Subj : Should you buy a pre-owned phone this Black Friday? It depends on To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Mon Nov 03 2025 17:30:08 Should you buy a pre-owned phone this Black Friday? It depends on what you're looking for Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2025 17:25:34 +0000 Description: With so many options for used phones this Black Friday, we ask whether its worth picking one up instead of a new unit FULL STORY ====================================================================== Here on the TechRadar phones desk, we report on the latest and greatest in mobile tech, from the best iPhones to the best Android phones . All of our phone reviews are based on factory-new devices, but its equally possible to score a great deal on a pre-owned handset. With Black Friday fast approaching, many savvy customers are sure to turn to second-hand options to score even bigger discounts than phone makers and third-party retailers might offer. And, as TechRadar contributor Thomas Deehan recently found, a second-hand phone can bring just as much joy as a new phone if you know what to look out for. But buying a second-hand phone isnt always as straightforward as getting a new one. On sites and marketplaces like BackMarket, eBay, and Amazon, youll come across a variety of suffixes and descriptors like "used", "renewed", and "refurbished", all of which mean something slightly different. So, ahead of the Black Friday deals and Cyber Monday sales season, Ive broken down the difference between different kinds of pre-owned phones and named the best places to pick one up as well as asking whether its worth going pre-owned in the first place. Keep reading for our pre-Black Friday recap on everything you need to know about buying a second-hand phone. Used, renewed, and refurbished Amazon uses its own system for refurbished and used devices, highlighting the importance of checking each second-hand outlet's terms and conditions. (Image credit: Amazon) A note for UK readers: Second hand stores like CEX may let you inspect devices in person, but you should consider making your final purchase online to benefit from better return policies. Online purchases can be returned within 14 days via the original payment method due to legal protections, wheras in-store policies can be much more restrictive. The first thing to note about buying a second-hand phone is that condition can vary quite wildly. Terms like used, renewed, and refurbished all suggest some level of guarantee when it comes to condition, but even within these categories condition can vary quite wildly. Its important to check the guidelines for each retailer and marketplace before making a purchase. Typically, used is the broadest of the three, and can refer to any pre-owned device for sale, even if some faults are present. A used phone could have been unboxed a few days ago, or it could be a years-old handset with a cracked screen and a worn-down battery its up to you as the buyer to check the product photos and description to inform your decision. Just on principle, I'd recommend looking for listings with a good number of well-lit and detailed product photos, a detailed written description that lists any flaws, and a price point that seems neither too cheap or too expensive compared to similar listings. Refurbished on the other hand means that the phone has undergone some level of repair to bring it up to a certain standard for resale. If that sounds a bit vague, its because each marketplace and retailer has different standards for refurbishment, and refurbished isnt a singularly defined term in US, UK, or Australian consumer law. On Amazon specifically, youll notice phones labelled as renewed these are refurbished products sold under the companys own guidelines and ranking system, though not all orders originate from Amazon itself. Thats something to keep an eye out for, considering that Amazon is a major source of tech deals during Black Friday. In general , you can expect refurbished phones to come with no obvious functional faults and less striking cosmetic flaws than you might see on a device labelled as used. Earlier this year, I highlighted three great places to go looking for second-hand phones , and I stand by them now: these are the Apple Certified Refurbished store, which offers comprehensively refurbished devices with genuine Apple parts, eBay, which has strong buyer protections in place, and BackMarket, which uses a clear and comprehensive grading system for device condition. Pre-owned phones: pros and cons for Black Friday buyers eBay is a hotspot for second-hand phones and other tech, and offers strong buyer protections (Image credit: Shutterstock.com / Ascannio) So, now that weve gone over what to look for, is it actually worth going to the trouble of buying a second-hand phone? The short answer is it depends on what youre looking for. If value for money is paramount, and youre not too fussed about cosmetic condition and are willing to deal with the possibility of shelling out for repairs sooner than youd have to with a new phone, then going second-hand could be a good fit for you. The reason I mention repairs is that warranty, like condition grading and price, varies by retailer and marketplace. If youre going in for a second-hand phone, you should be reading as much small print as you can stomach to make sure you know what that discount price is offset by. During Black Friday were bound to see some truly wild deals on new phones last year plenty of the best phones were discounted by hundreds of dollars (or pounds for my fellow Brits). Its worth weighing up whether the manufacturer's warranty and the extended lifespan of a new phone could make holding out for a discount on a new handset worthwhile. And no matter where you shop, always complete your transaction through a verified payment method thats covered by your chosen outlets return and refund policies that way youll have a better chance at avoiding scams and getting a second-hand phone that lives up to your expectations. Have you ever bought a second-hand phone? Tell us about your experience in the comments below. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button! 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