Best Refurbished Phones Under $500 in Australia: Top Picks for Every Type of User

Top Refurbished Smartphone Picks Under $500 in Australia

Every smartphone shopper wants a mobile with long battery life, a good camera setup, and the protection that comes with a solid warranty. Luckily, you can frequently find one on the local refurbished market for much less than you would think. Whether you’re committed to Apple’s iOS ecosystem or you’re after cheap second-hand Samsung Phones in Australia, the right model is out there for you. Here is OzMobiles’ list of the best refurbished phones under $500 in Australia and the users they suit best:  

Refurbished iPhone 13: Best Overall Value for Apple Users

The iPhone 13 won exceptionally positive reviews when it was released in September 2021. Users and critics praised its 15+ hour battery life, which outlasted every previous iPhone. A smooth, fast performer, the iPhone 13 features a stunning 6.1-inch, 2,532-by-1,170-pixel OLED display and fast performance thanks to its 6-core CPU and 4-core GPU. A dual 12MP camera system with Main and Ultra-wide cameras makes it easy for even amateurs to start taking great photos.

A few years have passed, bringing the price of the iPhone 13 down and making it a hot item on the refurbished market. Yet it remains one of the most popular iPhones still available today and currently offers the best value for money for Apple users.  

Refurbished Galaxy S22: Premium Display and Triple Cameras for Android Buyers

The Samsung Galaxy S22 packs the same power as the Galaxy S22 Ultra in a smaller and more affordable package. Released in 2022, this flagship Android still has plenty to recommend it, including its compact screen and 128GB or 256GB storage options. Yet its two standout features are its impressive display and high-end camera system, both of which make this popular Android a joy to use.

The 6.1″ adaptive AMOLED display delivers vivid, bright colours and a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the phone handles quick jumps between videos, apps, and games with ease. The premium screen also lets you better admire the photos you take with the 12 MP Ultra-Wide, 50 MP wide, and 10 MP telephoto cameras, plus the 10 MP selfie camera on the front. Portrait mode, night mode, and new editing features let you further enhance the pictures you capture.  

Refurbished Google Pixel 7 Pro: Computational Photography Powerhouse

Google’s flagship smartphone of 2022, the Pixel 7 Pro includes a powerful Tensor G2 chip, AI features and an excellent camera. The Google Pixel 6 Pro offered one of the best smartphone cameras on the market, and the Pixel 7 Pro continues the trend. With its 50-megapixel main camera, 48-megapixel lens and 12MP Ultra-Wide, the Pixel 7 Pro captures pictures in vivid detail with top-notch dynamic range. Features like the ‘Photo Unblur’ tool allow you to quickly improve the photos you’ve already taken as well.

Other AI features include Magic Eraser and Audio Message Transcription. The Tensor chip gives this phone the might required to be a computational powerhouse.

Refurbished iPhone 12: High-Speed 5G Performance on a Budget

One realisation that often springs to mind when browsing the refurbished market is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to find a quality second-hand smartphone. The iPhone 12 was an affordable, quality smartphone when it was released in 2020. On the refurbished market, it offers even more value for money, with a solid 12+ hour battery life, a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, and an A14 Bionic chip for smooth multitasking. The iPhone 12 also has the distinction of being the phone that brought 5G to the Apple range.

For an affordable phone, the iPhone 12 offers plenty for photography enthusiasts, including dual 12-megapixel cameras (Main and Ultra-Wide) and stunning Night Mode photography. While age has made this iPhone more affordable (especially on the refurbished market), it hasn’t compromised the iPhone 12's high-speed 5G performance or the quality of its features. 

Key Factors to Evaluate When Buying Second-Hand Mobiles in Australia

Although new flagship smartphones are expensive and lose their resale value quickly, they can still feel like the safer, more reliable option. After all, when you buy a second-hand phone in Australia, you can’t always tell what kind of technical or hardware issues may be lurking beneath the surface. That’s why it’s important to evaluate second-hand mobile phones in Australia carefully, paying close attention to the following factors:

• Outside condition: Check the screen for dents and scratches if you can.

• Warranty: Before you buy, always check the warranty status of the refurbished mobile and any terms and conditions for returns and exchanges.

• Battery condition: One of the biggest risks of buying second-hand is not being able to gauge the battery's condition. Decent professional smartphone refurbishers guarantee at least 80% battery health/capacity.

The 80-Point Phonecheck Inspection and Battery Health Thresholds

OzMobiles ensures that all our devices include battery capacity you can rely on. Every device we sell passes our 80-point check using industry-leading Phonecheck software to ensure the battery meets at least 80% of its original health. Phonecheck is the industry’s leading certification program for refurbished devices, used globally by insurance companies, trade-in programmes and professional refurbishers. Phonecheck’s strength is in its consistency: its diagnostic software runs each of its 80 diagnostic checks in the same order each time to prevent any irregularities.

Understanding Cosmetic Condition Grades

Refurbished phones are usually sold in grades assessed by the device's condition and level of wear and tear. These range from ex-demo phones, which have often only been taken out of their boxes to be displayed in retail outlets, to ‘good’ condition phones which, although fully functional, have wear and tear that’s a little more visible.

Why Commercial Retailers Offer Safer Purchases than Private Marketplaces

Commercial retailers, including refurbished smartphone retailers, are bound by Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and need to provide formal protections.

When you buy a second-hand smartphone from a stranger on an online platform, the ACL’s standard rules such as the right to a refund, repair or replacement for a faulty item no longer apply. You essentially take on the risk of being left out of pocket if you don’t get what you paid for. Recourse for any defects is rare and at the seller’s discretion, and the old phrase “buyer beware” applies.

Refurbished retailers source smartphones locally from reliable supply chains and put them through a rigorous testing process to make sure they’re not damaged, faulty, lost or stolen. While private transactions involve cash deals between individuals, refurbished smartphone sellers use encrypted payment platforms.

One of the most important key differences is that refurbished smartphones come with warranties, while private sales very rarely do. When you buy a second-hand phone in Australia through a private marketplace, you’re typically stuck with what you get even if it’s far from what you wanted or expected.

Find Your Ideal Budget Smartphone Today

OzMobiles is one of Australia’s leading refurbished smartphone sellers and the ideal place to find the best refurbished phones under $500 in Australia. Whether you’re looking for the best-value iPhones or cheap second-hand Samsung phones in Australia, OzMobiles has phones to suit every budget, style, and price range.

OzMobiles’ phones under $300 include models like the iPhone 11, Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, iPhone SE 3rd Gen and iPhone 12 Mini.

If your budget extends to the $300–$500 price range, you'll find iPhone 11s, 12s, and 13s, Samsung Galaxy S21S, Galaxy S22S, and more in terrific condition.

A refurbished iPhone 12 from OzMobiles continues the model’s tradition of value for money by slashing more than $700 off the standard price. Meanwhile, those who want something a little more recent can score a refurbished iPhone 13 for less than $500.

Android lovers have plenty of options, with popular models in stock, including the refurbished Galaxy S22 and refurbished Google Pixel 7 Pro.  

If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, check out all refurbished phones that are currently in the OzMobiles range.

When you shop with OzMobiles, you get a better deal without buying brand new. Every device we sell comes with a 12-month warranty and a 30-day money-back guarantee, and we also have payment plan options so you can purchase the phone you want sooner. All OzMobiles inventory is locally sourced in Australia and stored and dispatched directly from Melbourne, so you never have to risk overseas drop-shippers.

If you’d like to find out more, get in touch with the OzMobiles team.