Buying a new phone is a lot like buying a new car. You're likely overpaying for something that immediately loses value, even if it does come with a lot of cool new features. But what if you could get that same phone for less? Buying refurbished means you can get the latest phones at a bargain price.
If you've never bought a refurbished phone before, here's how the program works. Companies like Amazon and Best Buy accept trade-ins for new devices. Those traded-in devices get sent to an authorized Amazon supplier, or the Best Buy Geek Squad, which then inspects the device and makes any repairs necessary to make it look and feel like new again.
Amazon and Best Buy both back the renewed device up with an extra 90-day warranty. In our experience, Best Buy offers the best refurbished devices and is often the easiest place to handle an exchange since you can just walk into a store and get it handled ASAP.
In other words, you get the savings of buying a used device but the peace of mind that comes with a 3-month warranty — something you'd never get with a plain old used phone. Plus, these refurbished items come with all the accessories you'd expect a phone to come with, which makes buying renewed best for you and the planet. Also, be sure to check out the best refurbished deals for monthly updates on the best sales.
Check out these awesome renewed Android phones
Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Staff pick
The Google Pixel series is all about providing incredible value for a surprising price, and the refurbished Pixel 8 Pro comes in clutch with Google's best AI features, a stunningly bright display, the best camera ever, and a new set of colors that'll have you feeling fresh.
Peak Android
The Galaxy S23 Ultra is among the most powerful, feature-rich phones on the market, including the ultra-efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, 200MP camera, a glorious display, and an integrated S Pen stylus. Samsung didn't change much with the S24 Ultra, so why pay a bunch for what amounts to barely an upgrade?
Everything you need
The Google Pixel 7a packs flagship-grade Pixel cameras and the same flagship Tensor G2 processor as the Pixel 7 into a significantly more affordable package. The 90Hz display looks great and Google's haptic engine makes the phone feel amazing to use.
Great-looking and affordable
The Motorola Razr Plus (2023) is our favorite flip phone, featuring a big cover screen that can run any app, keeping you from having to flip the phone open all the time. That saves battery and keeps the phone easy to use with one hand. Beyond that, Motorola's excellent software is backed by a powerful processor and a set of great cameras.
Renewed innovation
Amazon's renewed models sell for well under $400, making them a perfect way to get into a new generation of flip phones without breaking the bank. This one sports a great camera duo on the back, a handy cover screen, a powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, and an ultra pocket-friendly form factor.
Spectacular value
The Pixel 7 Pro is one of the best phones Google has ever made. The stunning design is immediately identifiable and the price will make you flip, knowing you can get a top-tier phone with one of the best phone cameras ever at such a low price.
The speed you need
The OnePlus 11 was the return to the glory days the company needed after it combined forces with Oppo's development team. OxygenOS combines the best features from both company's versions of Android, and OnePlus excellent hardware design keeps things cool and fast even while gaming.
Great specs, better price
Sometimes, waiting to buy a refurbished product means the company that made it worked out all the bugs. The Motorola Edge Plus 2022 is the perfect example of this, as the phone was a mess at launch but now is a fantastic flagship-grade phone for the price of one of Motorola's latest budget phones. It's a win-win if you're looking to spend $250 or less.
Best budget stylus
The Moto G Stylus 2023 is the perfect phone if you've just got $100 to spend. It's got a big display and a handy stylus built in that's great for note-taking, playing games, and lots of other fun things. Plus, Motorola is keeping this one updated for a few years yet so it'll be safe and secure until the end of 2026.
Which refurbished phone is best?
The Google Pixel 8 Pro packs an impressive wallop, providing fantastic cameras and a distinctly bold design that is comfortable to hold and still familiar to just about every Android user. We spoke highly of the phone in our Pixel 8 Pro review, and that love hasn't gone anywhere. If anything, the premium features such as an IP68 waterproof rating and wireless charging make the refurbished Pixel an even sweeter deal.
If you want to save a few bucks and get a device that will still turn heads, there's no better way to go other than Samsung or OnePlus.
Opting for the renewed Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra provides a fantastic bargain for those looking to score a true-blue flagship Android phone. Everything is as premium as possible, starting from the design to the hardware powering the device. You even get an S Pen in addition to a state-of-the-art camera setup and a phenomenal 120Hz Dynamic AMOLED 2X panel.
How refurbished phones help the environment
Nowadays, nearly all of the world's biggest tech companies — from Apple to Samsung and Google — have launched sustainability initiatives, with lofty goals of incorporating more recycled materials into their products and aspirations of becoming carbon neutral by some future date.
Sure, all of these efforts are commendable, but the only real way to make the tech industry environmentally sustainable is to reduce production at its source. Here at Android Central, we've written at length about why cell phone companies should stop producing a new phone every single year, and yet the industry is showing no signs of shifting away from that model any time soon. The average American buys a new phone every 18 months, and over 5 billion phones are thrown away every year, according to the international waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) forum. What if, instead of buying the newest flagship as soon as it came out, we shifted our focus to buying refurbished phones?
Switching to refurbished or repairable phones en masse could have a tremendous impact on the amount of e-waste that is produced every year, and it may even inspire tech giants to make more sustainable decisions when it comes to manufacturing smartphones. Refurbished devices are beneficial to the environment and your bank account, so keep that in mind the next time you're in the market for a smartphone.
Once your new device arrives, don't forget to use our step-by-step Android to Android transfer guide so you can move all of your data from one phone to another without losing anything.
