What are refurbished iPhones and is it okay to buy them?

Apple is known for its premium products with hefty price tags, offering iPhones 20 that can go over PHP 50,000USD 852INR 72,230EUR 812CNY 6,205. However, there are ways to acquire an iPhone at a much lower price tag, and that is by choosing refurbished models. But what are these so-called refurbished iPhones, and is it okay to buy them?

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What is “Refurbished”

Refurbished iPhones are also called ‘Whitebox’ units as they come in a plain white box sans the photo of the iPhone on the front. This serves as a visual indicator to let you know that it’s a refurbished unit.

As the word indicates, refurbished iPhones are new exactly brand new. These were sold units but returned due to certain reasons like factory defects. The units then undergo another process to make them worthy to sell again. They are fixed (with parts replacement if necessary), given a new outer shell, a new battery, a thorough cleaning, and a one-year warranty that new iPhones have. The device is also repackaged in a brand new box with all accessories and cable.

These devices are almost brand new.

Price

Buying a refurbished iPhone can save you as low as PHP 5,000USD 85INR 7,223EUR 81CNY 621 as high up to PHP 15,000USD 256INR 21,669EUR 243CNY 1,862, depending on the iPhone model. You’ll sometimes spot these through distributors and sellers, but quite hard to find. If you’re in a market where there’s an official Apple Store, like in the US, you can easily find one there and can save USD 200PHP 11,737INR 16,950EUR 190CNY 1,456 to USD 300PHP 17,606INR 25,425EUR 286CNY 2,183. Telcos occasionally carry refurbished iPhones and offer them through plans. Like Globe’s recent iPhone 6s offering. But these offers are rare.

Should you buy one?

Some buyers are uncomfortable buying second-hand devices, but if you want to save money on your iPhone purchase, going for official refurbished devices is the safest way to go. As mentioned earlier, they go through Apple’s inspection and quality checks and comes with a one-year warranty for some peace of mind. This is also a good option for those who are planning to have their first iPhone at a price lower than SRP. I guess the real challenge here is where to find them as these things come and go quickly.

What do you guys think about these refurbished iPhones? Do you happen to own one? Let us know in the comments section below!