If you’ve had your eye on the latest iPhone or Android but the prices put you off, refurbished smartphones are the solution. These second-hand smartphones offer the functionality of new models with savings of hundreds of dollars, and often the only trade-off is a few cosmetic imperfections. When a smartphone hits the refurbished market, you can be sure it’s been thoroughly checked and tested to make sure it meets the high standards required for sale in Australia. This includes battery life, which you never want to be low on.
As well as being better for your bank balance, refurbished phones provide a more environmentally sustainable choice. In Australia, e-waste is increasing by 2.6 million tonnes per year, with devices such as smartphones, laptops, and televisions accounting for a significant portion of the waste. E-waste is the cause of more than 70% of the toxic chemicals like cadmium, lead and mercury found in landfills.
It’s a common assumption that you can only find older-style smartphones refurbished, but the reality is quite different. New flagship smartphones regularly arrive on the refurbished market in a matter of months, and some of them, known as ‘ex-demo’ phones, have only been taken out of their boxes to be put on display in retail stores.
Of course, two common questions that smartphone shoppers have are “Are refurbished phones safe?” and “Do refurbished phones come with the latest software?”
The leading provider of refurbished smartphones in Australia, OzMobiles, knows a lot about the difference in quality between refurbished phones. This is our guide to how to choose a high-quality refurbished phone that suits your needs.
Are Refurbished Phones Safe?
Buying a second-hand smartphone can feel like a gamble. There’s the risk of taking home a device that’s stolen, loaded with viruses or malware, filled with the previous owner’s data or without security updates. Worst of all, most used smartphones don’t come with a warranty, leaving you out of pocket if something goes wrong.
Are refurbished phones safe to buy? Generally, yes, but a lot depends on the reseller. The right refurbished smartphone company will perform a factory reset, wipe any existing data, check both the hardware and software and offer a warranty with your purchase. Buying from a reseller with a poor reputation raises the risk of problems like an incomplete factory reset or a lack of a background check.
Do refurbished phones come with the latest software? The refurbishing process includes software updates to ensure that phones are secure and fully functional, so your refurbished phone will come with the most recent update supported by that model. One issue to keep in mind is that all phones eventually stop receiving OS and security updates, and older smartphones are closer to the end point.
How to Check Your Refurbished Phone
Does your refurbished phone come with the latest software? Can you trust it to maintain its quality over the years to come? Here’s what to investigate to make sure your refurbished phone is a winner:
A warranty
A warranty provides you with peace of mind that if something goes wrong or you don’t get what you paid for, you can get your phone repaired or replaced. Make sure your phone has a warranty of at least 90 days. Over a year is ideal.
The price
The main reason refurbished smartphones are so popular is that they offer significant savings compared to buying new ones. Refurbished retailers often have deals on their smartphones, so keep an eye out for the specials. If you’re in the right place at the right time, you can score bargains of up to a grand or more.
The physical condition
While some refurbished phones basically look as good as new, others are more noticeably worn. It’s pretty common for refurbished phones to come with surface-level chips, dents and cracks that don’t affect the performance of the handset. A cracked or badly damaged screen is a no-no (newer smartphones tend to come with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass), and too much internal damage can point to problems within.
Most refurbished resellers categorise the phones they stock with labels like ‘Good’, ‘New’, ‘Ex-Demo’, etc. Sometimes choosing a phone with a little more wear and tear (but its functionality is still intact) is a trade-off worth making for a more affordable price.
Battery life
One of the biggest dangers of buying second-hand smartphones is ending up with a unit that’s always low on battery power. A healthy battery means more extended usage periods and improved overall performance. The closer your smartphone is to its original battery capacity, the better.
Lock status
Make sure that the smartphone is unlocked, or at least compatible with your carrier. This gives you the freedom to choose or switch providers when you want to.
How to Spot a Reputable Second-Hand Phone Seller
There are lots of refurbished resellers on the Internet. How can you spot the right one? Here are some of the most positive signs to look for:
Reputation
Make sure you’re buying your refurbished smartphone from a credible and trustworthy seller with a track record of selling quality products. Check out Google reviews and customer ratings.
Return policy
A good refurbished retailer has a fair and reasonable return policy if the phone turns out not to meet your expectations.
Transparency
A good second-hand phone seller has nothing to hide and will be upfront about their refurbishment process and what’s involved. They’ll avoid making promises that are too good to be true, and let you know exactly what kind of condition their phones are in before you buy.
Buy Reliable Phones at OzMobiles
The ultimate destination for all your refurbished tech needs, OzMobiles makes it easy to find a quality refurbished smartphone in Australia. We have the most extensive variety of second-hand phones with a warranty you’re likely to find anywhere, offering both new and older iPhones, Samsungs, Oppos, Google Pixels and other leading brands all available at competitive prices. With regular sales on particular brands, you can score savings of hundreds of dollars and sometimes even a grand or more. Whether you have a particular model in mind or you just need the answer to a question like “Do refurbished phones come with the latest software?”, OzMobiles can help.
Our refurbished iPhones for sale feature hot deals with savings of hundreds of dollars on recent models, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Find an iPhone with the latest features, such as Apple Intelligence, at a fraction of the price you’d pay for a new one.
Android enthusiasts can find the latest Samsung Galaxy phones second-hand, ranging from the recent Galaxy S23 and S22 series to the more affordable Galaxy S9 range or A series.
OzMobiles performs a complete factory reset on every refurbished mobile we sell and puts it through a 72-point testing process to make sure it measures up to the high standards required for sale in Australia. All of our devices are certified fully functional and sold with 12-month warranties and 30-day money-back guarantees. We also make sure battery life is at least 80% of its full capacity.
Plus, all OzMobiles refurbished phones come unlocked, so you’ll be able to use them in any country with any provider. To find out more, get in touch with the OzMobiles team and get started picking the latest smartphone you’ve been dreaming about.
