In good news for our wallets and the environment at large, many electronic devices like phones and tablets last longer now than they once did. If you\u2019re considering buying refurbished, the gadget you get will likely have a good amount of life left in it. There are no laws governing the terms, but refurbished or renewed devices tend to be a level above just plain \u201cused.\u201d At minimum, refurbished tech should have undergone cleaning and diagnostics, and some sellers also replace components like batteries and screens. Once ready for sale, these devices should operate as if they were new, with only minor scuffs indicating their history.<\/p>\n
Refurbished devices not only save you a bit of cash, they have a drastically lower carbon footprint since most of the environmental impact<\/a> comes from manufacturing. It\u2019s more efficient than recycling and helps keep e-waste<\/a> out of landfills. But there are better places to shop refurbished tech than others. We\u2019ve pointed out a few recommendations below, along with our advice on what to look for when you start shopping for refurbished gear.<\/p>\n Refurbished is not the same as used. Used items tend to be sold \u201cas-is,” which means you\u2019re simply inheriting whatever mileage and quirks a device had when the previous owner said goodbye to it. It\u2019s true that most refurbished items were previously owned, and many are a result of the growing trend of trading in<\/a> your old device when you upgrade. But others were hardly used at all and are one of the millions<\/a> of returns<\/a> generated each year. Either way, a properly refurbished item has undergone testing to verify that it works, along with cleaning, repairs and parts replacement as needed.<\/p>\n Since there are no government regulations for renewed items, it\u2019s up to the sellers to define what steps they take to ready a device for sale. And it\u2019s up to the buyer to find out what those steps are before taking the plunge. The processes for refurbishing devices from Apple<\/a>, Bose<\/a>, Microsoft<\/a> and Samsung<\/a>, for example, include cleaning, inspection, parts replacement as needed and shipment in a new box with the originally supplied accessories. They also all provide a one-year warranty.<\/p>\n A refurbished device should perform as well as its new counterpart, but the only way to guarantee that\u2019s the case is to make sure it comes with a warranty. All of the sites we recommend below include a warranty with the products they sell. If you see something labeled as refurbished, but doesn\u2019t include some sort of guarantee as to its reliability \u2013 shop elsewhere.<\/p>\n Also, a good return policy will let you send the item back (preferably with the same free shipping a new item gets) for any reason \u2014 including that you just changed your mind. That way if a refurbished product doesn\u2019t look as good as you thought it would, you can send it back without having to prove there\u2019s something wrong with it.<\/p>\n Most refurbished tech was used before it made its way back on the market. And while renewed items are cleaned, you\u2019ll still need to consider your comfort with sanitation issues when buying things like headphones and earbuds<\/a>.<\/p>\nWhat to consider when buying refurbished devices<\/h2>\n
Refurbished vs used<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Warranties and returns<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sanitation<\/strong><\/h3>\n