With new smartphones in the market or on the way, the debate over the economic
and operational consequences of owning a smartphone continues. Some people will
still require new phones each year, while others may be purchasing their first smartphone.
The annual replacement cycle has consequences for both your cash and the environment and Refurbished Phones are becoming much more trendy as a solution to mitigate these consequences.
What are the benefits of purchasing a licensed refurbished or restored phone?
The main benefit of purchasing a certified refurbished mobile phone (or any other item) is that you save money. This can fluctuate from 25% to 80%, based on the device’s lifetime, physical state, and the public demand for that phone. A refurbished smartphone, for instance, will be more expensive than a comparable phone from Xiaomi.
What is the distinction between Refurbished and Second-Hand Phones?
It’s important to note that refurbished mobile phones are not the same as used smartphones. Many of these smartphones may be found on e-commerce sites. When buying products from there, the customer protection rule may or may not apply, and thus, there may be little to no consumer safety. Manufacturers offer authorized reconditioned phones through their respective renewal programmes.
Apple uses the concept of “Certified Refurbished,” and Samsung uses the idea of “Certified Re-Newed.” Even retailers such as Walmart and Best Buy have their own programmes, and internet e-commerce sites such as Amazon, specialize in refurbished or renewed phones.
If you want to buy a phone straight from companies like Apple or Samsung, both companies have refurbishing programmes that offer savings on as-new equipment.
“In a Samsung facility, Samsung Certified Renewed phones are extensively checked and restored to like-new shape using certified Samsung hardware and a battery pack.”
In an email, the business stated that “each cellphone in the programme includes a one-year protection, giving buyers a sense of security that their handset is covered.”
You will thus have a virtually new smartphone with Samsung hardware, and the packaging will be identical to a sealed model.
How can a Refurbished Phone be Graded or Measured for Value?
Every refurbished smartphone is assigned a grade based on its state. As there is no globally accepted ranking system, it’s best to double-check before purchasing.
However, as a general rule, grades span from A to D and are organized as follows:
A grade:
This is as close as new as it gets. It’ll be a phone returned during the 30-day refund period. Thus, it’ll be a completely new phone for all manner of reasons. It will, at the very least, show minor signs of decline.
B grade:
Expect the occasional scratch or crack, but nothing noticeable.
C grade:
Refurbished smartphones with a rating of ‘C’ can have noticeable defects and will appear outdated.
D grade:
A grade D refurbished smartphone has the highest level of damage.
Most companies only sell grades A-C. Some refurbished smartphone dealers on a few sites sell grade D handsets. Companies utilize their own method, a guide defining qualities is typically available on their website.
Why the Push towards Refurbished Phones?
One of the most damaging components to our environment is landfill generation. Electronic waste makes up a significant part of landfill generation as well. Refurbished phones will lead to fewer phones getting dumped. Many countries have decided on courses of action to make this happen.
The European Union intends to revitalize the “circular economy” in Europe by making it simpler to recycle outdated technology, reduce waste, and protect the natural environment by enabling the restoration and recycling of smartphones.
However, it is always possible that someone would have to be updated on the newest camera filters that can catch the atmosphere, processors that can operate at velocities quicker than you’d ever perceive, and screens that are finer than an oil-slickened playground slope.
Some solutions are less toxic to the environment for someone who merely wants a robust smartphone, suitable, sufficient, and should last a reasonable period. So, buying a refurbished gadget is always a smarter choice. We can protect our environment by promoting upcycling of mobile phones and other electronic devices.
