Refurbished phones. What's the hype?

Brand-new tech is awesome. We know how exciting it is to see the latest mobile phones launched with shiny new features. But as marvellous as new tech is, it does come at a cost for our wallets and the planet.

Year-on-year, savvy consumers have been shunning brand-new phones to get their hands on a more affordable, top-quality, refurbished phone.

After all, what’s the point in throwing away a perfectly good device? Why not clean it up and give it a new lease of life?

Here at giffgaff, refurbished phones account for 77% of all the phones we’ve sold in 2022 so far.

So, why are consumers flocking to choose refurbished these days? We think it’s down to three main reasons:

1. Refurbished phones are more affordable

Having a shiny new phone is great, but what if you could get something just as good for hundreds of pounds less?

At a time when the cost of living is soaring and Gen Zs are obsessed with that “Financial Independence, Retire Early” (FIRE) lifestyle, being savvy about money is cool. That’s why the savers among us are keen to promote used and refurbished phones as a way to be smart about our finances.

By choosing refurbished, you could get a great-quality phone for hundreds of pounds less. For example, a new iPhone 12 64GB goes for about £679. A refurbished iPhone 12 from giffgaff? £469. So you’re getting the joint satisfaction of grabbing yourself a fantastic phone and a great saving at the same time. Winning.

2. Refurbished phones are better for the environment

The environment is a hot topic right now. And rightly so. We should all be doing what we can to make more eco-friendly choices.

There’s so many ways to be more eco-conscious with your life. But if you’ve already gone vegan, traded in your car for a bike and started an allotment in your garden, what else can you do? Well, choosing a refurbished phone is a great option.

In 2019, the UN reported that a record 53.6 million tonnes of electronic waste was being thrown away each year, with over 80% going directly to landfill. If we all recycled our phones, we could make a dent in that waste mountain.

The bottom line? Joining the circular economy of smartphones, i.e. recycling your old model and buying a refurb phone, is a smarter choice for the planet.

3. Refurbished phones offer all the perks of buying a new phone

Buying a new phone isn’t just about getting the latest and greatest tech. For many of us, it’s about peace of mind.

There’s a misconception that refurb phones are old, worn out and just not very good. And if they go wrong, then you’re left out of pocket. But that’s simply not true.

Buying a brand-new phone comes with a lot of perks, from getting a warranty to spreading the cost with easy-to-manage monthly instalments.

Well, guess what? You can enjoy all those benefits and more when you buy a refurbished phone. When you buy phones refurbished from giffgaff, you get these terrific benefits:

• Spreading the cost: Spread the cost with 0% APR and pay monthly with Klarna*.
• Warranties: Get a 12-month warranty, plus 21-day no-quibble returns with giffgaff.
• Next-day delivery: Get free next-business-day delivery on all phones with giffgaff.
• Choice: There’s actually a greater range of choices with refurbished phones compared to new. You have years worth of phone models to choose from.

Plus, every refurbished phone sold by us is unlocked. They also undergo a 30-point check to ensure they’re in tip-top shape. And we’ll even ship your phone in an eco-friendly, slimline box to reduce packaging. What’s not to love?

New and used phones create a circular economy

We don’t think the drive for new phones or the latest tech will ever die out completely, and that’s a good thing. Because without new devices, there won’t be advancements in tech.

And without new devices being launched, there won’t be any refurbished ones either. It’s this combination of old and new that creates and drives the circular economy of mobile phones.

So, next time you look to get a new phone, it might be time to get on board with the latest trend and join the circular economy. And, if you’ve got a phone you want to trade in, why not see how much you could get for it?

Check out some of the used and refurbished models available right now from giffgaff and find a phone that suits you. It’s cheaper. It’s better for the environment. And you might just fall in love.

*0% APR. Finance subject to status and credit checks with Klarna Bank AB (publ). UK residents aged 18+ only. Direct Debit. giffgaff Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and acts as a credit broker and not a lender, offering credit products provided by Klarna Bank AB (publ). Terms apply, see giffgaff.com/terms. giffgaff Limited, UB8 1HB