After upgrading to a refurbished iPhone 16, I'll never buy a new phone again

Date:
Sun, 12 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
With the rising cost of handsets, I wanted to see what could be gained by going against the hype and opting for a refurbished phone instead.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

The whole tech world might be enamoured with the iPhone 17 range right now (including the ever-so-svelte iPhone Air ), but this is the one year where
Ive decided to buck the hype and move in the opposite direction and Im glad
I did.

For most of this year, Ive been using a review unit of the iPhone 16 Plus, which, for the record, is easily one of the best iPhones Ive ever used. When the unit needed to be sent back to Apple HQ ahead of the iPhone 17 launch, however, I had a choice I could either hold out and see if any of the new phones caught my attention or, do what Ive always recommended that friends
and family do when wanting to upgrade: look for a refurbished phone.

Even though Ive never owned a refurbished phone myself, having over half a decades experience in covering tech deals has taught me that if you want to avoid the high prices that Apple and many of its competitors put out
nowadays, then going for a professionally refurbished, second-hand device is the way to go. After all, between vendors like Giffgaff , eBay , and Back Market (in the UK, at least), were now spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping around in this sector, which is why I decided to finally go down
this route myself.

For the last two weeks, Ive been using a refurbished iPhone 16 , and aside from having to mentally adjust to using a smaller display than the massive 6.7-inch panel that the Plus offered, Ive been shocked by how seamless the transition to a refurbished phone has been. You wouldnt be able to tell the difference The iPhone 16 in pink (though not my particular model!) (Image credit: Future)

The refurbished iPhone 16 in question is a like new model from Giffgaff, and Im always a bit sceptical with that term because I feel as if it can mean different things to different people. But when I first took it out of the
box, I honestly wondered if I hadnt just been sent a completely new iPhone by mistake.

I inspected every inch of the device, from the gap between the camera lenses to the inside of the USB-C port, but I couldnt see any evidence that the
phone had once been in someone elses hands. It was much the same once I switched the phone on for the first time and went through the set-up process, seeing not a scratch from any angle on the 6.1-inch display.

I honestly wondered if I hadnt just been sent a completely new iPhone by mistake.

To clear things up, I dove straight into the settings and then the battery health section to see that a total of six charges had been logged, the first of which was registered in January of this year. As a result, the maximum capacity of the battery itself was still listed as being 100%, making the model almost identical to one that could be bought brand new via the Apple Store, except this one would come at a serious discount.

For reference, this model costs 569 at the time of writing, a whole 230 less than what the phone retailed for at launch, and currently 130 cheaper than
the lower 699 rate that Apple now sells the iPhone 16 for, following the launch of its successor.

Whats arguably most crucial, though, is that at that price, its a cheaper option than even the iPhone 16e, which Apple has designed to intentionally lure in buyers who might be scouting for an upgrade in the mid-range market. At a time when were all having to tighten the belt amidst rising costs elsewhere, I think youd be doing yourself a disservice if you didnt consider going down the refurbished route for your next upgrade. The potential downsides to consider The iPhone 16 in pink (though not my particular model!) (Image credit: Future)

As impressed as Ive been with my refurbished iPhone 16, I think its also important that consumers fully understand what to be on the lookout for when shopping for second-hand smartphones.

Even though I was lucky enough to receive an iPhone that still had 100% battery capacity, it's not guaranteed that every refurbished phone available will be up to the same standard. For instance, both Giffgaff and Back Market promise a battery capacity of at least 80% or more for the majority of phones that they sell, and the further back you go in terms of when the phone came out, the more likely you are to see the capacity closer to that 80% mark.

There are some retailers that do let you upgrade to an entirely new battery
at the point of purchase, including Back Market and a handful of reputable vendors on eBay that sell refurbished products. If you do receive a phone
with a lesser battery capacity, though, you can always mitigate any battery anxiety by picking up one of the best power banks for added peace of mind.

When it comes to buying an iPhone specifically, going down the second-hand route also rules you out of access to AppleCare, which might be a dealbreaker if you want the ease of being able to walk into an Apple store and receive
the help you need there and then. Personally, Ive never been one to opt for the service (Im a bigger fan of slapping a case on the phone and being
careful with it), but whats important to note is that you still get your one-year statutory rights as a consumer, so if something does go wrong with your phone within that time frame, then you can return it.

Just like how some retailers provide new batteries, there are others that offer extended warranties. Giffgaff, for instance, provides 24 months of coverage with its like-new handsets, while Vodafone provides a Lifetime Service Promise, so you do have some flexibility available if you shop
around. Old is in, new is out

While I can appreciate the appeal of going for a brand new device (especially in the midst of a big Apple launch), my experience of using a refurbished iPhone has me convinced that I probably wont ever go back to buying new if I can help it.

Plus, if you pair a refurbished handset with one of the best SIM-only deals available, then youll continue to save even more over time compared to most phone contracts. Given that we're all feeling the pinch of rising costs to household bills, food items, and more, it only makes sense to seize money-saving opportunities where you can, and refurbished phones offer
exactly that.

Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the
Follow button!

And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too. You might also like Best iPhone deals: the best sim-free and contract iPhone offers I ditched my new iPhone 17 Pro for the iPhone Air, and for the first time in years Apple has blown me away If you give it a chance, there's a lot to love about the iPhone's Camera Control button



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/after-upgrading-to-a-refurbished-iphon e-16-ill-never-buy-a-new-phone-again


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)