Apple releases a new iPhone or two a year, with the iPhone 15 expected in September 2023. Older models, expensive when they were first released, become available at far lower prices than they had when they first hit the stores. One of these radically reduced second-hand iPhones is the iPhone 12 mini.
When it was first released, the iPhone 12 mini was the smallest iPhone since the iPhone 5S and one of the last smaller-sized phones that Apple manufactured. Not that its miniature size holds it back from doing everything you want an iPhone to do. Its 5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display is clear, sharp and satisfying, plus it’s 5G-ready and packs a capable camera.
The best way to get your hands on this now-discontinued phone is to buy an iPhone 12 online. If you find it tough to trust online sellers, there’s a simple solution: buy an iPhone 12 mini refurbished.
Buying refurbished is a safer way to buy smartphones online. If you want genuine quality, it’s a more likely way to deliver it than just taking your chances on a private seller on an online marketplace.
Of all the existing iPhone models still available, why should you choose an iPhone 12 mini refurbished? What is a “refurbished” smartphone, anyway, and what are its benefits? This article explores the answer to those questions and hopefully a few more.
When was iPhone 12 Mini Released?
The iPhone 12 mini first became available for pre-order on November 7, 2020, before being released in stores a few days later on November 13. The iPhone 12 line was the first line of Apple phones to include 5G technology.
What is a Refurbished Phone?
So is a refurbished phone basically a second-hand phone? No, there’s more to it than that. While a refurbished phone has usually had a previous owner, buying one is quite different to buying a regular used phone.
When a phone has been refurbished, it means either the manufacturer themselves or a third-party company has prepared it to be resold. The seller has erased the previous owner’s data, checked the phone to make sure it isn’t stolen or lost and made sure every element from the microphone to the battery to the screen still works as it should.
Refurbished phones are sold in various grades according to the condition they’re in. Some, known as “ex-demo” phones, have only been taken out of their boxes to be put on display in stores. Others are a little more weathered. Many are pretty much identical to brand-new smartphones in terms of quality and even appearance, with only a few superficial cracks or chips giving away their second-hand states.
Buying a second-hand smartphone like the iPhone 12 mini refurbished has big benefits. It almost goes without saying that it’s a lot cheaper than paying full price for a new iPhone. You can save hundreds of dollars off regular retail prices – and sometimes even a grand or more! When you buy refurbished, you get a warranty with your purchase.
Refurbished smartphones are also better for the environment. E-waste (electronic waste) is the fastest-growing form of waste in the world. Australians produce more than 140,000 tonnes of e-waste a year, and discarded mobile phones form a huge percentage of that debris. E-waste is responsible for 70% of the chemicals found in landfill, like lead and mercury. Buying refurbished iPhones helps to stem the tide of e-waste. It’s a cleaner, greener and ultimately more rewarding way to buy smartphones online.
Benefits of Buying an iPhone 12 Mini Refurbished
If you want to buy an iPhone 12 online, buying a refurbished one is the best way to get your hands on a good one for less. Aside from the price, what are the biggest benefits of buying an iPhone 12 mini refurbished? Here are some of the major ones.
One of Apple’s last small designs
If you prefer smaller-sized phones, an iPhone 12 mini refurbished is one of your last opportunities to score a mini-model phone. This compact, highly portable size has the benefits of a higher pixel-per-inch screen density, which makes for a crisper and more vivid image. You can hold your phone with one hand while you enjoy videos in vibrant detail.
5.4-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
Speaking of the screen, the picture on the iPhone 12 mini is 5.4 inches and as sharp as it gets. Regardless of size, it’s simply one of the best screens you’re likely to find on an iPhone.
Simple yet effective camera set-up
The cameras on the iPhone mini allow you to capture high-quality images in natural lighting conditions. There’s a rear camera with two 12MP shooters - one standard and one wide-angle – plus a 12MP selfie camera. Low-light performance is better than its predecessor, and Night Mode allows you to capture great-looking shots when the sun goes down.
5G connectivity
As one of Apple’s first phones to embrace 5G, buying an iPhone 12 mini refurbished ensures that your phone remains ready for the Internet of the future.
Power of the A14 Bionic chip
The iPhone mini 12’s chip - the A14 Bionic – is the same chip that you’ll find in the other iPhone 12 models. While it’s no longer Apple’s most powerful chip, it still keeps this phone performing at top-notch levels.
Affordable price
The main reason to buy smartphones online is to get them a lot cheaper than you would in the store. Like most iPhones, the iPhone 12 mini was an expensive unit when it was first released. Now, you can buy an iPhone 12 mini refurbished for hundreds of dollars less than you’d expect to pay new, and in terms of quality, it’s stood the test of time.
You still get a warranty
When you buy from a refurbished phone retailer, you still get a warranty with your purchase to cover you on the off chance that anything goes wrong.
Where to Buy an iPhone 12 Mini Refurbished
Looking for the best place to buy an iPhone 12 online? Get an iPhone 12 mini refurbished through OzMobiles, plus take a look at some of our other refurbished iPhone 12 series models. It doesn’t get any better or more affordable than OzMobiles when you’re looking to buy an iPhone 12 online refurbished.
An Australian-owned and operated company, OzMobiles tests all of our devices at our Melbourne headquarters to make sure they meet high Australian standards. All of our devices are 100% fully functional, sold with 12-month warranties and come with 30-day money-back guarantees. Before we sell a refurbished iPhone 12 mini or any other refurbished device, we put it through our thorough 72-point checking process. This process includes battery life, which we guarantee is at least 80%.
Do you need your device sooner rather than later? If you order it before 12:30 pm on a weekday, we’ll have it shipped out to you on the same day. If you’re on a tight budget but have had your eye on a particular phone, you can pay in instalments through one of our third-party providers like ZipPay and AfterPay. And if you find a better deal elsewhere, we’ll beat that price by $10 (terms and conditions apply).
If you have any questions or need some advice on how to buy smartphones online, contact the friendly OzMobiles team!
