As good as new: Stiftung Warentest tests retailers of refurbished smartphones
If you need a new mobile phone, you often have to dig deep into your pockets. Or refurbished models, as these are cheaper than new ones. Stiftung Warentest has analysed which suppliers you can trust.
Refurbished models? These are used devices that are sold again after a general overhaul - for less money, of course. An alternative for all savers who somehow want to buy the last iPhone. However, what initially sounds like a good deal can also turn out to be a flop if dealers fail to keep their promises and the goods arrive faulty.
Stiftung Warentest has now investigated which suppliers you can trust.
The framework conditions
The study tested refurbished smartphones from a total of four retailers and five sales platforms between October 2022 and January 2023: Asgoodasnew, Buyzoxs, Clevertronic and Rebuy as well as Amazon Renewed, Back Market, Ebay Refurbished, Refurbed and Refurbishedstore. The foundation purchased five models of the same quality level from each supplier, two Apple iPhone 11 and three Samsung Galaxy S10/S20. The descriptions promised that the devices were fully functional. Only blemishes such as scratches, flaws and dents were to be expected.
The criteria
The overall assessment of the suppliers was made up of two areas
Area 1 with a weighting of 65 per cent
Battery life
Functionality: Camera, display, buttons, etc.
Scope of accessories and effort required for commissioning
Usability: truthful description of condition, no locks that cannot be cancelled or security updates that cannot be carried out
Range 2 with a weighting of 35 per cent
Purchasing process: Among other things, attention was paid here to how clear the websites were and how easy the ordering processes were. The amount of information provided about the device and the delivery time also influenced the rating.
The result
In total, six suppliers scored "good" and three scored "satisfactory". Among the online retailers, Rebuy (2.2) and Asgoodasnew (2.3), while the online platforms were Back Market (1.8) and Ebay Refurbished (2.1). Defects such as defective speakers or cameras were found in nine of the 45 models tested.
If you are prepared to make a few compromises in terms of quality, you can get a good deal from these suppliers. Of course, nasty surprises are not completely out of the question - but they never are anyway.
Cover photo: Daniel Romero
Cat lady and Frahling lover from the north always on the lookout for "news and trends".