Places to find a refurbished phone to buy.
Choosing to buy a refurbished phone over a brand new one is a great step towards reducing electronic waste and supporting a circular economy. By buying refurbished, you'll be making a great choice for both the environment and your wallet!
In this guide we will cover in detail:
At Meaningful Planet, the UK's environmental impact mobile network, we champion choices that benefit both you and the earth. As you consider your next mobile phone, we hope this guide aids you in making an informed, eco-friendly decision.
Remember, every small action contributes to a larger positive impact for the future of our planet. You can find out more about our network and the impact we and our customers have here.
Opting for a refurbished mobile phone is a brilliant way to save money and support environmental sustainability. In this definitive guide, we will be talking through some of the options for UK consumers in terms of sellers and marketplaces for refurbished mobile phones such as Back Market, CEX, and MusicMagpie, listing their pros and cons and how they compare with each other.
We will also give you every element you should consider when purchasing a refurbished mobile phone, from what warranties to go for, how to ensure you get a phone in good condition, and how to find the best make and model for your needs - at the best price possible too!
First off, for those in the UK who are considering buying refurbished instead of a brand new phone, here are the top 5 destinations for finding your next refurbished phone, complete with links to start your search.
There's plenty of choice and options out there, and you'll be helping both the planet and your wallet, due to reducing waste and the lower cost of buying a refurbished phone!
Envirofone is one of the UK’s leading mobile phone recyclers, and their refurbished phone shop offers a range of fully tested and restored phones. With competitive pricing and a 12-month warranty, Envirofone also prides itself on its environmental impact, offering a greener alternative to buying new.
MusicMagpie is a popular choice among eco-conscious consumers for its wide range of refurbished electronics, including mobile phones. With a hassle-free website, detailed condition grading, and a 12-month warranty on tech, it’s a reliable place to shop. Plus, their commitment to quality means you can find a phone that feels almost like new, without the brand-new price tag.
Back Market is changing the game in refurbished tech by offering a wide range of smartphones from all major brands, certified for quality and reliability, with a warranty given with every phone purchased from them.
The Big Phone Store offers a wide range of competitively priced refurbished phones with detailed condition grading, comprehensive warranties, and the convenience of both online and physical store options. We are big fans of both its range of stock, and the detailed condition gradings it gives, helping you have full confidence in the quality of any refurbished handset you purchase from them.
CEX offers a diverse range of high-quality, refurbished mobile phones at competitive prices Each purchase comes with a two-year warranty, giving you peace of mind that your refurbished phone can be fixed quickly and for free in case of any issues.
Specializing in refurbished Apple products, The iOutlet is a treasure trove for iPhone enthusiasts looking to snag a deal. Each device undergoes rigorous testing and comes with a warranty. For those dedicated to the iOS ecosystem but mindful of their budget and the environment, The iOutlet is a great option.
When buying refurbished mobile phones, looking at all the details and making an informed choice is crucial for getting the most for your money, and the right phone and performance for you, without the headaches. Here are key factors to consider ensuring you get the best value and experience:
Opt for phones and resellers that offer a warranty. A warranty period of at least 12 months is ideal, as it provides peace of mind and protection against potential malfunctions. Should any issues occur during your warranty period, you can return to the phone for the seller to repair and send back to you, or replace with a similar model if repairs are not possible.
Refurbished phones are graded based on their condition. Look for retailers that provide clear, detailed descriptions of the phone's cosmetic condition and functionality. Grades typically range from "Like New" to "Good" – choose according to your preferences and budget.
Usually the lower the condition rating, the lower the priced the phone will be compared to other handsets of the same make and model. However, you often get what you pay for - cheaper refurbished phones with low condition ratings will often have small cosmetic issues such as scratches or missing accessories, though usually these will be detailed in the item’s description to help inform your buying decision.
Ensure the phone meets your needs. Consider its compatibility with the latest software updates, network bands (especially if you're planning to use it abroad), and whether it supports essential apps and services you rely on. Android phones for example do not have access to Apple’s app store or iMessage feature, while some older handsets may run on outdated and unsupported software such as Windows Phone (WP).
Having good battery life is often top of the list of requirements for shoppers when looking for a phone, so it’s important to note battery performance can degrade over time. Look in the item description for information on battery health or capacity relative to when the phone was new. Some retailers provide battery replacement for refurbished phones in order to ensure optimal performance, which can be a great advantage and selling point to consider.
Decide on the brand and model based on your preferences for the operating system, user interface, and specific features. Researching the model's original release date can give you an idea of its longevity and support for future updates, as well as how other owners feel about its features and capabilities.
Be sure to purchase from reputable sellers or platforms that specialize in refurbished phones to ensure the device has been properly inspected and restored. This can mean you avoid later headaches by avoiding purchasing poorly inspected or broken phones from non-reliable sellers. The 5 refurbished phone sellers we have listed earlier in the article are a great place to start your search for a refurbished phone, as they all have good reputations and provide a lot of details about the condition and model of the phones on their website or in their stores, meaning you can make a more informed choice and purchase with confidence and security.
As outlined above, where you buy your mobile phone can make a big difference on the experience you have - and there is a lot of choice out there!
Based on consumer research, two of the most popular choices for UK customers in 2024 is CEX and Back Market. Both have their advantages and drawbacks, and here at Meaningful Planet we have outlined our thoughts, advice, and key points to consider about each below based on our own research.
The Big Phone Store has built a reputation as a reliable source for refurbished electronics, including mobile phones. Founded in 1999 and with it's main office in Wolverhampton, and a high rating (4.7 Stars at time of writing on Trustpilot), it's a great option for refurbished (and new) phones in the UK. Here's how it compares to other well-known platforms like BackMarket and CEX in a quick summary.
If you’d like to find out more we recommend checking out Thhttps://thebigphonestore.co.uke Big Phone Store directly and seeing whether there is a handset that might be right for you.
MusicMagpie is another popular and established brand that offers another option -though it lacks CEX's brick and mortar stores and high street locations, is it a well-known and trusted brand in the UK, so following customer requests we decided to give our views on it and how it compares with BackMarket to help you make the right choice for your needs.
Both BackMarket and Music Magpie offer robust solutions for anyone looking to purchase a refurbished phone. Your choice might depend on whether you prioritise a vast selection and detailed comparisons (BackMarket) or prefer a straightforward, service-focused shopping and selling experience (Music Magpie).
Whether you lean towards the extensive network of BackMarket or the trusted simplicity of Music Magpie, both platforms serve as excellent gateways to sustainable consumer electronics. Each contributes uniquely to reducing e-waste and providing value, ensuring you can choose the best option for your needs and values.
Those refurbished phones you are thinking of buying? They probably all were sold to the reseller by someone like you! If you are planning on buying a refurbished phone, it can be a great idea to try and sell your old phone too. Selling your old phone not only puts some extra cash in your pocket, but also helps contribute to reducing electronic waste, doubling your positive impact!
Below we’ve listed some key things to consider and undertake to prepare your phone to be sold:
Take an honest look at your phone's condition. Minor scratches may not significantly reduce its value, but significant damage might. Likewise if there are any issues that might not be immediately obvious but impact the performance of the phone, like malfunctioning buttons, water damage, or a degraded battery, be sure to take this into account when setting your expectations for resale value and let the person, company or platform know of these issues before agreeing a deal.
Honesty is the best policy for getting a fair price, and ensuring you do not have the phone returned to you with complaints due to your failure to openly disclose issues you know the phone has. Not only is it the right thing to do, but can save you time, money and hassle, as well as ensuring you have a good reputation as a seller.
Resellers consider the phone's model, age, condition, and market demand to determine its value and make you an offer when you give the phone in. Check multiple platforms to get an idea of your phone’s worth, and be honest when assessing both your phone’s condition when comparing it to phones of similar makes and models you can see for sale online or in secondhand mobile phone shops. The condition your phone is in can dictate the price you can sell it for almost as much as the make and model!
Including the original charger, headphones, and box can increase the phone's resale value. If you have them, make sure they're in good condition and include them with your phone. You do not necessarily need to have all or even any of the accessories that came with your phone to be able to sell it, but including any you do still have can significantly increase the price you can achieve, and also means less waste at the end of the day!
As mentioned earlier in the article, be sure to research different platforms and methods for selling your phone, as well as researching the specific reseller or platform you want to sell it to or through in detail. Different methods can have different payment terms, requirements, and can vary wildly in success rate, effort, and the price they will pay for your old phone based on these and other factors.
The most common ways to make money by selling your old phone are through:
We hope you've found our guide useful, and that it helps you find the right refurbished phone for you. Choices such as buying a refurbished phone, not only help your wallet, but help reduce damaging electronic waste. At Meaningful Planet we are on a mission to empower ordinary people around the UK to make a positive difference to the world around them without having to pay more or make sacrifices.
That's why we launched our UK mobile network, to offer consumers in the UK a greener, ethical choice for their mobile phone contracts.
We directly donate 10% of all revenue we earn to support transformative environmental projects throughout the UK - from planting Seagrass in UK waters to capture carbon and help marine and aquatic life, to re-introducing keystone species into their natural habitats. You can find out about all this and more at our impact page.
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