Reuse old phones by buying a refurbished phone instead of a new phone! These renewed devices are like new but cheap and an eco-friendly alternative. Here’s what to look for when shopping for a refurbished phone and where to buy a secondhand phone or any electronic device online.

When considering a secondhand phone or device, looking for a refurbished phone or tablet is the way to go. The companies selling refurbished phones or devices have often tested these phones and replaced the battery, and they offer compelling warranties. This gives you peace of mind that you are not buying a lemon.

We share what to look for when shopping for a refurbished phone and where to buy a secondhand phone or device online below, but first, we explain why it is more sustainable to buy used electronics instead of a new electronic device.

Why buy used electronics instead of new

The amount of e-waste that is generated each year from secondhand phones is growing exponentially, and a lot of this and other technology that is either going to landfill or getting recycled is still in good working order or simply needs a new screen or battery to be as good as new.

In some parts of the world, electronic waste is banned from going to landfill. This makes sense as e-waste not only contains harmful materials, it also contains valuable material that can be recycled. Although recycling e-waste is more eco-friendly and good circular economy policy, when it comes to the 5Rs, as always, reuse is much better than recycle (and these devices definitely don’t rot!).

The biggest impact you can make in this regard is to look after the technology you have and consider repairing where possible before upgrading to a brand new device when something breaks. Outlets like Best Buy offer authorised cell phone repair, as well as computer and tablet services. However, there comes a time in the life of every device when it needs to be replaced, whether it has been broken beyond repair or has just slowed down to the extent that it is unusable.

Where to Buy a Secondhand Phone or Device Online

You can look for a secondhand phone, tablet or any electronic device on Facebook, Craigslist, eBay or Gumtree, and although these are good options, we recommend considering a refurbished device for a number of reasons.

Many reputable companies now sell refurbished devices, including secondhand phones, iPads, tablets, smartwatches, and headphones. Their websites will list the condition of the device and grade the device according to wear and tear and any scratches. These devices are often tested and come with warranties, enabling you to be confident that your new pre-loved device will not have a hidden fault.

Below is a list of companies that are the best places to buy refurbished electronic devices. They all have a pre-loved electronics section on their website where they sell refurbished phones and other refurbished technology. It is always good to do thorough research when it comes to warranties, delivery options, and returns policy before buying a secondhand phone.

We recommend sticking with a well-known company and checking the reviews when purchasing secondhand electronics like mobile phones and computers. You can also trade in your old technology through most of these online tech stores, which will pay you for it.

USA

• Back Market US exclusively sells all types of refurbished technology

• Best Buy has a refurbished electronics outlet

• Walmart Restored has all sorts of refurbished products including electronic devices

• Decluttr US sells refurbished phones, tablets, e-readers, wearables, consoles, MacBooks, and laptops

UK

• Back Market UK is a dedicated refurbished electronics online store with more than 150 product categories

• Music Magpie online electronic store includes refurbished phones, tablets, e-readers, wearables, consoles, MacBooks, and laptops

• The Big Phone Store offers refurbished phones, tablets, smartwatches, MacBooks and iMacs, accessories, and other tech

AU

• Boost Mobile has refurbished phones, including iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel, as well as iPads and smart watches. All of Boost Mobile’s refurbished devices ship express for free all around Australia, are Australian compliant, and are covered by a 12-month warranty.

Worldwide

• Amazon offers like-new refurbished products via Amazon Renewed

Top recommended refurbished technology sellers

Back Market

Operating both in the US and the UK, Back Market was the world's first online marketplace to exclusively sell refurbished electronics. It was created with the aim of fighting against planned obsolescence by building trust and desire for renewed devices.

Every device it sells has been checked and restored by experts. Every device is guaranteed to be 100% functional and the appearance and technical condition of its secondhand electronics are graded fair, good, or excellent to give you a good idea of what you’re paying for.

It offers free shipping and 30 days to change your mind, and its refurbished phones have a 1-year warranty.

Decluttr

Those in the US can shop and sell refurbished phones, tablets, e-readers, wearables, consoles, MacBooks, and laptops through Decluttr’s online store.

Its Certified Refurbished Tech program sees every device undergo extensive in-house refurbishment. Up to 90 checks are done on some items to ensure they’re in quality working order. An explainer on what this program entails and all the checks done can be found here.

It offers free shipping, a 14-day money-back guarantee, and a 12-month limited warranty on the technology it sells.

Music Magpie

UK refurbished tech online store, Music Magpie buys and sells certified refurbished technology, including phones, tablets, e-readers, wearables, consoles, MacBooks, and laptops.

Its products undergo extremely thorough quality checks, a comprehensive refurbishment process and rigorous testing, so purchasers can be confident of the device’s battery life and overall technical ability. You can read more on how it refurbishes each product and the quality checks it does here.

It offers free shipping, a 14-day money-back guarantee, and a 12-month limited warranty on its refurbished phones and technology.

The Big Phone Store

Not only selling secondhand phones, The Big Phone Store also buys and sells refurbished tablets, smartwatches, MacBooks and iMacs, accessories, and other tech across the UK and Europe.

It has engineers that individually test, refurb and grade each phone and these other electronic devices to provide peace of mind, from like new, which means essentially a brand-new phone without the original box, to pristine (minor signs of use), very good (light signs of wear), good (moderate condition), and fair (in perfect working order but appearance somewhat worn), with each grade getting cheaper to buy.

It offers a price match promise, making its prices the most competitive and free delivery on orders over £30, and it has a 12-month return to base warranty, which means you can return the device for repair or replacement if there’s an issue, on its refurbished products except for ones graded fair, which only have a 3-month warranty.

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