A new year is upon us, but the priorities when buying a new phone remain unchanged.
Whether you’re in the market for a budget , mid-range or flagship handset , a great deal makes it all the more sweet.
However, pricing can be volatile throughout the year, with prices often changing with no prior warning.
Going for a refurbished phone helps mitigate that. While you do have to be willing to accept slightly older hardware, big discounts are pretty much guaranteed.
In this article, we’re running through the best refurbished phone deals in the UK at the time of writing. All of the devices featured will still be supported with software updates for a few years, so there’s no risk of them becoming obsolete anytime soon.
Best refurbished phone deals in the UK
These are the refurbished phone deals that we’d recommend right now:
- Samsung Galaxy S25 256GB (Good condition) – £569.99 at MusicMagpie (34% off)
- Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 256GB (Fair condition) – £366 at Back Market (65% off)
- Google Pixel 8 128GB (Fair condition) – £191 at Back Market (73% off)
- Samsung Galaxy S24 128GB (Fair condition) – £325 at Back Market (59% off)
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB (Good condition) – £779.99 at MusicMagpie (38% off)
- Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 256GB (Fair condition) – £629 at Back Market (65% off)
- Apple iPhone 15 128GB (Good condition) – £386 at Back Market (52% off)
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 128GB (Fair condition) – £391 at Back Market (64% off)
- Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB (Fair condition) – £529 at Back Market (56% off)
- Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold 256GB (Fair condition) – £509 at Back Market (71% off)
- Samsung Galaxy S24 FE 128GB (Excellent condition) – £289 at Back Market (55% off)
- Google Pixel 9 128GB (Working condition) – £285 at CeX (64% off)
- Apple iPhone SE 3 2022 (Excellent condition) – £128 at Amazon (70% off)
The Galaxy S25 is heavily discounted, provided you’re happy with ‘Good’ condition
Luke Baker
What to know before buying a refurbished phone
Another big plus is the included warranty, which guarantees that refurbished phones will remain fully functional for a year or even longer in some cases. That’s something you don’t usually get when buying a used phone from the likes of Facebook Marketplace and eBay.
Every refurbished phone is assigned a condition based on how much wear and tear it’s been through. You’ll pay the least if you’re happy to accept the odd scratch or scuff, but because stock comes from people trading in their old phones, the availability of specific colours and storage capacities changes all the time.
And if you want to sell your current phone quickly and easily, it’s worth using Compare & Recycle to see which company will give you the most money for your old one
Where to find refurbished phone deals in the UK (SIM-free)
Here are the best places to browse for a refurbished phone, along with any promotions you might be able to use:
- MusicMagpie – also rents phones from £8.99 per month for 12 months
- Amazon Renewed (Also look out for Amazon Warehouse deals)
- Reboxed – use code TA10 for £10 off when you spend £350
- Back Market – This is a marketplace for hundreds of sellers
- Aznu – Save £10 by signing up for the newsletter
- Envirofone
- UR – 12 months’ free insurance for the phone, plus free accessories including a screen protector and case
- BT Shop
- Handtec – (use code ENDSSOON for £15 off when you spend over £150)
- 4Gadgets
- Smart Cellular
- Smartfone Store
- Refurb-Phone
- The Big Phone Store
- Laptops Direct
- Appliances Direct
Where to buy refurbished phones on contract
You can also get refurbished handsets on a monthly contract (and sometimes buy them outright) from network operators, including:
- Carphone Warehouse
- giffgaff
- Fonehouse
- Mobiles.co.uk
- O2 Like New
- Vodafone
What do refurbished grades mean?
Each retailer has its own grading system, which means a ‘Good’ condition phone from one might be in a very different condition from a ‘Good’ phone bought from another.
That’s why it’s crucial to read the description of what each grade means on the retailer’s website.
Some start their grading at ‘Good’ (which means the worst condition they sell) and go up to Excellent or Like New.
Back Market
Others are more honest, calling phones with obvious signs of wear and tear ‘Fair’ condition. Just make sure you read descriptions of exactly what each grade means before buying, so you know what to expect from a phone in ‘Fair’ condition.
Refurbished vs second-hand or used – what’s the difference?
There’s a difference between buying refurbished and simply buying second-hand. While refurbished devices are technically pre-owned, they are repaired and reconditioned to work like new. Buying a second-hand phone, however, means you get the device as is, which means the lifespan may not last as long.
Refurbished phones often come with a one-year warranty, no matter where you buy from – in fact, we’d urge you to take a look at the warranty policy before you buy. Ensure there is one!
Read our guide to Refurbished vs Used , where we look at which is better and why.
If you’d still prefer to buy new but are on a budget, read our round-up of the best budget phones .
Author: Anyron Copeman, Mobile Editor, Tech Advisor
Anyron is Mobile Editor at Tech Advisor, where he’s been a mainstay of the editorial team since 2019. In his current role, Anyron is responsible for all smartphone, tablet and mobile network coverage on the site. A BA Journalism graduate, he has experience with a wide range of consumer tech products and services, including smartphones, tablets, foldables, wearables and more.
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