pro Max is pretty appealing. You can also get the 256GB model for £729.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) – Refurbished
If the iPhone 12 Pro is enough for your needs, you can bag a huge £435 savings on a refurb from Amazon.
Apple iPhone 12 (128GB) – Refurbished
Apple’s refurbished iPhone 12 is £110 cheaper than a new one, and £190 cheaper than when the iPhone 12 originally launched – it was £799 back then.
Apple iPhone 12 mini (64GB) – Refurbished
Apple has dropped the price of the iPhone 12 mini (64GB) from £579 to £489 when going down the refurbished route – that’s £210 cheaper than the launch price.
Refurbished iPhone 12/SE/11/X/XR/8/7
Laptops Direct is a great destination for refurbished iPhones. Most devices are Grade A listed which means you should hardly see any signs of wear if any at all.
Apple iPhone 11 Pro (64GB) – Refurbished
The iPhone 11 Pro (64GB) is just over £600 at the Apple Refurbished Store, where the handset is indistinguishable from new.
Apple iPhone X (refurbished) with 30GB data
Grab a refurbished iPhone X from Mobiles.co.uk with a solid 30GB of data on Vodafone for just £20 per month with no upfront costs.
Apple iPhone 8 (64GB, refurbished)
MusicMagpie has one of the cheapest prices for a refurbished iPhone 8. It’s backed with a 1-year warranty for additional peace of mind.
Apple iPhone 8 (64GB, refurbished)
iOutlet also has the iPhone 8 for under £150, a £30 reduction of its usual price.
Where to buy a refurbished iPhone on contract
You can pick up refurbished phones on contract as well from the following carriers and resellers:
- GiffGaff
- Mobiles.co.uk
- O2 Like New
- Vodafone – offers additional discounts with trade-in
- Carphone Warehouse
- Fonehouse
Outside of specialist retailers, there’s also eBay (just be sure to check the seller’s feedback and read the descriptions carefully), and CeX.
Buying older iPhones new on contract
Another way to dampen the financial impact of buying a new iPhone is to go down the tried and tested route of contracts offered by mobile providers. You’ll find older iPhone models in the online stores of various UK carriers, such as the iPhone 7 or iPhone 8, on much cheaper tariffs than the iPhone 12 range.
Prices change all the time, so we’d recommend reading our Best iPhone deals guide on a regular basis to see which offers are currently available.
We’re also looking at the best iPhone 11 deals of the month (across the full range).
Should I buy a refurbished iPhone? What is refurbished?
You might be concerned about buying a refurbished handset, thinking that it would be like buying a second-hand iPhone, but there’s no reason to be worried. Remember: refurbished and second-hard aren’t the same thing. Refurbished iPhones are pre-owned but are totally wiped, tested and repaired to work like new.
The iPhones Apple sells in the Certified Refurbished store were returned to Apple for a variety of reasons:
- The previous owner could have exercised their consumer rights and returned the handset unused within 14-days (as per Apple’s refund and exchange policy).
- The iPhone may have been used as a demonstration model.
- The iPhone may have been returned to Apple due to a fault.
This latter point may concern you, however, you can be sure that Apple will have identified and fixed any faults before reselling it.
Apple says that refurbished products undergo “full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary),” as well as “a thorough cleaning”.
There are plenty of benefits to buying a refurbished iPhone:
- You will get a one-year warranty
- You get 90 days of tech support
- Because you are buying from Apple directly there are no shipping costs and free returns.
- You are also able to utilise Apple’s 14-day returns policy if you change your mind.
Refurbished vs second-hand – what’s the difference?
If it’s not already clear, a refurbished iPhone is tested and repaired so the handset works like new (or as close to new as possible). A second-hand iPhone, on the other hand, is simply sold as is, which means the device may not last as long, particularly the battery.
There are other risks to buying second-hand too. If the previous owner hasn’t dissociated their Apple ID from the device you may get permanently locked out of the iPhone. This can happen if you’ve forgotten your password and have made too many attempts to log in. Unfortunately, Apple’s customer service wouldn’t be able to help you unlock the phone either, as the company has strict security policies.
Such a situation would be less of a concern if you know and can easily contact the previous owner (and they remember their Apple ID details), but we’d prefer avoiding such complications to start with.
This is just another reason why buying refurbished is a more reliable route to go if you did want to pick up a previously-owned iPhone.
What does the refurbished Grade A mean?
When you shop refurbished you might see grade scores A, B, or C – this indicates the condition of the phone. Is it dinged up? Does it have scratches? Or is it completely blemish-free and pristine? The grade will give you a general idea.
We say “general” because these grades aren’t set by an independent body, which means they can vary from retailer to retailer. This is how the grades usually break down:
- Grade A – Looks like new or has very few signs of wear
- Grade B – Might have some minor scratches and some wear
- Grade C – Looks used and has obvious signs of wear
Of course, Grade A refurbished devices will be more expensive than Grade C, but you’ll still be paying much less than paying for a brand new device.
Pay attention to refurbished warranties
Given the quality of refurbished iPhone devices can vary from retailer to retailer, it’s important to pay attention to the warranty. How long is the phone covered? The warranty allows you to get help or free repairs from the seller if you run into any issues after purchase. Most retailers typically offer up to a year.
More refurbished Apple guides
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.