A refurbished phone specifically denotes a professionally cleaned, thoroughly inspected, and rigorously tested model that's sold in like-new or graded condition. Most of the time, a refurbished smartphone will come with its own set warranty, usually six to 12 months, and will have any faults or damage fixed, and the internal software is wiped to factory new. You don't get a new phone, but you get as close as you can without spending the same as you would on a new in-box version.
Refurbished smartphones tend to be graded on the quality of the device, indicating the type of user experience that you can expect to have. It's not a uniform system that's enforced across all secondhand mobile phone providers, but this is a rough indication of what you're in for in 2026 based on our historical experience and research.
| Grade | Condition | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| A | Like-new / Pristine | The best that a refurbished smartphone can get. You may only see a few small marks or smudges, if any. |
| B | Very good | Light signs of use and routine wear and tear, such as faint scratches or minor scuffs on the body. |
| C | Fair / Good | More obvious signs of wear, deeper scratches on the screen, and more damage to the smartphone overall. May be otherwise comparable to a heavily used "sold as seen" used phone. |