Smartphones have come a long way since the early 2000s, with advancements in every area, from the screen to the camera, processor and battery. In recent years, smartphones have been able to rival professional cameras for photography, consoles for video game experiences, and PCs/Tablets for web browsing and productivity.

However, with the improvements in technology over the years, phones have also become more expensive. Along with new models being released annually, it has become harder to keep up with the latest smartphone technology if you’re aiming to upgrade and buy a brand-new one every year.

If you want to stay on top of the latest features and cutting-edge tech, buying refurbished is becoming a popular solution. Despite popular belief, it’s even possible to find refurbished options for the latest models.

The refurbished phone market is quickly growing in popularity around the world as shoppers focus more on value for money and sustainable practices. Along with being a great way to cut down costs, buying refurbished equipment is better for the environment and cuts down electronic waste and gas emissions.

If you’re looking for a list of the top refurbished phones, you’re in the right place. Our list of the best refurbished phones contains everything you need to know, whether you’re looking for the best overall value for money, the best refurbished device for gaming, or the best phone for AI.

Best Refurbished Phone Technology

If you want a refurbished phone that excels with its technology and design, we recommend looking into Samsung’s ‘Z Fold’ line of devices. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold phones push the boundaries of smartphone design and screen technology.

Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold line was first unveiled in 2019, and now, there are six generations of models. If you’re looking for a refurbished phone that features innovative technology and design, a device from the Z Fold series is ideal.

The Galaxy Z Fold phones feature a unique phone-tablet hybrid design. They are also known as ‘foldable’ phones, because the device can be ‘folded’ out to reveal a larger, tablet-sized screen, then fold back down to the size of a normal phone and fit in your pocket.

Best Value for Money Refurbished Phone

This wouldn’t be the best refurbished phones list without delving into the best value for money option. It is hard to beat Samsung’s S24 FE device when it comes to bang for your buck. The phone offers a great cost-performance ratio in almost every area.

The Galaxy S24 FE is the latest entry in Samsung’s ‘budget-friendly’ range of flagship Galaxy S devices. The S24 FE has been extremely well received, even at its full price point, and is brand new, for offering great value for money.

The S24 FE bridges the gap between budget-friendly smartphones and their flagship counterparts. It offers excellent performance with its Exynos 2400e chip. It’s also one of the few budget-friendly options that support artificial intelligence tools.

While the S24 FE’s camera isn’t on the same level as Google’s Pixel range of devices, it’s still great considering the cost—especially when refurbished. Below, we’ve outlined the phone’s general specs and features.

• Screen size: 6.7 inches

• Display type: Dynamic AMOLED 2X with Adaptive 60 / 120 Hz refresh rate

• Internal storage: 128GB and 256GB options

• Battery capacity: 4700 mAh

• Processor: Exynos 2400e

• RAM: 8GB

• Rear cameras: 50MP (Wide) + 8MP (Telephoto) + 12MP (Ultra Wide)

Best Refurbished Phone AI

The best refurbished phones for artificial intelligence will depend on whether you’re looking for an Android or iOS device. When it comes to Android, the best refurbished phone with artificial intelligence would be the Pixel 9.

The iPhone 15 Pro would be ideal if you want a budget-friendly refurbished iOS device that supports Apple Intelligence. Below, we’ve outlined the key features of both devices and their AI tools.

Pixel 9

The Pixel 9 is Google’s first full-fledged AI-ready smartphone, made possible by its new Google Tensor G4 chip. The phone features Google’s Gemini AI, which offers an array of quality-of-life, generative, and convenience-related AI tools. Some of these include:

• Advanced camera/photo editing powered by AI.

• A new artificial-intelligence-powered assistant.

• Circle to search.

• The ability to summarise information, like from emails or news articles.

The Pixel 9’s Gemini AI is a blend of on-device and cloud-based artificial intelligence features. So, some tools may require a constant internet connection.

iPhone 15 Pro

IOS has fewer options than Android when it comes to artificial intelligence. Currently, there are only a few phones that support Apple Intelligence, which include the iPhone 16 range of devices, the iPhone 15 Pro, and the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

If you want an affordable, refurbished device that supports Apple Intelligence, the iPhone 15 Pro is ideal. It’s more readily available refurbished than any of the iPhone 16 series of devices and is also more affordable.

A few of the features offered by Apple Intelligence include:

• AI-powered writing tools can help with writing, rewording text, and summarising text (like a lecture).

• Generative AI features to create images and new emojis.

• Siri has also received an Apple Intelligence-powered overhaul, which includes a new design and more functionality.

Best Refurbished Phone Camera

If you’re looking for the best refurbished phone when it comes to the camera and photography, the Pixel 8 Pro is easily the best. While on paper, the phone’s camera specifications might not seem impressive, Google’s Pixel line is also backed by incredible AI-powered camera and editing tools that place it as the best on the market.

The Pixel 8 Pro features a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP telephoto camera. The Pixel 8 Pro’s camera is award-winning and was recognised as the best in the industry until its successor, the Pixel 9 Pro/Pro XL, was released.

Best Refurbished Phone For Streaming and Gaming

When it comes to the best refurbished phones for entertainment, Samsung’s Galaxy S range is top of the class. In particular, we recommend looking into either the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24+ or S24 Ultra.

In Australia, the S24 and S24+ are powered by Exynos 2400, which is one of the most powerful smartphone chipsets in the country for gaming. You won’t have any issues running the latest games, like Genshin Impact or Zenless Zone Zero.

The S24 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, which is a step above the Exynos 2400 and offers better performance. You can’t go wrong with either the S24, S24+ or S24 Ultra. Ultimately, the best one for streaming and gaming will depend on your budget and your preference for screen size.

Best Budget Refurbished Phone

When it comes to the best refurbished phones for people on a budget, it depends on whether you’re looking for an Android or an iOS device. It’s a hard decision, but the winner would probably be the Galaxy S22.

The Galaxy S22 is a few years old at this point, but it still holds up incredibly well when it comes to performance. It’s possible to find the phone refurbished for a few hundred dollars, and aside from the lack of artificial intelligence features, its processor and camera hold up well.

If the Galaxy S22 is still out of your price range, we recommend checking out either the S21 or S20. The Galaxy S22 is also still receiving support from Samsung and is still expected to receive updates until 2026-2027.

When it comes to Apple, the iPhone 13 is the best budget option available without having to compromise too much on features and performance. If you’re on a tight budget and the iPhone 13 is out of your price range, the iPhone SE (3rd Gen) is a great alternative and is still receiving support.

Best Overall Refurbished Phone

The best overall refurbished phone would need to combine the best of all worlds—amazing value for money, a great camera, a strong processor for entertainment and support for AI features.

Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE phone meets all these requirements to be the best overall. The S23 FE offers amazing value for money, supports Samsung’s Galaxy AI, can run the latest games, and has long battery life and a sizeable display.

Galaxy S23 FE Specifications:

• Display: 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X Display Adaptive 120Hz Refresh Rate

• Processor: Exynos 2200

• Internal Memory: 128GB and 256GB options

• RAM: 8GB

• Battery Capacity: 4500 mAh

While the camera and processor aren’t as powerful as the Galaxy S24 FE, the phone can still take gorgeous pictures and provides strong enough performance to tackle intensive 3D games. It’s also significantly cheaper than the S24 FE, especially refurbished.

The Galaxy S23 FE is also still receiving updates from Samsung. The phone should continue receiving support until 2028. Samsung has pledged to provide all its devices with at least four years of major OS updates and five years of security updates. 

Buy The Top Refurbished Phones at OzMobiles

For the best deals on second-hand mobile phones, you can trust OzMobiles for great prices. Our team prides itself on our prices, so if you find a better deal elsewhere—we’ll beat it by $10* (terms and conditions apply).

If you’re interested in the top refurbished phones of this year, make sure to check out our stock. All the devices we sell come with a free 12-month warranty and a 30-day risk-free return period, so you can shop with confidence.

All the second-hand phones we sell go through a comprehensive refurbishment process with a qualified technician. This procedure includes a 72-point quality check to ensure the phone is fully functional and running optimally.

If you have any questions about our refurbishment process or need help finding the right phone for you, contact us today. The OzMobiles team would love to hear from you, answer any queries you may have, and help connect you with the right device.