How to buy a second-hand or refurbished mobile phone

Brand new, top-of-the-line smartphones aren't always an option for buyers on a budget. Hefty price tags and underwhelming advancements between models have seen many consumers turn their back on the conventional smartphone upgrade cycle.

Buying a used mobile phone could make perfect sense, but it's important to understand exactly what you're getting into – and to consider important issues such as security updates. Our expert guide explains how to find the perfect second-hand phone for you.

• Discover our pick of the best mobile phone and Sim-only deals, and best iPhone deals for 2023.
• Or check our guide to the best smartphones to discover which models aced our lab tests.

Are second-hand phones safe?

One of the most important things to consider when buying a second-hand or refurbished phone is security. Apple iPhones tend to receive security updates from the manufacturer for at least six years from launch. For Android phones, this can vary from two to five years.

Once a phone stops receiving crucial security updates, it'll be more vulnerable to attacks from data-grabbing hackers. We clearly flag in our expert mobile phone reviews if a phone is no longer supported, as shown in the example below:

If you're buying a phone second-hand, you'll want to make sure it will still be updated for a good amount of time. Since smartphone update periods begin at launch, it can be a minefield. 

Use our mobile phone security support tool to find out if a model you own, or are thinking of buying, is still getting updates. We'll also give you an estimated remaining support period, after which the clock is ticking as to when updates will stop.

Best second-hand phones

We've rounded up our picks of some of the more popular handsets you can buy from second-hand retailers. All our second-hand phone recommendations have a minimum of two years' security support left. 

Or take a look at our reviews of mobile phones now only available on the second-hand market. We don’t award Best Buys or Great Value to phones now only available second-hand because the performance of a second-hand or refurbished phone might differ from buying a new one that we test in our reviews.

Apple iPhone 11 - £265-£435

With security support expected until at least September 2025, you'll be able to use the iPhone 11 securely for a good few years. In second-hand retailers, you should be able to find a 64GB version for £265-£435 depending, on the condition. 

We were less than impressed by the battery life on this iPhone though – so you might need to consider a replacement before long if you buy second hand. See how it scored in our test labs in our full iPhone 11 review.

Apple iPhone XR - £230-£365

If you're looking for an even cheaper iPhone the second-hand iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch screen with 1,792 x 828 resolution. It only has one rear camera but software features such as the quad-LED true-tone flash, to lighten dark pictures, should give you some versatility when taking shots. Depending on the amount of memory and the iPhone's condition, you could pick up a second-hand version for as little as £230. Security support should last until at least October 2024.

Find out how the new model of the phone fared in our test labs in our iPhone XR review.

Samsung Galaxy S21 5G - £320-£475

Since newer versions have been released, you can expect to see more S21 5G models at second-hand retailers at a good price. Security updates are guaranteed until at least January 2026, and you should be able to pick one up second-hand with 128GB for £320-£475.

Its power does eat into the battery life, so check out the verdict of the model when new in our Samsung Galaxy S21 5G review.

OnePlus Nord 2T 5G - £295-£315

You should be able to buy the 128GB OnePlus Nord 2T 5G second-hand for between £295 and £315, depending on the condition of the handset. You'll get regular security support on this phone until May 2025.

It has a lot of features for a mid-ranger, though lacks some useful extras such as wireless charging. Read our full OnePlus Nord 2T 5G review to see the full results.

Samsung Galaxy A32 5G - £145-£210

You don't have to pay a lot for a second-hand phone with 5G that is supported for a good few years. Security updates will continue until at least February 2025 on this phone, giving you peace of mind for a while before having to think about upgrading again. Expect to pay between £145 and £210 for a second-hand version with 64GB, depending on the phone's condition.

If cameras are a priority for you, this may not be the best model – despite the cheap price – as we found them somewhat lacking. Read our full Samsung A32 5G review for more.

Head over to our reviews of mobile phones to see some of the popular phones that are now only available second-hand.

If you're upgrading a phone, don't leave the old one gathering dust in a drawer. Our guide to mobile phone recycling explains how to get money for an old handset, and erase your data securely.

Used or refurbished phones: what's the difference?

It can be easy to confuse a used phone with a refurbished one, and some websites use them interchangeably. However, there are key distinctions to be made, with each having pros and cons.

Refurbished phones

These are sold directly from a manufacturer, retailer or reseller. Refurbished phones will either look 'as new' or be graded by quality (details below), so you know what condition the phone will be in before you buy.

The price of a refurbished phone is often higher than a second-hand one, because the phone will have been checked over by professionals to ensure it's in top working order and good physical condition. You should also get a guarantee or warranty of some sort, as refurbished phones are usually sold by a professional retailer.

Used phones

These are often purchased directly from the previous owner, which makes the transaction that much riskier. Remember that the warranty is likely to have expired, as there's no renewal when a phone changes hands privately between owners.

You can get a great price on a used phone, as the seller may not know how much their used handset is truly worth. Online auctions often result in low successful bids, too. But be warned – the handset may look visibly worn, and it may not come in its original box, or even with the correct accessories such as a charger or headphones.

Find out more about your rights when buying second-hand goods.

Second-hand mobile phone grades explained

Some sellers of used smartphones have a grading system to help potential buyers know what level of quality to expect from the phone. While they vary between merchants, here's a general overview of what you can expect:

Even with these grades in mind, it's important to understand exactly what you're buying with a second-hand or refurbished phone. Read on to see what happened when we sent some second-hand phones to the lab to see how they performed.

Second-hand phones on test

Every second-hand phone has had a different first life, which means you're not guaranteed a specific level of performance. But choosing the right grade of phone should get you everything you want for the best possible price. 

We bought six second-hand Apple and Samsung phones graded A-C from the retailer CeX, and put them through their paces in our extensive lab tests. All the second-hand phones lived up to their description from CeX, although we did find some problems. Find out what we discovered below.

Grade A iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21

CeX describes a grade A phone as one that's in mint condition, with its original box and all the original accessories, and this is exactly what we found.

The phones and their screens were blemish-free, the cameras worked as they should and the battery matched a new device, according to our experts. The device's openings – like the speakers – were free from dirt or dust, so there were no problems to be found here. It also passed our durability tests, which means you can get caught in the rain without the risk of water damage. 

This all sounds great, but grade A phones often aren't much cheaper than buying new.

Grade B iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21

A grade B phone might not be pristine, but it should be in good condition with all the essential accessories. 

The grade B iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21 had very minor scratches on their screens, device frames and camera lenses. The special screen coating on the Samsung phone had also degraded slightly, so you can see your fingerprints on the screen more often than you would on a new model. This wasn't extensive enough to affect day-to-day use, though, and the scratches on camera lenses on both phones didn't affect camera quality. 

The iPhone reached 84% battery capacity of the grade A, mint-condition model, which isn't bad, and the Samsung achieved an impressive 93%. We found no problems with the durability of the phones. 

On the whole, grade B phones can be a lot cheaper than grade A, and shouldn't come with too many downsides.

Grade C iPhone 12 and Samsung Galaxy S21

Grade C phones might be at the bottom of the pile, but they should still be in good working condition. When we sent the grade C phones to the lab, results were variable.

We found the most problems on the iPhone 12: the screen hadn't been replaced from the original, but it was badly scratched and especially hard to read when in dark mode. There was dirt in the openings and in the speaker, so the sound quality and loudness levels were affected. The TrueDepth camera was faulty so both face ID and portrait mode with the front lens didn't work. When we contacted CeX about this, it told us we could return the phone and get a replacement or a full refund.

The grade C Samsung Galaxy S21 was in better condition. The cameras worked fine, even with minor scratches on the lenses, and the speaker opening was clean, allowing for good sound quality. The screen was only slightly scratched, but the special coating on the display surface had degraded, so you could see your fingerprints more often than you would on a new device. Luckily, the durability of both phones hadn't been compromised by any damage, so they were still water-resistant.

Both grade C phones we tested were delivered with a charger, but the wattage they offered was less than the phones can handle, so they took at least two hours to fully charge. 

What second-hand phone grade should I choose?

A grade C phone is temptingly cheap, and the grade C Samsung phone we tested was in OK condition, but you're more likely to have issues, which can be frustrating. And it could mean you have to replace it sooner than if you'd bought a higher grade or new. The grade A phones performed well in our tests; however they're not much cheaper than buying new so you're unlikely to make any big savings.

If you're looking to balance the performance of the phone and getting the best value for money, we recommend you buy a grade B (or equivalent 'good') second-hand phone.

What to check when you receive your second-hand phone

Carry out these checks in the shop, or as soon as you get your hands on your second-hand phone, to make sure it's working as it should. Second-hand phones usually come with a warranty of 12-24 months, which should cover technical faults. If anything on your phone isn't working as it should, contact the retailer for a replacement, repair or refund.

• Do all the cameras work? Check that the front-facing and rear cameras are working, as well software features such as zooming in and out and camera modes.
• Do the security and unlock features work? If your phone offers a fingerprint sensor or face recognition to unlock your phone, make sure you can set them up and use them reliably. If they don't work, there could be a problem with a sensor or camera lens.
• Has the phone come with all the accessories it should have, and are they working properly? Some phones should come with a charger or earphones. Check with the seller that the phone comes with these, and that they work once you've got them.
• Are the ports working? There aren't many points of wear on a smartphone, but the charging port is often the first to go. Don't be surprised if the connection is iffy, and be sure to give it a good clean to remove any lint or dirt that may have built up. Also, check the condition of the headphone port if your phone has one.
• Are the buttons faulty? The only physical moving parts on a smartphone naturally lose that crisp, clicky feeling over time, which is a shame. However, it can become a real problem if your volume and power buttons stop working altogether, so be sure to check these still feel solid and responsive as soon you can after you've bought it.
• Check your battery. If you can, check the battery health in settings and see how long it takes to run out of juice in the first few days to make sure it doesn't need replacing. It's unlikely you'll be getting peak lifespan, but it should still be working well. Batteries usually aren't expensive to replace, so check if your phone needs a new one as this is unlikely to be covered by your second-hand warranty. Find out more in our mobile phone repair guide.

Second-hand phone warranty

One of the big perks of buying a brand new handset, either outright or on contract, is that you receive both a retailer and manufacturer warranty as standard. When you buy second-hand or refurbished, things can work a little differently.

Refurbished or second-hand phones from a retailer

If you buy a handset either second-hand or refurbished from a retailer (such as Apple or CeX), your consumer rights are usually the same as if the handset was brand new.

You receive the retailer's standard warranty, plus basic protection under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. You still have a right to return your purchase within 30 days if the phone isn't as described, fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality. If you discover a fault within the first six months, it is up to the retailer to prove it wasn't there at the point of sale.

Even if you are not the original owner, you may also be covered by the manufacturer warranty, as this does not renew when the item changes hands.

Refurbished or second-hand phones from a marketplace

Marketplaces such as Back Market will connect smaller sellers with customers who want to buy a second-hand or refurbished phone. Depending on the marketplace, it might come with a warranty to cover software or hardware malfunctions. However, this is the responsibility of the individual seller to fulfil, not the marketplace website itself.

You will still get basic protection under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and you still have a right to return your purchase if the phone isn't as described, fit for purpose or of satisfactory quality. 

Second-hand phones from private sellers

Buying from a private seller (as you would do on eBay, for example) leaves you less protected. The manufacturer warranty may still apply, as above, but your consumer rights are slightly different.

The item you receive must still be as described to you by the seller – so a handset listed as 'new' must indeed be new. The seller doesn't have to disclose any faults, but they aren't allowed to misrepresent it, either. This creates a fine line: a handset that doesn't switch on cannot be listed as 'working', but it doesn't have to be listed as 'not working', either. Always be sure to ask the seller questions if you have any doubts.

You will not receive protection from the Consumer Rights Act 2015, so the six-month return window does not apply.

Where to buy a used phone

There are plenty of ways to get a bargain with your next handset without having to take risks or compromise on quality.

When you're shopping online for a replacement phone, make sure you’re handing over your money to a reputable seller. If possible, check the retailer's returns policy and also have a look at some customer reviews.

Popular retailers that stock second-hand phones include:

• CeX, Envirofone, Music Magpie, The Big Phone Store, Fonehouse, The iOutlet and Mobiles.co.uk are some of the largest second-hand phone retailers that stock various Android phones and iPhones. These retailers buy the phones, refurbish them if needed, then sell them on with a warranty. Each phone is assigned a grade, so you know the condition of the device you're purchasing.
• Amazonstocks a wide range of used and refurbished phones, with many of the latter available through its Amazon Renewed store. This offers a guarantee from Amazon for one year from receipt. There's also a burgeoning second-hand market from third-party sellers (though some may be dispatched from Amazon itself, with free returns), so check the condition, seller rating and returns policy carefully if it isn't clear.
• eBay is home to plenty of used mobiles, and it also has an eBay certified refurbished store that comes with a one-year seller guarantee. If you're buying from an individual, check the condition and return policy carefully, and also look to see if it comes with an eBay Money Back Guarantee, which should make resolving issues easier. 
• Back Market is an online marketplace that's grown in popularity recently and it works in a similar way to Amazon. Smaller resellers use the online platform to connect with customers to sell their devices. Phones might be refurbished or just second-hand, but they should come with a year's warranty. Back Market says that it holds its sellers to a high standard, which have to go through mandatory verifications and some device checks. You're buying from individual sellers rather than Back Market itself, so it's important to note that any claims you need to make on the warranty are fulfilled by the seller rather than Back Market.
• Samsung Outlet gives you the chance to buy a pre-owned, Samsung-certified handset. Apple Certified Refurbished is the equivalent service for iPhones.
• Some mobile phone providers sell refurbished phones, like O2, GiffGaff, VOXI and Vodafone. These phones have undergone quality checks and come with clear warranties. You'll be tied into a contract with the network you choose, but this means you can pay monthly for your phone.

Find out the retailers that are rated highly by Which? members with our expert guide on the best and worst tech shops.