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Inelectronics, refurbishment is the practice of restoring and testing a pre-owned electronic device so that it can be re-sold. Refurbished electronics are therefore pre-owned electronic devices (usually smartphones, tablets, or laptops), that have been tested by a reseller to confirm that they are fully working. Other refurbished electronics include smartwatches, games consoles, and cameras.
Usually, a refurbished electronic device is one that has been previously returned or re-sold to a retailer for any reason. They are then tested, and if necessary, repaired by a specialist refurbisher (or sometimes by the original manufacturer). Refurbished electronics may also be referred to as renewed, reconditioned, recycled, recertified, or "like new" electronics.
The sale of refurbished electronics is part of the circular economy, and refurbished devices are often promoted as a solution to the problem of electronic waste.[1]
In many countries, the word "refurbished" is not legally protected (although France has introduced a legal definition as of 2022).[2] This means that different electronics resellers will have different definitions of what counts as a refurbished device. In theory, a smartphone could be sold as 'refurbished' with no repairs or testing whatsoever. However, most refurbished devices have been rigorously tested to ensure they are fully working.
In the UK, the refurbished electronics marketplace Back Market claims that "refurbished" devices are distinct from "used" devices, where a "used" device is one where no repairs or testing have taken place.[3] However other specialist retailers, like The Big Phone Store, define refurbished phones as a specific type of used or second-hand device.[4]
Devices sold as 'Certified Refurbished' through the Apple store differ from most other refurbished devices. For example, iOS devices sold as Apple Certified Refurbished will always come with a brand-new battery and brand-new "outer shell".[5] Because of this, these devices may be considered remanufactured, rather than refurbished.
While in most countries there is no set legal definition, devices sold as "refurbished" tend to also come with the following assurances.
Testing and certification:
Often, the testing process is fully automated. Commonly used testing certification providers include Phonecheck[6] and Blackbelt.[7]
Specialist retailers of refurbished devices typically provide:
Refurbished phone retailers also often sell standard accessories such as phone cases, screen protectors, headphones, and chargers.
The 'Grade' or 'Condition' of a refurbished device describes how much wear and tear there is on the device. Some refurbished phone retailers will simply describe these with letter grades (i.e. Grade A, Grade B etc.)[8], while others use their own naming convention. It is important to note that these grades are usually cosmetic descriptions only.
Common conditions:
Devices with heavier signs of use are priced lower, and on average may be less durable, than devices in perfect condition.
Refurbished electronic devices are sold by a number of different kinds of retailer. These include:
Many independent electronics refurbishers operate their own online retail store. In the USA, refurbished electronics retailers include Gazelle, while in the UK, specialist retailers include The Big Phone Store and Envirofone.
Manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung increasingly operate trade-in programs when buying a new device through their online store, which allows them to easily sell their own refurbished products.
A number of large electronics retailers, such as BestBuy in the USA, and Currys in the UK, sell both new and refurbished electronics. These are usually sourced from an independent refurbisher. Cellular network providers have begun to offer refurbished devices on contract. These are often devices that have been traded in to a network provider as part of a contract upgrade.
Back Market and Mozillion are examples of online marketplaces specialising in pre-owned electronics. Meanwhile Swappa, Amazon, TikTok Shop and eBay are all large online platforms where independent electronics refurbishers can sell their products. Marketplaces often provide the most choice for the consumer, but do not take direct responsibility for the devices sold.
Global demand for refurbished electronic devices has steadily risen since 2014. According to a 2024 report by GfK, this is primarily driven by cost, as well as the increasing necessity of owning digital devices.[9] According to the same report, another contributing factor is increased environmental awareness, as both smartphone manufacture and electronic waste are sources of pollution.
In particular, the UK has seen steady growth in the refurbished phone market, with research showing that refurbished phones accounted for 1 in 4 smartphones sold in 2023.[9]
