The 8-point checklist before buying any refurbished phone

Buying refurbished is the smartest money in tech — when the phone has actually been refurbished rather than merely wiped and photographed kindly. This is the checklist we apply to every device we sell, published so you can apply it anywhere you shop.

1–3: The device fundamentals

One: battery health, stated as a number. 'Good battery' is not a number. Below 85%, either the price should reflect a replacement or the seller should have fitted one. Two: the IMEI must be clean — checked against theft, loss and finance databases; any professional seller does this, and we verify every device through Phonecheck. Three: activation lock must be off. An iPhone still tied to someone's iCloud is a paperweight with a camera.

4–6: The refurbishment quality

Four: a real diagnostic, not a once-over — screen, cameras, mics, speakers, charging port, Face ID or fingerprint, connectivity. Ask what was tested; a certified refurbisher can tell you. Five: parts grade — if the screen or battery was replaced, were the parts genuine or high-grade equivalents? Six: an honest cosmetic grade with photos that match. 'Excellent' should mean you have to hunt for a mark.

7–8: The safety net

Seven: after-sale support — a clear returns window and a seller who stands behind their grading. A no-quibble returns window of at least 14 days matters because the best test lab is a week of real use. Eight: responsive contact — a real person who answers when you have a question.

A seller that scores eight for eight is not asking you to take a risk; they have taken it for you. That is the entire difference between 'certified refurbished' and 'used, hopefully fine' — and it is why the checklist matters more than the price tag.