Refurbished vs. New Smartphones: How Much Can You Really Save?
Over the past few years, sustainability, eco-friendliness, and the circular economy have been major conversations in the tech industry. Refurbished phones especially have become a focal point in these conversations. They’ve been praised for how effectively they address these concerns. But one of their most alluring benefits is how much cheaper they claim to be versus brand-new phones while maintaining similar quality.
Here’s what this article will cover:
- Exactly how much cheaper refurbished phones are in general
- Price comparison between new phones and refurbished phones
- Other important factors beyond the price tag
- Best place to get refurbished phones
What Is a Refurbished Smartphone?
As you most likely already know, refurbished phones are the smart shortcut to owning premium tech. They are pre-owned phones that have been professionally repaired, polished, tested, and cleaned for resale.
Curious about how refurbishment works? Check out our article covering everything about refurbished phones.
Refurbished phones are sourced through a number of means, like customer returns, trade-ins, store demo units and display models, and faulty units that have been repaired.
Lastly, it’s important to know that refurbished phones are not the same as used phones. Think of it this way: buying a used phone is like buying a second-hand phone directly from your neighbor. You get what you get, as-is. Buying a refurbished phone, on the other hand, is like getting a second-hand device from a trusted store that has thoroughly inspected, tested, and repaired it, if necessary, so you know it works just like it should.
Refurbished vs. New: 2025 Price Comparison
In this section, we compare the cost of nine brand-new devices; the iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy Z Fold 6, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Google Pixel 9 Pro and Google Pixel 8 vs their refurbished counterparts.
Sources: Refurbished prices sourced from SmartphonesPLUS. New phone prices sourced from Apple.com, Samsung.com, Google Store & Verizon (as of June 20th, 2025).
From the data, we can see exactly how much cheaper refurbished phones are compared to new ones. Here’s a breakdown of the most important insights:
Insights From The Data: Refurbished vs. New Smartphones
The savings of buying refurbished is 25.81%
After factoring in all nine flagship models, across different price points, and brands, the average refurbished discount sits at 25.81%. This confirms that buying refurbished typically saves you about a quarter of the original price of a flagship for newer, high-end models.
Buyers save anywhere from $80 to $770.
Savings range from just $80 on an iPhone 15 Pro to as much as $770 on a Galaxy Z Fold 6.
iPhones hold their value better
Across the iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 15 Pro models, refurbished prices drop by only 8.3% to 15.4%. This shows Apple’s resale value dominance, even when phones become refurbished and newer models hit the market.
Refurbished Samsung flagships drop about 30.1% from their original value.
While the Samsung S-series devices like the S25 Ultra, S24, and S24 Ultra drop by around 26–27%, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 falls sharply with a 40.5% discount, confirming that foldables still struggle to hold value in the resale market.
Google Pixel smartphones depreciate the fastest
The Google Pixel 9 Pro loses 27.9%, while the older Pixel 8 drops a hefty 51.4%. This highlights how Pixel phones are often the best value buys for refurbished shoppers, but poor investments for those buying new.
Samsung foldables drop faster than S-series
The Galaxy Z Fold 6 loses a massive 40.5%, compared to 26-27% on S-series Samsung devices when looking at the difference between new and refurbished models.
How Much Cheaper Are Refurbished Phones?
On average, refurbished phones cost about 26% less than brand-new ones. In some cases, the savings can be as high as 51%, while in more modest examples, the price difference might be under 10%.
Other Costs You Should Consider
Cost isn’t the only factor to consider when buying a refurbished device. Factors like peace of mind, ease of use, longevity, and after-sale support are also important. So, these are worth considering as well.
Warranty and after-sales support
New phones typically offer a 1-2 year warranty, while refurbished phone vendors typically offer around 30 days to 1 year.
After-sales support depends on where you buy your device from. To find out if a company has good after-sales support, check their online reviews and note how the company responded when unexpected issues arose. If they don’t respond the way SmartphonesPLUS does, it may be best to look elsewhere.
Battery health and performance
Refurbished phones typically have reduced battery health because they were previously used. With that said, reputable refurbished phone vendors replace the battery once it’s below 80% and won’t sell any device below 80% battery health.
Performance-wise, there’s no difference between a refurbished phone and a brand-new one.
Resale value differences
Another factor worth considering is the resale value difference. New phones will almost always resell for more cash than refurbished ones.
Are Refurbished Phones Worth the Savings?
Refurbished phones are worth the savings, especially when purchased from trusted, certified sellers. Buying refurbished offers big savings on your favorite devices, with little compromise on performance or quality. All this while also supporting a more sustainable, eco-friendly tech industry.
Where to Find the Best Savings on Refurbished Smartphones
The best place to get the best deals and savings on refurbished smartphones online is SmartphonesPLUS. Buying refurbished phones from SmartphonesPLUS is quick, easy, and, most importantly, transparent. Don’t take our word for it, read the reviews for yourself.
Where you buy your refurbished device matters much more than with new ones because things are more likely to go wrong with the device, and it’s important to choose a company that is going to stand behind its products.
Conclusion
Refurbished smartphones aren’t just budget-friendly; they’re smart, eco-friendly buys. Our data shows flagship phones sell for 25.81% less, on average, when refurbished. That’s a savings of approximately $80 to $770, depending on the model.
Beyond savings, things like warranty, battery health, and after-sales support still matter. In fact, they matter even more with refurbished devices, which is why it’s crucial to buy from trusted sellers.
Save money, enjoy near-new performance, and help cut e-waste. Simple as that.
Frequently Asked Questions on Refurbished vs. New Smartphones: How Much Can You Really Save?
Is refurbished better than new?
Both new and refurbished devices have their advantages. So, which one is better really depends on what you want and what’s more important to you. For example, if you want flagship-level performance at a cheaper price without any major compromises, then refurbished is better for you than new.
What is the disadvantage of a refurbished phone?
A refurbished phone can come with cosmetic issues like scratches or dents. Another disadvantage of refurbished phones is the possibility of slightly degraded battery life if not replaced during refurbishment.
Should I buy a refurbished or secondhand phone?
If a cheaper price is the top priority for you, then go for a secondhand phone. But if you want a cheap phone that still looks good and performs as well as new ones, then refurbished phones are a better and less risky option.
Can you tell if a phone is new or refurbished?
Yes, you can. One of the primary ways to tell is by looking at the body of the phone. New phones have zero dents, scratches, or any form of cosmetic damage. This is just one simple way you can tell if your phone is new or refurbished.
Is it worth it to buy a refurbished phone?
By buying refurbished phones instead of new ones, you not only save money, but you also contribute to saving the environment from toxic e-waste. All this while getting the same performance as a new device.
Why are refurbished phones so much cheaper?
Refurbished phones are cheaper because they’re pre-owned, repaired if needed, and tested to work like new, but not brand-new. Their prior use lowers their value, so they’re sold at a discount while still offering excellent quality.
Should I buy a used or refurbished phone?
If saving money is your top priority, a used phone works. But if you want a budget-friendly phone that looks great and runs like new, refurbished phones are a better choice.
How much cheaper are refurbished phones?
Refurbished phones are usually around 10-50% cheaper than new phones depending on the type of phone and the seller.
Do refurbished phones have new batteries?
It depends. Most certified refurbished sellers will replace the device’s battery if it has significantly degraded, meaning below 80% battery health.
Is buying a refurbished iPhone a good idea?
Yes, if you buy from a trusted seller. It works like new, costs less, and comes with a warranty.
Which is better, renewed or refurbished?
Many sellers use renewed interchangeably with refurbished or pre-owned. Amazon generally uses the word “renewed” for refurbished and pre-owned devices. This can vary from site to site. Always check with the seller, the warranty, and condition description before buying.
