She is an indispensable part of our everyday life – and they are often exchanged: smartphones. But it doesn’t always have to be a brand new device.
Numerous service providers and more and more manufacturers are refurbishing used devices. Refurbished devices, so-called refurbished smartphones, can be found on marketplace and classifieds sites, online portals and from dealers.
A worthwhile cause – especially for the environment. Because when it comes to high-tech devices such as smartphones, Björn Bischoff from the Federal Environment Agency says when it comes to sustainability: “Longer use is usually always advantageous.” In the entire life cycle of a smartphone, production ultimately causes the greatest environmental impact.
However, there is no rule of thumb for how much money can be saved when buying upgraded smartphones. “It always depends on the age and the condition,” says Robin Brand from the specialist magazine “c’t”.
In addition, the longer updates are available for the device, the more stable the price of the device remains, even when it is refurbished. According to Brand, a smartphone that is one and a half years old can sometimes be found for around half the original new price.
In any case, it is worth comparing the price of the desired model from several suppliers. “The differences are enormous in places, depending on the model and platform,” says Brand. So here it is: click through. Or search via common comparison portals.
Read cell phone descriptions carefully
However, if you are interested in a refurbished smartphone, you should find out the condition of the desired device when comparing prices. Because: “Refurbished, like new or almost like new are not legally clearly defined terms,” says Kathrin Körber, consultant for telecommunications and Internet at the Lower Saxony consumer advice center.
“As a rule, refurbished means that dealers buy smartphones from companies, telecommunications companies and private individuals and refurbish them,” says Robin Brand. “That means they reset the devices, clean them, swap out broken parts, and then put them up for sale again.”
But what exactly is done, whether the display or the battery of the device is replaced, can vary from case to case. Many common platforms promise, for example, that the capacity of the batteries in the devices offered is still over 80 percent of the original capacity. Or offer as an additional option to use a new battery for an additional charge.
The providers often guarantee a battery capacity of at least 80 percent. If that is not enough, you can often have a completely new battery installed for an additional charge
Source: dpa-tmn/Sebastian Willnow
In addition, the providers usually state the optical condition of the device in different categories, for example as “like new”, “very good” or “good”. “And then you can look in the description what means new or good or very good or decent for the respective platform,” says Robin Brand. Because: Not all providers understand the respective terms in the same way.
While “very good” from one provider means that the display may have slight scratches that should not be visible when activated, another provider understands clearly visible signs of use, such as scratches or dents.
If there is no information about the condition of the refurbished smartphone: better keep your hands off.
Refurbished cell phones can be used for a long time
Brand recommends that when buying a refurbished smartphone, you should also make sure that the manufacturer will continue to provide security updates for the device for a long time to come. “If you buy a smartphone that’s two years old and wasn’t expensive when it came out, you’ll save even more money if you buy it today. But you may not get any updates at all.”
In order to be able to use the overhauled device for a long time, Björn Bischoff from the Federal Environment Agency advises that the smartphone is as well equipped as possible – for example that the storage space can be expanded with an external memory card. Because smartphone applications are generally getting bigger and bigger, older devices “often reach their limits pretty quickly”.
Whether you buy a product marked as “certified refurbished” directly from the manufacturer or access one of the common platforms for refurbished devices is probably mainly a matter of taste – and a question of money.
“The conditioners also often use original spare parts or alternatively parts of the same quality,” says Brand. In a “c’t” test, for example, iPhones refurbished by service providers did well.
Test the battery and display of the refurbished cell phone
Above all, we recommend trying out the new device. Because anyone who buys on a commercial online platform or from an online retailer has a 14-day right of withdrawal. “During these 14 days, I was supposed to test, test, test,” says Kathrin Körber from the consumer advice center in Lower Saxony.
“When you use it, you’ll find out: If the battery runs long enough, you’ll like the display,” says Robin Brandt. If the smartphone does not meet your expectations, you can return it without giving a reason. Some providers also voluntarily grant a longer test phase. It is also worth comparing here.
In stationary retail, however, the 14-day right of withdrawal does not apply. In order to still be able to assess the performance of the battery, for example, Körber advises agreeing on an appropriate test period with the provider, after which the device can still be returned. “And I have that confirmed on the receipt with the date and signature.”
Compare refurbished smartphone warranties
Good to know: Commercial providers also offer a warranty of at least one year for used devices such as refurbished smartphones. Since January 1, 2022, the provider must also prove up to twelve months after the purchase that the defect complained of was not present at the time of purchase. Private sellers, on the other hand, do not have to grant a guarantee.
Kathrin Körber from the consumer advice center also advises taking a close look at the additional guarantees provided by the providers. Some offer a voluntary guarantee of up to 30 months on refurbished smartphones.
Here, however, consumers should read the small print: Display, lenses or batteries are often excluded.
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