iPhone refurbs from Apple

[cb31]

Daughter has asked for an iPhone for xmas/birthday and I'm smarting at the cost. Looking on the refurb store I can see an iPhone 12 Pro for £689 which is still a lot but more acceptable than £1099 for the latest. Does anyone know roughly when Apple will start putting iPhone 13's on the refurb store?

[JQ]

Can't comment on the Apple Store products, but we've purchased several iPhones for the kids from Music Magpie. Each and every time the phone has looked brand new. Never had any issues.
https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/category/mobil...

[cb31]

JQ said:

Can't comment on the Apple Store products, but we've purchased several iPhones for the kids from Music Magpie. Each and every time the phone has looked brand new. Never had any issues.
https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/category/mobil...

While they look keenly priced I think I would prefer to pay the extra for an Apple one, I believe you get a new battery and case and a proper years warranty. Phones are so expensive nowadays it makes sense to be ultra cautious

[LordLoveLength]

Maybe worth a look at Amazon renewed. They come with a years warranty.

[Alorotom]

Most of the networks sell refurb devices that are as-new.

My 13PM was a refurb from MobilePhonesDirect and was indistinguishable from a new handset as an example and that worked out cheaper buying from them refurb with a 24mth contract (with 360gb/mth) than buying the handset alone direct from Apple

[bitchstewie]

One thing to bear in mind is an older device will stop getting iOS updates and new releases quicker than a new device.

So you might save a bit of money buying a phone 2 generations behind but you may need to replace it sooner than you would a newer phone.

[somouk]

I've purchased refurb laptops, ipads and iphones from Apple, never had an issue with them and they come with warranty.

The discussion around devices not getting updates as they are already older is a fair one but being realistic, she won't own an iPhone for more than a couple of years before wanting an upgrade.

[MattS5]

somouk said:

The discussion around devices not getting updates as they are already older is a fair one but being realistic, she won't own an iPhone for more than a couple of years before wanting an upgrade.

Or more likely, before dropping it and smashing the screen.......

[cb31]

MattS5 said:

somouk said:

The discussion around devices not getting updates as they are already older is a fair one but being realistic, she won't own an iPhone for more than a couple of years before wanting an upgrade.

Or more likely, before dropping it and smashing the screen.......

Absolutely, no smashed screens but one phone has been dropped down the toilet. No way am I buying her a £1000 new iPhone

[LeeM135i]

In my experience the refurb store products are new products in different packaging.

Currently have a Refurb M1 Mac Pro and iPad Pro and they both work perfectly. I have another M1 Mac Pro which was new and you can't tell them apart.

[megaphone]

Get yourself a new one and give her your old one.

[TheLurker]

LeeM135i said:

In my experience the refurb store products are new products in different packaging.

Currently have a Refurb M1 Mac Pro and iPad Pro and they both work perfectly. I have another M1 Mac Pro which was new and you can't tell them apart.

Quite possibly people who ordered them and then returned without using?

[craig1912]

bhstewie said:

One thing to bear in mind is an older device will stop getting iOS updates and new releases quicker than a new device.

So you might save a bit of money buying a phone 2 generations behind but you may need to replace it sooner than you would a newer phone.

My iPhone was release 4 years ago and still taking updates.

My 10 year old Mac mini has only just stopped accepting updates. Not having the latest updates is nit a big deal and wouldn’t put me off.

[jonwm]

I'm in the same boat this Christmas, I've gone for a brand new 11 from Very at £400, I did however get the wife a iPad Mini from the apple refurbish store last year and I'm sure it was brand new, only thing is it didn't come with a charger and in plain packaging, its been great.

[bitchstewie]

craig1912 said:

My iPhone was release 4 years ago and still taking updates.

My 10 year old Mac mini has only just stopped accepting updates. Not having the latest updates is nit a big deal and wouldn’t put me off.

I think new iPhones usually support six years worth of updates or releases from new.

It may not be a problem it's just worth mentioning if you find you're buying 2x older £600 phones over a six year period rather than 1x new £1000 phone.

[the-norseman]

craig1912 said:

My iPhone was release 4 years ago and still taking updates.

My 10 year old Mac mini has only just stopped accepting updates. Not having the latest updates is nit a big deal and wouldn’t put me off.

Really depends if its not receiving OS upgrades or not receiving security updates.

The amount of people walking around with old iPhone/Android devices "because it works" that haven't been getting security updates for years now and doing stuff like banking on them.

[sinbaddio]

I always find Back Market is the place to go for refurb tech stuff. The guys in the offices next door to me buy, repair and sell phones via Back Market.

https://www.backmarket.co.uk/en-gb

[Jobbo]

I bought an iPhone 13 Pro from Giffgaff in Refurbished Like New condition. It seemed to be actually new; the Apple warranty hadn't even been activated. That was a 512GB version and some months ago when they were still the current model so I'm not sure if all Refurbished Like New from them are quite up to that standard, but I'd definitely buy another from them. Do check the larger capacity versions; they become better value against Apple's new RRP.

Think I had to buy a £10 Giffgaff SIM card top-up but I've never even put it in the phone or activated it. It's simply an unlocked phone.

[sospan]

I have an Iphone 5. Passed down from my wife when she upgraded. 4 years ago. Dies everything I need. Just done a software upgrade this afternoon.
The only drawback might be if/when security upgrades can’t be done.
Basically I use it to make calls, SMS, Whatsapp for a golf group. Notes, calendar, vouchers, discount codes. Not set up Apple Pay yet. The camera is very useful. VERY occasional internet use, email.
Use it plugged into the car using Apple Car Play for music.
The phone is a tool for when needed. It doesn’t dominate my life.
Paying such large amounts for the latest version doesn’t work for me.
I still have a Galaxy S2 that works fine. Cracked screen but ok.
Nokia 3310 and a couple of other older mobiles.

[Mark V GTD]

Apple phones seem to have gone up in price exponentially in recent years. I bought a new iphone XR, exactly two years ago, for £420. Admittadly it was not the latest model at that time but I'm not sure you can buy any new iPhone for that sort of money now?