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Refurbished electronics can save hundreds on smartphones, tablets and laptops. Learn how much you can save, what condition means and what warranty protections apply.
Consumers looking to upgrade a smartphone, tablet or laptop can save hundreds of euro by choosing a refurbished device, as new models reach eye-catching prices such as 2,369 euro for Apple's foldable iPhone. A refurbished device is professionally inspected, tested and cleaned, with faulty components repaired or replaced, offering access to a much newer model than a budget might otherwise allow, as long as buyers tolerate minor imperfections.
How Much Can You Save on Refurbished Devices?
Last week, a new iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage cost 1,129 euro through the official Apple Store. On one of the most popular refurbishment websites, the same model in excellent condition was on offer for 806.99 euro.
A brand-new Galaxy A57 5G with 256GB storage was for sale at 539 euro on the official Samsung website, a price that included a discount of 80 euro. A refurbishment site offered the same model for about 387 euro.
For tablets, a similar type of saving was available. An 11-inch iPad Air with 256GB cost 979 euro, compared to 739.99 euro for a premium refurbished model.
Laptops are a little trickier to compare because there are so many variables to account for. However, examples found last week on refurbishment sites included about 600 euro for a MacBook Air from 2020, and 262 euro for a well-travelled Microsoft Surface laptop.
Environmental Benefits of Buying Refurbished Electronics
Reuse of pre-owned devices also has an environmental benefit. It is a great example of the circular economy in action, extending the life of electronics that still have plenty of tread on their tyres.
This is at a time when the differences between successive generations of devices can become increasingly difficult to notice. The last time I upgraded my iPhone, the only big day-to-day improvement was that I no longer had to micromanage storage space.
The cameras on the latest models may be a little better but, unless photography is part of your work or a serious hobby, that may not matter much.
What Are the Downsides and Warranty Protections?
As anybody who has kept a mobile or laptop for several years will know, the battery is often the first thing to go. There may also be issues with older devices around security and operating system updates; a vintage laptop might not even be able to run all the software you need.
The cosmetic condition of the item will play a big part, from near perfect to well-used. The popular Swappie website has four different categorisations: fair, very good, excellent and premium.
Fair condition means there will be noticeable scratches and marks, while an excellent device will have gentle signs of use, while premium will be close to immaculate. If you are worried about how long your phone will stay charged, Swappie offers new batteries for an additional 80 euro and promises that its standard batteries will have at least 86 per cent of their original capacity. A broadly similar set of rules applies for MacBooks when bought through that website.
Another big concern for anybody looking at a refurbished device is what protections are in place. A brand-new Apple product comes with a one-year limited manufacturer's warranty, while Irish law allows consumers to seek remedy for faulty products bought from a business for up to six years.
If you use Swappie, you can return the item for a full refund within 30 days, and a one-year warranty starts from the date of purchase. This covers technical and mechanical faults, including defective batteries and faulty cameras, with a replacement or refund available if a device cannot be fixed.
Another popular site, Refurbed, offers the same return period and minimum one-year warranty, which does allow some reassurance. These commercial warranties are in addition to, rather than a replacement for, your statutory consumer rights.
If you purchase more informally through a private seller on an online marketplace, normal consumer protections are far less likely to apply. Enforcing your rights may be trickier too when buying from a seller based outside the EU.
As with anything, if a deal sounds too good to be true, do not take the risk, especially with the significant outlay that can be involved in buying a phone or laptop. Whether or not you should go for a refurbished device boils down to a few key factors.
Refurbished Devices Smartphones Tablets Laptops Swappie Apple Samsung
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