There’s never a good time to lose your precious handset to the big mobile heaven in the sky. But accidents happen and phones break or start to lose their operating mojo. When that happens, it’s time to start looking for your next phone.
The thing about new phones is that they don’t exactly come cheap. In fact, the more tech we load onto them, the higher the price tag with top-end handsets regularly climbing into four figures. For those who don’t have the deep pockets to finance a factory-fresh phone, there is another option: buying refurbished.
Electronic waste is fast becoming the next big environmental issue, with 5.3bn phones binned worldwide in 2022, according to international waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) forum. Meanwhile, astonishing research from Virgin Media O2 found that 24 per cent of people - nearly a quarter - thought throwing an old phone in a general bin counted as ‘responsible’ disposing.
There’s also the issue of hoarding old phones in a ‘useful’ drawer (who hasn’t got one?), which not only adds to clutter levels but keeps the precious elements used in phones out of circulation, forcing manufacturers to mine the planet for them instead.
Many of these elements are rare and instrumental for other gadgets, like solar panels and hearing aids. If you’re no longer using your tatty old laptop, tablet, phone or smartwatch, one would argue that it's better to recycle them so they can be useful again instead of collecting dust in a forgotten corner. Many companies like Currys will pay for broken tech too, boosting your budget to buy something else.
Buying second-hand tech may conjure up thoughts of shady deals down dark alleys as the back of a lorry speeds away, but it’s a preconception that the UK’s refurbished sites are keen to dispel.
There are plenty of places to find high-quality tech that’s been expertly restored to practically brand new, and all at prices that’ll have you wondering if there’s a major sale on. Mobile phones are a huge part of the refurbished tech landscape, with RRPs of leading brands dramatically whittled down - often by hundreds.
As long as you don’t mind that your handset isn’t technically box fresh, you’ll be rewarded by a shiny phone that looks and functions as new - and always with guarantees, warranties or breakdown cover in place to bolster buying confidence.
Where to find these fantastic phones? Well, that’s where we come in. We’ve rounded up the best places to buy second-hand phones in the UK, to show you that tech doesn’t always have to come at a pearl-clutching price.
See the best places to buy refurbished phones for less below.
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Amazon
The internet giant is more than a place to pick up loo roll and lightbulbs. You can find refurbished tech at a minimum of 10 per cent off Amazon Renewed.
Devices include everything from wireless headphones and PlayStation controllers to handsets and laptops. Leading brands include Apple, Samsung, Garmin and Dell.
Every piece is professionally inspected, tested and cleaned once it's been expertly refurbished by professionals, or by Amazon itself.
Amazon is so confident in its renewed offering that it offers a year-long guarantee and round-the-clock support if anything should go wrong.
Buy now, Amazon
Vodafone
Take the pain out of replacing an old phone by heading to one of the UK’s best-known networks.
Vodafone offers refurbished handsets on its website, featuring some of the biggest brands around: mainly Apple and Samsung. Choose between two refurbished types: pristine or great.
For added peace of mind, Vodafone also offers a two-year warranty with every Pay monthly refurbished phone, so if anything should go wrong, you're covered. Shoppers can also save and earn bonuses by taking advantage of the company's Trade-In Guarantee.
Buy now, Vodafone
BackMarket
This B-Corp company is a superb port of call for everything from refurbished laptops and PlayStations to coveted handsets like the iPhone 12.
All devices have been checked and refurbished by approved experts who know what they're doing. For total transparency, there's also a tech condition grading system so you can know your devices 'past life' before it was reborn.
Buy now, Back Market
Music Magpie refurbished phones
What started as a marketplace to trade gadgets, games and DVDs (remember those?), has grown to cover refurbished handsets too.
Music Magpie’s offering includes all the major brands, from Apple and Samsung to Google, Huawei, OnePlus and Motorola. Buy it outright or bring down the cost even more by renting - this is a useful avenue if you're looking for a temporary device to use between contracts.
Used handsets undergo a 90-point quality check before they're listed on the site, with free delivery and a 12-month warranty as standard. Boost your spending pot more by referring a friend; as long as you tick the Ts&Cs, you could bag an extra 10 per cent off.
Buy now, Music Magpie
Currys
One of the biggest tech players on the high street, Currys also sells refurbished tech as well as untouched items on its website. Currys offers laptops or mobiles at three grades of refurbishment: fair, very good and excellent, with prices to reflect.
Prices are competitive but always lower than RRP, so if you've had your eye on a flashy new phone that's out of financial reach, this is one route to getting it in your pocket. Shopping refurbished is also a far more sustainable and mindful way of getting what you need without adding a further burden to the environment.
With plenty of knowledgeable and skilled experts at Currys, you can rest assured that your new purchase has been rebuilt to exacting specifications. What's more, every piece of refurbished tech comes with a guarantee. Peace of mind, sorted.
Buy now, Currys
eBay
You can save as much as 50 per cent on refurbished tech at eBay and many come with free delivery right to your door.
Sellers must meet the marketplace's high standards and are monitored to ensure customers are getting a product they can trust. The price fluctuates depending on condition: they could be a pre-loved piece, a trade-in, had defects repaired or simply an older model in factory-fresh condition. Everything is backed by eBay's Money Back Guarantee for peace of mind.
So what's on offer? Expect revived treasures from the likes of Apple, Dyson, Lenovo, Ninja, Shark and Samsung to name just a few of the big brands.
Buy now, eBay
The Big Phone Store
With a Ronseal-esque website name, this vendor cuts to the quick with a clear and easy listing of its finest refurbished phones. All the big players are here, from Apple and Samsung to OPPO, OnePlus, Sony and Huawei with prices starting from just - drumroll please - £7.99.
As well as cleaned and tested old mobile phones, there are also sections to shop refurbished tablets, smartwatches and other coveted tech, all for eye-rubbing prices.
While the prices are undoubtedly cheap compared to brand-new RRPs, if you’re bulk buying or just spreading yourself a bit too thin financially, there is also the option of paying in instalments with Klarna. Oh, and you can sell your old tech to them too (yes, even if it’s broken).
Buy now, The Big Phone Store
Reboxed
"Great tech shouldn't cost us the Earth", declares the homepage of Reboxed. We couldn't agree more.
Recognising the scourge of e-waste, Reboxed's answer is a refurbished device that is up to 40 per cent cheaper than buying it new. The company also pays for your old devices, so if you're looking for a way to turn that drawer trash into treasure (with free pick-ups and drop-offs), Reboxed could be the way to go.
As for refurbished tech, they go through a checklist of 70 points to ensure it's in the best possible shape before it goes back onto the market. All come with a complimentary 12-month guarantee too. Can you say fairer than that?
Buy now, Reboxed
giffgaff Refurbished phones
Better known for offering SIMs for a song, giffgaff also sells handsets in both brand-new and refurbished categories.
All the usual suspects are here, but remember to keep your mind open to phones aged a year or two to get the best deals on relatively new tech. All giffgaff's second-hand phones come with a 12-month warranty as standard, express delivery and healthy batteries to keep your new purchase going for (almost) as long as you do.
Buy now, giffgaff
Envirofone
Choosing the sustainable way to buy a phone will pay off, in more ways than one. All Envirofone's tech products are covered with a 12-month warranty, keeping your mind at ease over a second-hand purchase.
And the options! The world's biggest mobile manufacturers are here, listed in alphabetical order for browsing ease, from Alcatel to Sony.
In the mix, you'll also find other repaired tech like tablets and headphones, allowing you to upgrade your entertainment suite for less.
Buy now, Envirofone
Mobiles.co.uk
Get your hands on the latest handset while keeping as much money in your wallet as you can by opting for a greener shop at Mobiles.co.uk.
The site offers leading mobile releases for a snip of the usual price, and each one comes with a one-year warranty with options to buy outright or take out a contract.
Paired with a cheap SIM you could whittle down your monthly phone bill in next to no time.
Buy now, Mobiles.co.uk
