Status: 03/11/2023 3:23 p.m
More and more retailers are offering refurbished smartphones. This can save a lot of money – but what is important when buying? Stiftung Warentest took a closer look at the shops.
Buying used electronics saves money. But is that possible without loss of quality? So-called “refurbished” shops should make this possible. “Refurbished” means that the used devices are professionally cleaned before sale and repaired if necessary.
The refurbished smartphones should be fully functional. Customers only have to reckon with a few blemishes – at least that’s what the shops promise. But do they keep it? The Stiftung Warentest tested 45 refurbished devices from nine online shops.
50 percent savings possible
The result: Those who buy refurbished can save a lot of money. On average, the testers saved around a third of the new price. The savings ranged from 20 percent to 50 percent.
According to Stiftung Warentest, an iPhone 11 from Apple, for example, was more than 230 euros cheaper than a new purchase, and a Samsung Galaxy S20 was around 300 euros cheaper than the lowest new purchase offer. But do you have to sacrifice quality for that?
Result mostly positive
“Refurbished” shops divide their devices into grades that mainly relate to the external condition. The product testers bought devices of the lowest quality level for their test. Scratches and other signs of use usually have to be accepted here, but according to the provider they should work perfectly.
The verdict of the testers: As announced, the devices sometimes had clear signs of use. The condition of seven of the 45 smartphones was significantly better than stated by the provider. The function check of the camera, display, loudspeaker and other components was mostly positive.
Nine devices with defects
On the other hand, nine mobile phones attracted negative attention. The shortcomings ranged from distorted speakers to a non-deletable remote access profile to a defective autofocus. With one device it was not even possible to make calls due to a SIM lock from the previous owner, with another device no security updates were possible according to the test. All cell phones from the providers Back Market and Rebuy were free of defects.
According to the report, the batteries in a quarter of the devices lasted as long as new devices of the same model. Many “refurbished” devices would have given up two to three hours earlier.
It is most worthwhile for expensive devices
“Refurbished” is particularly worthwhile for high-quality electronic devices, says test manager Simone Vintz in an interview tagesschau.de, for example in the Samsung Galaxy series or Apple products. This also applies to the sale of an old device. Here you will also find the largest offer.
Before you buy, you should take a close look at the dealers and compare them. According to Vintz, there were differences in the test in terms of both price and quality. It is also important to read the product description carefully.
The test also revealed price differences depending on the color of the devices. “If you want to be on the safe side when it comes to quality, you can buy a quality level higher than in our test,” says the expert from Stiftung Warentest. If you are flexible in your choice of color, you can make good bargains.
“The best and easiest tip is to deal extensively with the online shop and browse, just as you do with normal shopping on the shelves,” said the test leader.
According to the expert, the “refurbished” business is still in its infancy: “We’re talking about a young market here.” But the trend can no longer be stopped. “There are many young people in particular who say: Great, I’m saving money and doing something good for the environment,” says Vintz.
Long smartphone use reduces greenhouse gases
The production of smartphones is complex and causes climate-damaging greenhouse gases. It therefore makes sense to use such a device for as long as possible, explains Anna Zagorski, a researcher at the Federal Environment Agency. That is the basic benefit of “Refurbished” products for the environment.
However, some providers advertise with concrete numbers. One should be careful here. Several “refurbished” platforms were warned last year by the Federal Association of Consumers for dubious promises.
Resources can be saved by purchasing refurbished smartphones. Exactly how much is difficult to quantify, partly because the spare parts generate CO2 emissions and electronic waste, explains Zagorski.