What is a Refurbished Phone? And How to Get a Good One in Canada?
Have you considered purchasing refurbished phones when repairing your smartphone is no longer an option? Buying a refurbished phone rather than a new one might have several advantages, but keep in mind you are adequately educated before doing so. For example, many Americans purchase a refurbished gadget as their new smartphone. According to a study, the worldwide refurbished smartphone industry will expand by 15% in 2021.
In contrast, the new smartphone industry will increase by only 3.5 percent in 2021. Refurbished cellphones are often offered through retail channels. Therefore, you must have purchased them at a reputable retail store like SecondCell. According to several sources, many refurbished cellphones are offered through carriers in established areas such as the United States. In addition, customers may now purchase reconditioned cellphones with carrier locking, just like new devices.
We will answer numerous commonly asked questions about reconditioned phones so that you can make an informed purchase. Here are the answers to any questions you could have concerning refurbished phones. So what exactly is a refurbished phone? And how can you get a good one, particularly in Canada?
What is a Refurbished Phone?
Refurbished phones are not the same as regularly used phones. They are usually utilized phones that have already been exchanged for a newer model or returned to the manufacturer due to a minor flaw.
Refurbished phones have often been traded in by a previous user and then refurbished by certified professionals so that they may be marketed as fully functional refurbished smartphones in the best possible condition. However, not all reconditioned gadgets were previously defective. Networks and shops return multiple refurbished phones after the buyer changes their stance during a cooling down period. Therefore many of these handsets may show very little evidence of usage. Nonetheless, they must be categorized as “used” and later rehabilitated.
A functional phone may require cosmetic refurbishing to remove evidence of wear and tear; however, a damaged phone may require extensive labor to repair. Some hardware characteristics may require restoration of functionality and an aesthetic makeover to resemble a ‘like-new’ item. For example, when a vendor receives a phone, they must safely delete any data. When you purchase a refurbished handset, you will get a data-free, clean smartphone that has been fixed to a high degree of quality.
How to Get a Good Refurbished Phone in Canada?
If you want to get an excellent refurbished phone in Canada, you should keep a few things. First, you should conduct more research than you would if you purchased a new gadget.
1 Keep an eye out for the grading and certification system
There are no grading criteria for refurbished electronics, and not all vendors refurbish in the same way. The inevitable point you don’t want to get is a phone containing someone else’s info! Refurbished phone merchants often use the grading system to categorize the phone’s condition. Therefore quality will vary.
2 Look for a warranty
If the phone you desire is free of flaws, the manufacturer or reseller will provide a warranty upon purchase. When you buy a product without a warranty, there is a greater possibility that something may go wrong with it right out of the box. Understanding what guarantees should be included with any refurbished equipment is critical. This protects you in the case that the handset fails. Try to get a year warranty, which is industry standard for refurbished phone vendors.
3 Purchase from the original phone manufacturer
Most times, a phone maker will have some great phones. For some inexplicable reason, the original owner returned them. They frequently try to market them as refurbished phones on their official website. This is most likely the most straightforward approach for you to save money.
4 Discover if the refurbished phone is ‘unlocked’ or not
Buying a phone that is bound to a single network is not only painful but also inconvenient – we are no longer in the early 2000s, people! Purchasing a refurbished, unlocked device allows you to insert any SIM card and go.
5 Can refurbished phones receive the most recent updates?
Unquestionably! Apple actively supports all of our devices and delivers the most recent iOS updates. This guarantees that the phone’s Apple protection is still operational.
6 Reputable Retailers
Make sure you get your phone from a trustworthy retailer like SecondCell, so you know you’re getting a decent bargain and can contact them if something goes wrong. Check out customer feedback and see what others are saying, and is customer service available?
7 Returns Procedure
People’s opinions vary from time to time, so look into the return policy. For example, the seller may provide a 21-day money-back warranty, so if there is an issue or you change your opinion, you can quickly return it!
8 Always read the small print
You must do this with every significant purchase, but it’s essential when purchasing a phone. For example, a phone labeled “as is” is a standard red flag. If you read the tiny print, you could discover that you can’t return the device or obtain a refund if anything breaks.
9 Refurbished iPhone battery life
Refurbished phones must have at least 80% battery life to satisfy unique requirements. You might be wondering what this means. For example, the battery health screen on the iPhone shows information such as ‘peak performance capabilities’ and ‘maximum battery capacity.’ As a result, when you see a minimum of 80 percent battery capacity,’ it relates to the power of the phone’s battery when it was new.
10 Accessories that come with a refurbished phone
Examine the box’s contents; do they include accessories like charging cables or earphones? Sometimes, if you buy a refurbished phone like a new one, it may come with a charger, but headphones are unlikely to be included. It’s also worth mentioning that it will probably not be in its original packing.
Which iPhone is the best for you?
All Apple refurbished devices include a one-year limited warranty. What’s more, Apple provides a whole new outer casing, ensuring that your phone looks brand new. It will also come with new packaging with all associated accessories, and all repairs will use original Apple components. Whether you despise or admire Apple, they have excellent customer service, making them one of the finest refurbished phone dealers. That is one thing no one can criticize them for; thus, when looking for approved phones, this is a company you should not lose sight of, especially if you like the iPhone.
Apple is the industry leader in the refurbished phone market, with a 40% market share. Samsung is in second place, but according to the research, Samsung’s market share is fast increasing. As a result, Chinese brands’ market share is increasing, but only in China and India.
To sum up
Not all phones labeled as refurbished were ever defective. Some networks and retailers define refurbished phones as phones returned by consumers who changed their minds about signing up for a contract during the 30-day cooling-off period. Nearly all refurbished phones have already been extensively verified and tested before being sold to guarantee they are fully functional. Some refurbished phone dealers upgraded the handset’s operating system to the most recent version. So, don’t hesitate to have one!