Refurbished smartphones are a great alternative if you want to replace your device without spending a lot of money. Plus, buying second-hand is more sustainable too. — Photo: Zacharie Scheurer/dpa
BERLIN: Many people like to replace their smartphones every few years but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to get a new device. Nowadays, refurbished phones can offer a lot of value if you know what to look for.
Giving a used device a new lease of life is clearly good for the environment. When it comes to sustainability, longer use is usually a plus, says Björn Bischoff of Germany's Environment Agency.
Compare prices
Besides doing something for the environment, buying a refurbished device rather than a new one also saves you money, but there's no rule of thumb on how much. "It always depends on the age and condition of the phone," says Robin Brand of trade magazine c't.
According to Brand, a smartphone that is 18 months old can sometimes be bought for around half the original price.
In any case, it's worthwhile comparing the price of the model you want across different suppliers. "The differences are sometimes enormous depending on the model and seller," Brand says.
Read descriptions carefully
Anyone interested in a refurbished smartphone should be well informed about the condition of the device. Sellers usually classify devices into different categories such as "mint," "very good" or "good." However, these classifications are not standardised.
"You can look in the description to see what mint, very good, good or decent means on the respective platform," says Robin Brand.
"As a rule, refurbished means: The dealers buy the smartphones from firms, from telecommunications companies, and also from private individuals, and refurbish them," he says.
"That means they reset the devices, clean them, replace defective parts, and then offer them for sale again."
But what exactly is done, for example whether the device's display or battery is replaced, can vary from case to case. Many sellers promise that the battery capacity of a refurbished device will be more than 80% of the original capacity or they may offer the option of having a new battery installed for an extra charge.
If there is no information about the condition of the refurbished smartphone, it's better to stay away.
Check for updates
When buying a refurbished phone, Brand recommends checking that the device manufacturer continues to supply security updates in the foreseeable future.
While you might save a lot of money buying a two-year-old phone, that doesn't help you much if Apple or Samsung no longer offer security updates for the model, Brand says.
Above all, it's advisable to try out the new device. "When actually using the phone, you will find out if the battery life is long enough, and the display satisfactory," Brand says. If the smartphone doesn't meet your expectations you should return it. – dpa
