Recently, we have seen an upsurge in the use of refurbished phones. Before directly moving on to the pros and cons of investing in a refurbished phone, it is important to understand what exactly a refurbished phone is.
A REFURBISHED PHONE is a phone that has been used before and then restored to its original condition. To be more precise, it is a defective phone returned to the manufacturer to get a new phone, and the defect is then checked by the manufacturer, and after getting corrected, the phone again comes into the market for sale. A refurbished phone can be revived by replacing parts, fixing hardware malfunctions, resetting settings, cleaning, and, in some cases, replacing the battery. The renewed device looks and works just like a new device, but at a substantially lower price.
In many cases, the original manufacturer offers refurbished phones at reduced prices or sells them directly through specialized retailers. Third-party repairing/servicing shops may also perform refurbishments at times. Therefore, you can find two types of refurbished phones in the market –
- One known as brand certified refurbished, in which the defect is corrected by the original manufacturer of the phone.
- The other is refurbished, here the defect is corrected by a third party.
These phones usually come with warranties and other benefits like free shipping, no activation fee, and a return policy, depending on the retailer. Refurbished phones provide an exquisite opportunity to own a high-end phone at a fraction of its original price.
Some of the features used to distinguish between new and refurbished phones include the display, camera, battery, components and ports, and signal strength.
The advantages of buying a refurbished phone include:
– The phone is typically much less expensive than buying a new phone.
– The phone is often in like-new condition.
– You can get access to a phone with newer features without having to pay the full price.
– Warranties often back refurbished phones, ensuring coverage for their performance and overall quality.
– The phone you buy will be tested and verified to be in full working order.
– Buying a refurbished phone not only saves money but also helps the environment; it increases the life of the device and stops it from ending up in landfills.
So, buying a refurbished phone is an advantageous decision. Before you proceed, make sure to check for a few things, some of which are listed below:
– If the difference between the original price and the cost of the refurbished phone is only a minor INR 4,000-5,000, it is advisable to buy the original model.
– Purchasing a certified refurbished phone is preferable.
– Be sure to look into the potential warranty offerings for your phone. Try to opt for models featuring brand warranties rather than those provided by the seller.
– It’s better to buy the model with which you get the original accessories.
– It’s not worth it to purchase an outdated model. You can get a like-new version of the same thing just by investing a few more bucks.
– Purchase refurbished phones only from authentic sites and vendors such as Amazon, Flipkart, Cashify, Walmart, etc.
THE FINAL WORD
It’s essential to be aware that not all deals on refurbished phones are the same. It’s beneficial to do as much research as possible before buying to ensure you get the best deal for yourself.
