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Original poster

Refurbished iPhone options

33 replies

MrsMariaReynolds · 10/01/2023 10:39

DS wants a refurbished iPhone for his upcoming 15th birthday. Due to the cost, we have mostly fobbed off his request (He has been asking for one since his 12th birthday essentially) but he is now making an effort to save money to at least contribute to half the cost. He has also been very responsible with the cheapy Android options he's had over the years, so I have no doubt he'll take decent care of an iPhone.

Question now is, which is the best refurbished option to go with? He says he would be happy with an iPhone 11. But is that too outdated to invest in at this point? And where would you shop for a refurbished phone? A high street shop? Online retailer like MusicMagpie?

OP posts:
LittleLillie · 10/01/2023 10:42

Do you have something like a CeX nearby? They offer a 12 month warranty

woldsma · 10/01/2023 10:47

We've used mobiles.co.Uk for years. They do some great offers and you can buy a refurb phone. They're owned by car phone warehouse so a legit company,

Currently have an iPhone 12 for £90 upfront and £25 a month with 105gb of data a month.

Original poster
MrsMariaReynolds · 10/01/2023 10:53

@LittleLillie Yes, we do have a CeX nearby. DS has been eyeing a few models in the windows there too.

@woldsma Thank you, I did have a look at the website you suggested. They don't seem to have any unlocked options though, which is what he's really interested in.

OP posts:
yahpahha · 10/01/2023 10:55

I think you might be better just looking at a new iPhone, especially with the battery life on older ones. If you shop about you can get some very good deals. I'm with Id mobile and my daughter has one with Tesco and it was cheaper than a refurb.

SilliusSoddus · 10/01/2023 10:57

I've used MusicMagpie for refurbed iphones in the past and always been very pleased.

An 11 seems about right. I certainly wouldn't go with one older.

Time40 · 10/01/2023 10:59

I certainly wouldn't go with one older

Why not? I've just got an 8, and it's fine - copes with everything, and the battery life is OK.

gingercat02 · 10/01/2023 11:02

We used music magpie for DS iPhone XS and his previous one. Decent price, he's 14 and delighted with it. Had it for 18 months and no issues at all.

HocusPocus1234 · 10/01/2023 11:05

Try giff gaff. They have different levels of quality on their refurbs and depending on level you choose you can get up to a 24 month guarantee. They also do interest free on Klarna

gingercat02 · 10/01/2023 11:05

It was unlocked and he has a SIM only deal at £6 per month for 2Gb of data and unlimited calls and texts. I think we would like more data for streaming but he's a bit wifi averse so we haven't upped it yet.

HerNameIsIncontinentiaButtocks · 10/01/2023 11:05

Xs are still okay but getting a bit long in the tooth now, I'm using my old one after selling my 13 for fuel bills. So I'd say probably 11 but Xs will do (maybe with an extra battery).

MusicMagpie are great for iPhone refurbs, good value.

Original poster
MrsMariaReynolds · 10/01/2023 11:05

I'm afraid I cannot justify the cost of a brand new iPhone. For reference, we've traditionally been a cheap Motorola family on minimum PAYG tariffs, so the idea of spending hundreds and hundreds of pounds on a phone is not really something I feel is necessary. I personally don't understand the appeal of iPhones anyway, but that's another rant for another. DS wants one for his birthday and I'm happy to oblige...within reason ;)

OP posts:
1990s · 10/01/2023 11:06

GiffGaff or Backmarket (biggest range and options) are both very good.

1990s · 10/01/2023 11:07

I always buy refurbished. Not paying too price and better for the planet. Win win in my eyes.

TokenGinger · 10/01/2023 11:10

I got my refurbished phone from Apple directly and I'd highly recommend them. The first one I got, for some reason, when trying to set up Face ID, the phone just switched off and reset. I went to the Apple Store, they checked it, it happened again and they just replaced it immediately. The warranty with Apple gave me peace of mind.

Original poster
MrsMariaReynolds · 10/01/2023 11:11

Thanks everyone! Will have lots to look at online today :)

OP posts:
YouCantBeSadHoldingACupcake · 10/01/2023 11:11

I wouldn't go below an 11, unless it has had a battery replacement. The battery life is fairly poor compared to android anyway, and with an old battery it is likely to be worse. Anything below an 8 is no longer supported so won't get updates.

TwoBlueFish · 10/01/2023 11:13

I’ve used Back Market, www.backmarket.co.uk/en-gb/l/iphone-11/0f16f338-a415-41be-9a84-370afda024e7
and music magpie prior to that. Both come with guarantees.

I got my iPhone 11 last year and it’s still well supported. My 18 year old still has an iPhone 9 that’s going strong.

I always buy refurbished (for mine and both kids) and then do a SIM only plan.

EileenAdler · 10/01/2023 11:13

Time40 · 10/01/2023 10:59

I certainly wouldn't go with one older

Why not? I've just got an 8, and it's fine - copes with everything, and the battery life is OK.

I'm still using my 6s. It had a replacement battery ( £45 ) last year and it's working perfectly. Simm only, £10 a month with GiffGaff.

oudie · 10/01/2023 11:21

The problem with buying models that are old, as some posters mention a 6, is that they are not supported by Apple - the iPhone 6 cannot get iOS 16 and the more updates and changes that are made the less modern and up to date apps your teen will be able to use. I think there is a place for a 'still working' iPhone 6 but its probably not a teenagers.

You will get an iPhone SE 2022 for around £450 so I would consider that over an 11 if you can.

SilliusSoddus · 10/01/2023 11:22

Why not? I've just got an 8, and it's fine - copes with everything, and the battery life is OK.

I know - my old 8 is still going strong having been passed on to a family member. However, having had years of passing on older phones, I know the time comes around where OS upgrades are not applicable or, if they are, they do not have bring all the features on the older models as they do on the newer ones (even allowing for hardware differences). IME that tends to happen when you are about 6 major releases behind, give or take. We're on a 14 so that must be about due to start happening with the 8.

But if I were buying one today that I wanted to last a few more years yet, I wouldn't go for an 8. I would go for something I hoped would see another few years yet and still be able to take advantage of newer OS features.

Obviously, others may disgaree, may have different priorities, or the OP may not be thinking it needs to last a few years, or the OP's son may not care for new features anyway. In which case, none of the above really matters Smile

Certainly a good condition 8 will still have a few years of current function left in it.

EileenAdler · 10/01/2023 12:00

oudie · 10/01/2023 11:21

The problem with buying models that are old, as some posters mention a 6, is that they are not supported by Apple - the iPhone 6 cannot get iOS 16 and the more updates and changes that are made the less modern and up to date apps your teen will be able to use. I think there is a place for a 'still working' iPhone 6 but its probably not a teenagers.

You will get an iPhone SE 2022 for around £450 so I would consider that over an 11 if you can.

£450 on a 15-year-old, for a mobile ?. You have more money than sense. I have three, mid-late teens, their phones last about 12 months, if they're lucky.

TheFairyCaravan · 10/01/2023 12:04

I bought one a few years ago from the ioutlet. It looked brand new when it arrived.

oudie · 10/01/2023 12:04

@EileenAdler

£450 on a 15-year-old, for a mobile ?. You have more money than sense. I have three, mid-late teens, their phones last about 12 months, if they're lucky.

  1. I haven't mentioned what I spent on my teens phones.
  1. I am on the bones of my arse in a very low income due to disability.
  1. Not all teens are as bad as yours at taking care of their phones.
EileenAdler · 10/01/2023 12:08

oudie · 10/01/2023 12:04

@EileenAdler

£450 on a 15-year-old, for a mobile ?. You have more money than sense. I have three, mid-late teens, their phones last about 12 months, if they're lucky.

  1. I haven't mentioned what I spent on my teens phones.
  1. I am on the bones of my arse in a very low income due to disability.
  1. Not all teens are as bad as yours at taking care of their phones.

And giving a 15 year old an iPhone SE 2022, even in the part of London where I live, will be the quickest way to put him in A&E, minus the phone !.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 10/01/2023 12:09

Try CEX - good range of options and decent warranty.

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