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How to buy refurbished mobile phones the ultimate guide to buying refurbished mobile phones What is a refurbished mobile? refurbished mobiles are used phones that have been restored to working order so that they can be resold.

Not all phones described as refurbished are necessarily defective. Some chains and retailers classify refurbished mobiles as phones returned by customers who have changed their mind during the 30-day waiting period after signing the contract.

Before being sold, all refurbished mobiles are thoroughly inspected and tested to ensure that they are in excellent working order.

The tests performed by the seller usually include checking the battery charge and the functions of the buttons and camera. The seller also checks the sound quality and responsiveness of the screen, as well as how the phone connects to Wi-Fi, 4G and 5G, if it supports the latter.

All data on the phone will be securely erased by the seller in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Essentially, you will be starting over.

Some refurbished mobile vendors will upgrade the phone to the latest version of the operating system it uses. refurbished mobiles: how good are they?

Having been thoroughly tested and completely refurbished, refurbished mobiles are of the highest quality they are usually as good as new. However, a refurbished mobile is likely to come without the original packaging and all the usual accessories, such as chargers and headphones.

On the plus side, it comes with a one-year warranty, but be sure to check before you buy. refurbished mobiles: pros and cons Here's what you need to know to make your choice: With some brands and retailers, you can save a lot of money, especially if you don't mind having the latest phone.

If you buy from a major chain or reputable retailer, you'll get a warranty, which is usually 12 months.

A charging cable or charger is also included.

There is no guarantee that you will receive the other accessories that originally came with your phone, such as headphones.

Chances are you will not have the original packaging. refurbished mobiles usually come in regular boxes or branded chain packages. So you won't get the same feeling as when you open the box of a new phone. But if you manage to save money in the process, you might not mind.

Rating refurbished mobiles Image of a phone data transfer hero All refurbished mobiles are given a rating that reflects their condition. There is no universal standard for grading, so it's best to check before you buy.

But grades typically range from A to D and are broken down as follows: Grade A: It's almost new. At best, this is a phone that has been returned within the 30-day waiting period, so in all respects it is still new. At worst, it will show minor signs of wear and tear.

Grade B: Chips or scratches are expected, but nothing too unsightly.

Grade C: refurbished mobiles with a "C" grade will have up to five blemishes and will appear to have been used.

Grade D: A grade D reconditioned phone will have a few cracks, will look used and will have been well used.

Most chains only sell A-C grade phones. Grade D phones are available from some refurbished mobile sellers on eBay, but even they generally recommend that you only buy them if you know how to fix the phones yourself.

To complicate matters further, some networks use their own rating system. For example, O2 prefers "Perfect," "Near Perfect" and "Perfectly Good."

But if a network uses its own system, you can usually find a key on its website that explains the ratings.

What do you get with a refurbished mobile?

A refurbished iPhone 12 and a new phone.

To see how a refurbished mobile compares to a new phone, we ordered an iPhone 12 from refurbished mobile specialist Affordable Mobiles. First, the iPhone was delivered in a proper package. When we opened it, we discovered that there was no official packaging. Instead, the iPhone 12 was well protected in bubble wrap.

There is no charging plug, although newer models don't have one either. However, a USB-C to Lightning fast charging cable is included.

The iPhone 12 itself looks fresh out of the box. There are no marks, smudges, fingerprints or scratches on the device. The only thing missing is the plastic screen protector, that little sheet you've been trying for years not to peel off that suddenly crumples and comes off. While this is not at all necessary, it is what you get on a new phone.

When we turned on the refurbished mobile, we were met with the familiar Apple settings screen.

There's no hidden data, photos or messages from the previous owner here - you boot the phone as if it's brand new and set it up as if you've never touched it, there's no indication that it's been used before.

After that, all you have to do is set up your new (refurbished) phone and you're done.

Where to buy refurbished mobiles Many phone networks and specialist stores sell refurbished mobiles, such as O2, Vodafone and Mobilephonesdirect.co.uk.

You can also buy a refurbished mobile from eBay, retailers and specialist resale and recycling sites such as Envirophone.

Uswitch: At Uswitch, you can compare the range of refurbished Class A phones from reputable retailers to find the right deal for you. To check it out, visit our refurbished mobile deals page.

Amazon Renewed: Amazon's refurbished mobiles have been thoroughly tested to look and work like new. They also come with a one-year warranty. Best of all, you can save a lot of money on the latest phone. Check out Amazon's refurbished mobiles.

02 Like new: O2's refurbished mobiles undergo extensive quality control to make them look like new. Plus, they come with a 12-month warranty and you have 14 days to exchange or return them if you're not completely satisfied. Check out O2's 'as new' refurbished mobiles.

EE 'As New': All refurbished EE phones have to pass rigorous quality checks and come with a lifetime EE warranty, so you can be absolutely sure of their quality. See EE 'as new' phones.

Refurbished Vodafone phones: All refurbished Vodafone phones are professionally checked, repaired and tested to ensure they are ready for use. They also come with a 12-month warranty.

Check out Vodafone's offers on refurbished mobiles.

Refurbished giffgaff phones: guaranteed next day delivery and 12 months warranty: there are many reasons to buy a refurbished mobile from giffgaff. Learn more about giffgaff refurbished mobiles offers.