NEVER PAY FULL PRICEFor PCs, Laptops, Tablets & Phones
Refurbished devices are just as good as brand new models, but cost considerably less. Here, Robert Irvine provides a complete guide to buying used tech
With inflation still uncomfortably high, few of us can afford to spend many hundreds of pounds on a new smartphone or laptop. This means hanging on to our current devices even after they start slowing down and running out of space, when we once would have splashed out on a replacement.
Refurbished technology provides a simple solution to this dilemma, by letting you buy the devices you want, with the same features and performance, for a significantly reduced price. While these items aren’t brand new, they’re often as good as – and can save you a small fortune.
Recent research by Vodafone found that nearly a third of Brits (32 per cent) already own a refurbished phone, and another 24 per cent are planning to buy one (www.snipca.com/47254), so there’s no shame in buying pre-owned products – because everybody’s doing it.
In this feature, we explain the benefits (and the odd drawback) of refurbished tech, and how to bag the best bargains. We recommend the most reliable resellers of pre-owned PCs, laptops, phones, tablets and other devices, who strike the right balance between choice of stock and price.
We also reveal what you must check before you buy refurbished, and pick the best current deals on as-new products.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Discover the benefits of choosing pre-owned devices
• Find the best places to buy refurbished PCs and laptops
• Make essential checks before you buy a used item
• Get the best deals on refurbished phones and tablets
• Spot and avoid the tricks sellers use to rip you off
• Ensure that pre-owned phones haven’t been stolen
• Learn which products you shouldn’t buy refurbished
WHY YOU MUST BUY REFURBISHED DEVICES
Why should I buy a refurbished computer or mobile device?
The obvious answer is to save money, which is particularly important during the current cost-of-living crisis. Refurbished devices cost significantly less than brand new models, often saving you hundreds of pounds, while offering the same features and performance.
You’ll also be helping the environment because the PC, phone, laptop or tablet – and the components inside it – will be given a second lease of life, rather than becoming landfill. This means you won’t be contributing to the world’s growing pile of electronic waste.
Doesn’t ‘refurbished’ just mean ‘scrubbed-up second-hand’?
Not really. ‘Refurbished’ is an umbrella term for used goods tha
