How to buy refurbished tech from Apple, Amazon and more
The latest and greatest tech is usually pretty expensive. Premium prices plus ongoing uncertainty around tariffs has made a lot of people naturally hesitant to invest hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in a new phone or laptop.
One of the easiest ways to save money on tech products is by buying them used or refurbished. A refurbished device is one that is 'returned, repaired or restored to a like-new condition,' says Ozzy Russell, former operations manager at Back in the Box, a New Jersey tech refurbisher and seller. We explain everything you need to know about used and refurbished products, plus share a few of the biggest and best retailers marketplaces to shop.
Selected. Our top picks
What does refurbished mean?
People often confuse refurbished, used and open-box products as the same thing. Adding to that confusion are sub-categories like factory refurbished and certified refurbished. Below is a brief explanation of the differences between these categories, according to Russell.
Used and pre-owned: These items are returned by a previous owner and may show signs of wear and tear. Typically, they do not come with a warranty, and often have not been tested to see if they work perfectly.
Open-box: Near-new products with little or no signs of wear. These products are quick returns from customers, display models from stores or products with damaged packaging. They may or may not include accessories or warranty.
Refurbished: Returned products that are repaired or restored to a like-new condition through part replacement and inspection. Refurbished products are often tested by professionals to make sure they perform as advertised, and typically come with a warranty.
Certified refurbished: These are returned products that are repaired or restored with a more intensive inspection and certification process. Certified refurbished products are sold by the original manufacturer or an authorized partner of the manufacturer. They often come with extended warranty and return periods.
How I picked the best sites to shop refurbished
I focused on marketplaces selling certified refurbished products because they 'meet strict quality standards set by the manufacturer and are often indistinguishable from new products in terms of performance and appearance,' says Russell. I also put emphasis on the following perks:
Warranty and return: I highlighted marketplaces that offer a warranty period or return policy in case of any unexpected issues with the product.
Product selection: Most popular marketplaces sell a variety of certified refurbished electronics, including smart phones, gaming consoles, home goods and cameras.
Accessories: We only chose retailers that include necessary accessories like charging and power cables in the box.
The best sites to buy refurbished tech
Most of our favorite refurbished retailers are larger online retailers and marketplaces like Apple, Amazon and EBay.
Best for Apple products: Apple Certified Refurbished
What we like:
In-house testing
Mint condition products
Something to note:
Pricier than other storefronts
Short return policy
If you're looking to save money on Apple products, look into Apple's certified refurbished storefront. Buying directly from Apple means the device has been refurbished and tested by Apple's team, according to the brand. All Apple certified refurbished products come with a new battery, new outer shell and relevant accessories in the box. 'These iPhones typically have the highest level of quality assurance and customer support,' says Russell.
All of the certified refurbished products come with free shipping and returns. It's also important to note that Apple's certified refurbished storefront has a limited stock of products, and is often more expensive than other refurbished storefronts.
Product offered: Apple products | Warranty: 1 year | Return policy: 14 days | Shipping: free | Conditions offered: mint | Accessories: manufacturer included
Best shopping experience: Back Market
What we like:
Easy to use website
Great product selection
Something to note:
Nothing at this time
Back Market is an online storefront that only sells certified refurbished tech products — that makes it easier to navigate than most other storefronts. Brands and products are sensibly organized, and you can easily select the condition and configuration of most devices on the site. That means instead of having to scroll through a huge list of iPads, I can easily select one model and choose my preferred color and spec options from there.
I was sent a refurbished iPad Air (4th Generation) from Back Market to try out. Labeled as 'excellent' condition, it felt like a brand-new product to me. It had no visible blemishes, knicks or scratches, had a healthy battery and performed as expected, and continues to work great after two years of use.
Most items on Back Market are sold through third-party sellers who pass Back Market's screening process. Back Market also has a specific certified renewed page for products that are refurbished and sold directly from manufacturers.
Best warranty: EBay Certified Refurbished
What we like:
Huge selection of products
Long warranty
Something to note:
Nothing at this time
You might associate eBay with bidding on used items, but the storefront now has many new ways to shop including its certified refurbished program, which sells electronics, household tools, cameras and sporting goods, to name a few. These items come with a two year Allstate SquareTrade warranty — it's a third-party warranty, but the longest of our top picks. EBay also has a lengthy 30-day return policy.
All of its certified refurbished products are in 'pristine, like-new' condition, according to the brand.
Product offered: electronics, home goods, auto parts, etc. | Warranty: 2 years, third party | Return policy: 30 days | Shipping: free | Conditions offered: pristine like-new | Accessories: original or new, generic included
Widest product selection: Amazon Renewed
What we like:
Wide product selection
Generous return policy
Something to note:
No manufacturer warranty
Hard to navigate website
Amazon Renewed has a huge selection of certified refurbished electronics including smartphones, earbuds, office products and cameras. All products sold on Amazon Renewed are professionally inspected and tested to ensure they work as expected by an Amazon performance-managed supplier, according to the brand. Amazon Renewed hosts many third-party sellers, but Amazon ensures that their third-party sellers meet certain criteria to sell on Amazon Renewed.
Amazon Renewed products do not come with manufacturer warranty. Instead, they come with either a one year or 90 day return policy, depending on the item's condition.
Product offered: electronics, home goods, outdoor tools, etc. | Warranty: n/a | Return policy: one year for premium condition products, 90 days for all other conditions | Shipping: Varies | Conditions offered: premium, excellent, good, acceptable | Accessories: generic or original manufacturer included
Other places to shop certified refurbished
Samsung Certified Re-Newed
What we like:
In-house testing and parts
Something to note:
Pricier than other storefronts
Samsung sells older generations of their popular Galaxy smartphones refurbished via its Certified Re-Newed page. Like Apple certified refurbished, these smartphones are refurbished by Samsung, in a Samsung facility, with Samsung parts, according to the brand. All Samsung Re-Newed products come with a one year warranty and a 28-day free return period.
Best Buy Geek Squad Certified Refurbished
What we like:
In-house refurbishing
Home or store delivery options
Something to note:
Possible restocking fees
All of Best Buy's Geek Squad certified refurbished products are refurbished by Best Buy staff. The retailer sells electronics like Apple products, headphones and computer accessories and you can ship items to your address or a nearby Best Buy store.
Walmart Restored
What we like:
Wide product categories
Competitive prices
Something to note:
No manufacturer warranty
Hard to navigate website
Similar to Amazon Renewed, Walmart Restored sells certified refurbished products that have been handled by third party sellers who are accepted and managed by Walmart. Only a select group of Walmart sellers can participate in the program, according to the brand's FAQ page. The brand sells products across categories like tech, appliances and TVs.
How to shop for refurbished tech
One of the main reasons we focused on certified refurbished tech is confidence. Certified refurbished tech undergoes a more intensive repair and inspection process than returned, open-box and other used conditions. When shopping for certified refurbished products Russell recommends you:
Choose a reputable seller: Many marketplaces host third-party sellers with customer reviews you can read. Look for sellers with lots of positive, recent reviews.
Check the item's condition: Most marketplaces sell items in different conditions ranging from fair to excellent, although the specific wording may vary. Read up on what these cosmetic conditions mean for each marketplace.
Check the age of the product: Old tech products, especially smartphones that rely on software updates, can have issues running current software and hardware, says Russell. This might lead to reduced longevity and more everyday issues over time.
Verify details like warranty and return policy: Both policies can be helpful if you need to return and exchange a refurbished product.
Inspect your item on arrival: When you receive your refurbished item, be sure to look it over thoroughly. If you find issues that were not mentioned in the listing, contact the seller as soon as possible, says Russell.
Meet our expert
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Why trust NBC Select?
I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, over ear headphones and more. For this piece, I spoke with a professional tech refurbisher and seller to better understand the process and online retailers available. I also own many used and refurbished tech products purchased from different marketplaces.
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