When you buy a phone or other electronics, you may see offers to buy a refurbished or renewed device. I often get questions about whether to buy refurbished or renewed electronics and what these terms mean. So, in this article, I will try to explain whether you should buy renewed or refurbished devices and what’s the difference between renewed vs refurbished.
Renewed vs refurbished: What’s the difference?
Refurbished device – if you meet such a device, the first thing you should pay attention to is who sells such a device. If the refurbished device is sold by the manufacturer (for example Apple), it means that the device hasn’t passed the final tests before packing and has been repaired. In this case, the manufacturer would replace the defective parts.
If the manufacturer has refurbished the device, it has all the warranty and a new device, and the manufacturer guarantees that all is well with this device.
The other case is when a third-party seller refurbishes a device. This makes things a bit more complicated. In this case, you don’t know if the device is being sold as new or if it’s a device that has been used. Also, you don’t know exactly who repaired that device: the manufacturer or the seller.
If you have decided to buy such a device, you should clarify all the warranty conditions. Including:
- Who is providing the warranty?
- Where was that device refurbished?
- Is the warranty full or reduced?
- Does this device have the original manufacturer’s warranty?
Also, be sure to ask where the device was refurbished (in an official service center or the third-party service center) and if anyone has used it before you.
All of these questions are important to know what kind of device you are buying. For example, a seller may sell a used device without an official warranty at a meager discount. In this case, you’re better off looking for a device refurbished by the manufacturer.
The renewed device is a used device that a phone resale company has purchased. The device may have scuffs and a battery with reduced capacity. Such a device has been dusted off, and its appearance has been improved. The device also comes with charger cables (they may not be original ones). It can also be packaged in the original box or in a similar (if there’s no original box). Typically such devices are tested for good work and the seller provides a warranty, but the manufacturer’s warranty on such devices doesn’t apply.
What device is better to buy: Renewed or refurbished?
The main question if you want to save some money is which device you should buy: renewed or refurbished?
A refurbished device is always a used device. You have to understand that when you look at such devices.
A refurbished device is either new or used and then refurbished.
My advice is simple – it’s always better to buy a device refurbished by the manufacturer, as you get the official warranty and can be sure that the device has been thoroughly tested.
Buying a device refurbished by a seller or buying the renewed one isn’t the best way. Such devices usually cost as much as refurbished by the manufacturer, so it isn’t the best choice for the same price.
Read also:
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What could be the disadvantages of such a purchase?
Buying such a device, you should be prepared for the fact that the kit necessarily comes with a cable or charger. The rest of the accessories aren’t guaranteed. So you should be ready for the fact that you may need to buy something else. Sometimes this may exceed the budget, and the purchase won’t be as profitable as it seemed initially.
Also, more often, such a device you will buy isn’t in the original package. Since the package has already been opened, the device has already been taken out. Often such devices come in simple cardboard boxes or boxes with the vendor’s logo.
When is the best time to buy a refurbished device?
There are two best periods to buy such devices. The best time to buy used phones is in the next two or three months after the release of a new model. Some customers already have time to turn in their old devices. This is often enough time for the device to be inspected and repaired if necessary. It works in such a way that thousands of previous smartphone models are on sale after the release of a new iPhone in October or November.
The second best period is January, after the winter holidays. Since almost every family has been pouring over Christmas to give each other devices., therefore it happens that a few days after the holiday, people hand it back to the store to get the money. In that case, this is the best time. So when people get the device as a gift, it’s faster to give it back if it’s not needed.
