Best Refurbished Phones and Where to Buy Them

The refurbished phones we would buy are the ones refurbished by their makers: Google’s Pixel 8a at $339, Samsung’s Galaxy S25 at $599 and, in India, Samsung’s Galaxy A37 5G at ₹35,699. Each comes with the warranty a new phone gets, and each has more than four years of updates left.

The marketplaces are cheaper. An Amazon Renewed Pixel 8a was around $280 and Gazelle had one at $199.99. The lower price buys a shorter guarantee and a battery that only has to hold 80% of its original charge, or has no stated minimum at all.

What we know of the Galaxy A37 as a phone is first-hand. Oscar Frank, who runs this site, bought the Galaxy A07, A17, A27, A37 and A57 and used all five, and the A37 is the one Oscar recommends to almost everybody. The comparison of this year’s Galaxy A phones has the reasons. The Re-Newed terms, like every other term and figure here, are the seller’s own.

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Who refurbishes, and what they promise

The makers’ own programmes

Apple Certified Refurbished

Apple says a refurbished iPhone comes with a new battery and a new outer shell, genuine Apple replacement parts where needed, the cable and a new white box. The warranty is Apple’s standard one year, and Apple’s returns policy gives 14 days from delivery. Apple puts the saving at up to 15%.

The US store had the iPhone 15 Plus from $659, the iPhone 15 Pro from $679, the iPhone 16 Plus from $749 and the iPhone 15 Pro Max from $849, all unlocked. For scale, Apple sells a new iPhone 17e from $699 and a new iPhone 16 at $829. Apple’s UK store had a refurbished iPhone 15 from £569.

Samsung Certified Re-Newed

Samsung says these phones start as trade-ins and are refurbished by Samsung in a facility where it also builds new phones. Each gets a certified new battery, genuine Samsung parts, a new IMEI number, a 147-point test and a new box with a cable. The warranty is one year, “just like our brand new smartphones”, and Samsung’s return window is 15 days from delivery. They are sold unlocked.

On Samsung’s US Re-Newed store the Galaxy S25 128GB was $599 and in stock. The same store lists the phone new at $799.99, with every version out of stock. The S25 Ultra was $979 and the S25+ about $749. The Galaxy S26 at $759, the S24 at $519 and the S23 at $439 were listed and out of stock.

Samsung runs the programme elsewhere with different terms. Its UK page gives Re-Newed phones a two-year warranty, the same as new ones there, and had the Galaxy S25 from £599. Its Indian page gives one year, says a phone may have minor cosmetic imperfections, and had the Galaxy A37 5G at ₹35,699 against ₹46,999 new. That is ₹11,300 less for Oscar’s pick of the range, and ₹1,700 more than a new Galaxy A27 5G, the phone Oscar says to skip. Both pages say “certified battery” where the US page says “certified new battery”.

Google Certified Refurbished

Google describes these Pixels as phones that “may have been owned by someone else or may simply have spent a longer-than-usual time in a warehouse”. They are inspected, repaired with genuine parts where necessary and sold unlocked in a new box with a cable. The warranty is one year, which Google calls identical to a new Pixel’s, and Google Store returns run 15 days.

The battery is the difference from Apple and Samsung. Google tests it and fits a new one only if it falls short of Google’s own standard.

On Google’s refurbished page the Pixel 7a was from $289, the Pixel 8a from $339, the Pixel 8 from $459 and the Pixel 8 Pro from $649. Google sets those against original prices of $499, $499, $699 and $999.

Motorola’s, OnePlus’s and Nothing’s US home pages show no refurbished store of their own.

Amazon Renewed, Back Market and Gazelle

• Amazon Renewed. Amazon calls these “pre-owned, refurbished products”, inspected and tested by a supplier it has qualified, or by the third-party seller. The Amazon Renewed Guarantee gives most items a 90-day return period and Renewed Premium items 365 days. Some carry 30 days plus an 11-month Asurion warranty instead, so read the listing. Batteries exceed 80% of original capacity. Accessories may not be original. The grades are cosmetic: Premium and Excellent show no damage from 12 inches, Good has light scratches, and Acceptable has scratches you can feel.
• Back Market. A marketplace of refurbishers who must follow its Quality Charter. Every phone has a one-year warranty and 30 days to return. Batteries are guaranteed at 80% or more. Its help centre says refurbishers use compatible or genuine parts and that original parts aren’t guaranteed. The exception is the Premium grade: genuine parts only and a 90% battery. Fair, Good and Excellent describe looks alone. Fair can have visible scratches and dents, and the other two have a screen with no scratches. Back Market’s listings would not load for us, so we quote none of its prices.
• Gazelle. Gazelle calls its phones “certified pre-owned”, not refurbished: each passes a 55-point inspection and is reset. Its grades of Excellent, Good and Fair are cosmetic, and every phone is guaranteed fully working. Returns run 30 days. Product pages show a “1-Year Warranty” badge, and the same pages sell the one-year protection plan as a $49.99 extra, so ask before you count on it. The pages we read state no battery minimum.

What refurbished costs against new

Maker and Gazelle prices are exact. Amazon’s change often, so those are rounded.

The sums: Samsung’s Re-Newed S25 is $200.99 under its own new price, about 25%. Amazon’s is roughly another $150 lower. Apple’s refurbished iPhone 15 Plus costs about $240 more than Amazon’s Renewed one, and that $240 is the price of a new battery, a new shell and nine more months of cover.

Google Pixel 8a (Renewed) on Amazon, Samsung Galaxy S25 (Renewed) on Amazon, iPhone 15 Plus (Renewed) on Amazon

Which refurbished phones are worth buying

A refurbished phone is only a bargain while it still gets updates. Each end date here is the maker’s promise added to the launch date. Google counts from the month a Pixel reached its US store, and Samsung from the global launch.

• Buy: the Pixel 8a from Google, $339. It has four and a half years of updates left and a full year of warranty for $160 less than its original price.
• Buy: the Galaxy S25 from Samsung, $599. A new battery, a one-year warranty and updates into 2032. Our guide to Samsung’s range shows what the same money buys new.
• In India: the Re-Newed Galaxy A37 5G, ₹35,699, for the reasons above.
• iPhones: fine, with one gap. Apple’s store pages promise no number of years. Its security releases page shows the current iOS 27 running on the iPhone 11, which went on sale in September 2019. That is seven years of track record, not a promise for the iPhone 15.
• Skip: the Pixel 7a at $289. It is $50 less than the Pixel 8a for three fewer years of updates.
• Skip: the Galaxy S23 at $439. Its security updates end in February 2028.

What the words mean

• Refurbished has no fixed meaning. Gazelle quotes a dictionary: made to look new again by work such as painting, repairing and cleaning. At Apple it means a new battery and shell. On Back Market it can mean compatible parts.
• Renewed is Amazon’s label for refurbished goods sold under its guarantee. Re-Newed is Samsung’s brand for phones it refurbishes itself.
• Certified means whoever uses the word did the checking. Apple, Samsung and Google certify their own phones. Gazelle certifies its inspection.
• Used promises the least. Amazon’s used grades run from “Like New” down to “Acceptable”, which it describes as fairly worn but working. Those descriptions mention no testing and no battery minimum.

What to check when it arrives

Do all of this inside the return period: 14 days at Apple, 15 at Samsung and Google, 30 at Back Market and Gazelle, 90 on most Amazon Renewed listings.

• Carrier lock. On an iPhone, Apple says to open Settings, General, About and look for “No SIM restrictions” beside Carrier Lock. On any phone, find the IMEI and run it through your network’s own checker. Our guide to unlocked phones has the three big US checkers.
• Account locks. A refurbished iPhone should open on the Hello screen. Apple says not to take a used iPhone that shows “iPhone Locked to Owner” or asks for a previous owner’s Apple Account. On Android, Google says a reset phone that asks for an account you cannot give cannot be used at all. If setup asks for someone else’s Google or Samsung account, send it back. Our Samsung factory reset guide explains those locks.
• Battery. iPhone: Settings, Battery, Battery Health shows maximum capacity. Pixel 8a and later: Settings, Battery, Battery health shows Normal or Reduced. Samsung: the Samsung Members app has a Battery status test under Diagnostics. Hold the result against the seller’s promise.
• Parts. An iPhone that has been repaired lists Parts and Service History under Settings, General, About, with each part marked Genuine, Used or Unknown.

Quick answers

Is a refurbished phone worth it?

Yes, when the maker refurbished it and it has years of updates left. Samsung’s Re-Newed Galaxy S25 is $200.99 under its new price with the same one-year warranty.

Where is the best place to buy a refurbished phone?

The maker’s own store: Apple, Samsung or Google. Each gives the warranty a new phone gets, and Apple and Samsung fit a new battery.

What is the difference between refurbished and renewed?

None in principle. Renewed is Amazon’s name for refurbished products covered by its 90-day guarantee, and Re-Newed is Samsung’s name for its own programme.

Is refurbished better than used?

Usually. A refurbished phone has been tested and comes with a stated warranty or guarantee. Amazon’s used grades only describe wear.

Are Amazon Renewed phones worth it?

For the lowest price with 90 days to change your mind, yes. Expect a battery above 80%, not a new one.

Prices and stock move, so confirm on the seller’s page before you pay.