You can save money and help save the planet by buying used or refurbished electronics instead of new equipment. Since most of the environmental impact of equipment comes from the manufacturing phase, buying used equipment can reduce your carbon footprint. Get it right, and buying a refurbished one can feel like buying new. This guide covers what you need to know about the term refurbished, offers tips on what to look for to get the best deal, and lists some of the best places to buy refurbished and used electronics.
You may also be interested in How to Buy Eco-Friendly Electronics, The Best Technology Used to Buy and Sell, What to Consider Before Buying a Used Smartphoneand How to Dispose of Your Electricity Responsibly.
Updated March 2026: I’ve added shopping tips, new links to improved sellers, and advice on what to do after you buy.
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What does refurbished mean?
There is no legal definition of rehabilitation. Some sellers prefer used, pre-loved, used, refurbished—the list goes on. Refurbishment means that the seller has tested the device and may have repaired and cleaned it, but the only way to be sure is to read the fine print and understand what the seller means by any term used.
If you’re lucky, you may find an open-box device, which the buyer has opened but never used. Dealers are not legally allowed to sell returned equipment as new, and it is common for all returns to be sold in one place. At the other end of the scale, you could end up with a device that looks like it survived the apocalypse and doesn’t work.
Revised Buying Tips
I’ll recommend a few good places to buy refurbished electronics below, but first, let’s take a look at what you should look for in a dealer and what you need to do to protect yourself when shopping.
While buying used electronics is often a great way to save money, there are a few things to keep in mind. It might make more sense to buy a discounted premium phone from a couple of years ago than a brand new budget phone, for example, but there are also potential downsides. Always check for software updates and ask:
- How many more years of software updates will the product receive?
- How long will it continue to get security updates?
- What version of software does it come with?
- How easy is it to update the software?
In addition to finding out what the seller means by repair, you should read the ad for any potential purchase very carefully and try to answer questions like these:
- Has it been tested, and does everything work?
- Does it have a new battery or warranty on battery health? (This is useful for older phones and laptops.)
- Has it been deleted if the previous user installed it?
- Is there any cosmetic damage like scratches or cracks? (Look for a transparent grading system.)
- What does it include? (Does it come with charger, cables, manual and original packaging?)
- Is there any warranty offered? (The more the better.)
- If there is a problem, how does the return work? What do you have to pay, and what is the return window?
If you are not sure about anything, it is important to ask before you buy to avoid disappointment.
Photo: Simon Hill
There are protections for purchases, such as Section 170 of the Fair Credit Collection Act in the United States or Section 75 in England. But you should use a credit card for the purchase to get the best chargeback protection and avoid it through a third party payment servicesuch as PayPal. Some banks and credit card companies are better than others, so it’s worth researching their credentials and the protections they offer.
If you can inspect and test the equipment before you buy, do so. Otherwise, you should closely examine and fully test any device you purchase as soon as you receive it. Note that there is a small window to report any errors or problems with the status and return of the product. Always keep the box and packaging it arrived in at least until you are satisfied that you will not need to return it.
You’ve done your initial testing and decided you’re keeping the refurbished device you bought, but there are still a few things you might want to consider before you start using it.
Best Places to Buy Refurbished Electronics
Photo: Simon Hill
You have a lot of options when it comes to buying refurbished electronics, so let’s break down your options.
We’ve had good experience buying refurbished equipment from the original manufacturers, which is fine as they know exactly how to test and repair their own equipment. All of these manufacturers guarantee the upgraded devices they sell, and most offer at least a one-year warranty, but savings vary; for example, Apple offers up to 15 percent off, while Dell offers up to 50 percent off.
