Refurbished iPhone: What It Means and Is It a Smart Choice?

Refurbished iPhone: What It Means and Is It a Smart Choice?

If you’re in the market for an iPhone, chances are you’ve noticed that the price of the latest model seems to get higher every year. Is that “cutting-edge” iPhone really worth the outsized price tag? 

Increasingly, people feel it is not, and that’s where refurbished iPhones come in: buying a refurbished iPhone offers a practical, cost-saving alternative to Apple’s annual hype cycle.

Still, it’s understandable to be wary when dealing with a pre-owned iPhone, and you’re probably wondering whether buying a refurbished iPhone is really the right choice. Are refurbished iPhones risky? Are they as good as brand-new iPhones? We’ll break it down in this complete guide to buying a refurbished iPhone.

What is a refurbished iPhone?

All refurbished phones are used, but not all used phones are refurbished. So what makes a refurbished iPhone different from other pre-loved devices?

When an iPhone is refurbished, it’s carefully checked by an experienced technician to make sure it’s in good working order. If the phone has any hardware issues — like a cracked screen or subpar battery — refurbishers will replace the part.

Refurbished iPhones from a trustworthy company perform just as well as a new device. A reliable refurbisher will put the phone through a rigorous testing process, (where necessary) use high-quality replacement parts, and employ highly skilled technicians. The gold standard for refurbishing practices is the R2 certification (more on that below).

The R2 standard for refurbished phones

With more new devices being produced each year, concerns about environmental impact are growing too. Customers are increasingly considering refurbished devices as a sustainable and affordable choice, but some have reservations about quality. The R2 certification was created to address these issues.


R2 stands for Responsible Recycling, a universal standard of responsible practices for used electronics. Developed by the nonprofit Sustainable Electronics Recycling International, it’s aimed at promoting sustainability through maximizing reuse of electronic devices.


To obtain an R2 certification, businesses go through a two-stage process that includes extensive documentation of internal procedures and an on-site audit from an R2 Certified approver. This covers:

  • Key quality benchmarks, like repair procedures and QA testing standards
  • Data sanitization processes to protect the privacy of prior owners
  • Sustainable recovery of parts and materials from recycled devices
  • Legal compliance, inventory control, worker safety and more – it’s seriously comprehensive!

Once certified, a refurbisher has to undergo yearly audits to maintain the credential. 

You use the ‘find an R2 certified facility’ search on the SERI website to determine if a refurbisher is R2 certified. 

Orchard was proud to earn our R2v3 certificate in the summer of 2023, and passed our first renewal audit this year. 

How to know if an iPhone is refurbished

There’s no surefire way to know if a used iPhone is refurbished, unless it was refurbished by Apple or one of its licensed refurbishers. In that case, the phone’s model number will reveal its status. 

You can go to Settings > General > About iPhone > Model to check. If the phone was refurbished by Apple, the first character of this sequence will start with F.

Why buy a refurbished iPhone? Here are the pros and cons

Advantages of buying a refurbished iPhone

  • It’s cheaper. A two- or three-year old iPhone does everything the iPhone 16 does, while costing hundreds of dollars less. Need we say more?
  • You’re helping Planet Earth. By giving devices a second life, buying refurbished keeps them in active use for longer, and reduces the waste associated with manufacturing new phones.
  • More choice. Want a smaller screen or a home button, or just really love a lavender phone? With a refurbished phone, you have options.
  • You’re protected. Reputable refurbishers will stand by their product and cover their phones with a warranty. Buying used from an individual on an online market like Kjiji? You’re taking all that risk on yourself.

    • Disadvantages of buying a refurbished iPhone

    • You need to know who you’re dealing with. Before buying a refurbished iPhone, do your research to make sure the company you’re dealing with is trustworthy. (Finding an R2 certified company is a great place to start.) A clear-cut warranty and a record of excellent customer service are your best protection against potential problems.
    • It could have a scratch or two. Refurbished phones sometimes have signs of wear from their previous owners. The good news is, most sellers grade phones by cosmetic condition and those with more imperfections are cheaper. Top condition grades are generally in mint or near-mint condition.
    • They may not have the latest tech. If you’re using your iPhone for professional or specialty photography, or need the new AI features, you might be better off with the latest generation. For the rest of us, a two or three-year-old device like the iPhone 13 will meet all of our needs.
    • You won’t get as much software support. Apple is known for supporting its phones with software updates for an impressive seven or even eight years. But if you buy a phone that’s approaching seven years old, you may find yourself stuck on an older version of iOS sooner rather than later. 

    What to consider before buying a refurbished iPhone

    Warranty
    Refurbished phones usually come with a 90-day warranty. That includes phones from Amazon, Best Buy, and Orchard. Those 90 days should give you plenty of time to test out the phone, make sure all the features are working properly, and decide if it’s right for you. 
    Of course, a warranty is only as good as the company behind it. Double-check reviews to ensure you’re buying from a seller that stands by its product and won’t give you a hard time about returns.
    Battery health
    The industry standard for a healthy battery is one with at least 80% of its original capacity. Orchard’s testing has found that our benchmark of 83% will keep your refurbished iPhone going for a full day of typical use. 
    If you have concerns about the battery life of a refurbished iPhone, or you’re a heavy user, consider a Plus or Pro Max model: these larger phones have larger batteries.
    Check it isn’t stolen
    Unfortunately, stolen phones sometimes turn up in the used and refurbished market. Buying a used iPhone from a stranger on Facebook or Kijiji poses the biggest risk of ending up with a stolen device. 
    Not only are these devices unethical, they’re unusable: carriers maintain a “blacklist” of the unique IMEI number of each stolen device. If a device shows up on the blacklist, you won’t be able to connect it to a network.
    You can do your due diligence by checking the IMEI before you buy, especially if you’re using Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace. But even this sometimes isn’t enough: a phone can show a clean IMEI at the time of sale, then end up blacklisted later.
    If you’re buying from Orchard, though, you can sleep easy. We offer a lifetime blacklist guarantee: if your phone ever ends up on the blacklist, we’ll replace it, even years down the line.
    Network locks
    A network lock means the phone can only be used on its original carrier’s network. On the other hand, an unlocked device can be used with any carrier.
    In Canada, carriers have been required to sell unlocked devices (in most cases) since December 2017. That means these days most refurbished phones are unlocked, and phones that are locked should be clearly marked as such. 
    If you’re not sure, a quick check with the seller will make sure your phone comes with mobile freedom.
    Condition
    Every vendor has different condition grading standards. Words like “Very Good” or “Mint” can mean different things on different websites. Read up on the seller’s grades to understand how much wear and tear you’ll see on your new-to-you device. If you don’t mind a few scratches, you can usually save money on a phone that doesn’t look perfect, but still works perfectly. 
    All condition gradings do have one thing in common: they refer to the external appearance of the phone only. Regardless of the condition, a refurbished iPhone should be in perfect working order with no broken parts.

    Where to buy a refurbished iPhone in Canada

    Buy a used iPhone from an individual seller (Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist)

    Technically speaking, devices from Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist usually aren’t refurbished: they’re just plain used. That means there’s no quality control and no warranty. On top of that, meeting up with a stranger to swap a lot of cash for a used device is (at best) inconvenient and (at worst) pretty risky. 

    We generally recommend avoiding this option and buying a certified refurbished phone from a reputable seller instead.

    Buy a refurbished iPhone from an online marketplace (Best Buy, Amazon or Reebelo)

    An online marketplace is a platform where third-party suppliers can sell their refurbished iPhones. That means if you buy your phone from one of these sites, it won’t be checked by Best Buy, Amazon or Reebelo itself, but by one of their partners. These third-party partners can vary widely in their quality control and customer service, ranging from five-star to… none at all. 

    And while online marketplaces require vendors to offer a warranty on their devices, is it really worth the hassle of trying to get help through a middleman? Even if the marketplace intervenes in your favor, it can take weeks to get a resolution or refund.

    Buy a refurbished iPhone from Orchard

    Founded in 2014, Orchard is Canada’s oldest and largest independent retailer of refurbished iPhones, and for good reason. All our phones are thoroughly tested and repaired in-house by highly trained technicians, so we can make sure every phone we sell meets our exacting standards. 

    Each phone comes with a 90-day warranty, with drop protection warranties available. With free shipping and free returns, it’s genuinely a no-risk purchase.

    Plus, we’re proudly Canadian-owned and operated. 🍁

    What’s the best place to buy a refurbished iPhone in 2024?

    We may be a little biased, but we think the best place to buy a refurbished iPhone is right here at Orchard.

    Sure, you might save a few bucks buying from a stranger on Facebook, Kijiji or Craigslist, but is that really worth the risk of getting scammed — or worse? 

    The big marketplaces like Amazon, Best Buy and Reebelo are well-known, but those household names are really just middlemen for third-party sellers who may or may not follow quality standards, or even be able to answer questions about the devices they sell. 

    At Orchard, we’re the experts on all things iPhone, from our experienced technicians to our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Advocates. We offer free shipping and free returns anywhere in Canada, with a 90-day warranty on all devices. And if the points above haven’t convinced you, our five-star customer reviews will back us up. 

    What are the most popular refurbished iPhone models in 2024?

    We wrote a whole article about the best iPhone to buy refurbished in 2024.

    The short version is that we recommend the iPhone 13 to users who want a refurbished iPhone but aren’t sure what model is best. It’s a highly capable phone that strikes the perfect balance between performance, camera quality and value.

    It’s 5G-ready, with a long-lasting battery, a beautiful screen and a quality camera. Plus it will get software and security support from Apple for years to come.

    If you’re shopping refurbished but especially picky about camera quality, consider spending a few extra dollars on the iPhone 13 Pro.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is it safe to buy a refurbished iPhone?

    As long as you’re a careful shopper, it’s generally safe to buy a refurbished iPhone. 

    A used phone from a stranger on a site like Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, on the other hand, is a riskier proposition. There’s no warranty on these devices and you’re meeting up with a complete stranger, which is always a gamble.

    Refurbished iPhones from reputable sellers will come with a warranty that protects you in case something goes wrong. Worst-case scenario, you’re out a few bucks for return shipping on a faulty device — but even this risk can be avoided if the seller offers free returns, as Orchard does.

    Is a refurbished iPhone still original?

    Most refurbished iPhones are still fully original, meaning they still have their original parts. The seller will carefully check all the phone’s parts for faults, clean it up, and pass it on to its new home.

    Some devices do require repair work to be worthy of sale, usually to replace a cracked screen or a poorly performing battery. Because Apple tightly controls the supply of its own parts, iPhone refurbishers often turn to iPhone parts manufactured by third parties.

    But if you’re dealing with a reputable company, they’ll use only the highest-quality parts from the best manufacturers. These new parts should be indistinguishable from original parts from Apple. Check for an R2 certification or read reviews to make sure the company is selective with repair parts.

    Which iPhone is better, used or refurbished?

    The terms “used” and “refurbished” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. As we mentioned above, all refurbished phones are used. 

    A refurbished phone is specifically a used phone that has been checked by a technician, cleaned, and if necessary, repaired. These checks provide a buyer with more assurance than a non-certified “used” device that’s never been looked at by an expert to ensure it’s still in perfect shape. And almost all refurbished devices come with a warranty.

    How long do refurbished iPhones last?

    If you bought a more recent iPhone model, like the iPhone 13, it should last another four or five years — assuming you take care of your device. (We make no guarantees if you use it to distract a cranky toddler or bring it into a swimming pool.)

    Older models, like the iPhone 11 and earlier, offer some cost savings but generally won’t last as long. They won’t be supported with software updates from Apple for much longer (crucial for app compatibility, device security and bug fixes), and their batteries will run out faster.

    Back to blog

    Featured phones

    View all