What are the Best Phones to Buy Refurbished?

Graham Turner

02 March 2023, 10.03am

Buying a new phone is not only an expensive undertaking, it serves to exacerbate the on-going e-waste crisis. As such, a study from Uswitch has revealed the most reliable phones to buy refurbished.

If you’re too evolved – or frugal – to chase the supposed clout of owning the newest phone, then act of finding new one comes down to a proposition of price and reliability – and it’s not always easy to know where to go in this regard when it comes to refurbished phones.

To help you find an affordable phone that will also last for years to come, Uswitch has revealed the top 10 most reliable refurbished mobile phones for 2023.

The study analysed popular mobile phones, that have been discontinued in the last two years, on factors including battery life, camera quality, warranty periods and review scores to reveal the most reliable refurbished mobile phones.

The highest-rated refurbished mobile phone is the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra with a perfect 10/10 score. The Ultra represents the high-end version of the S21 and until the arrival of the more recent version, it was considered the pinnacle of Android devices. It has the best battery life of the phones on this list, with an excellent capacity of 5,000 mAh. This mobile also has a 108-megapixel camera.

Another Samsung model comes in second, with the S20+ scoring 9.5 out of 10. Among its best features is its 64-megapixel camera and battery life (4,500 mAh capacity) and it scores an average of 4.5 on review sites. While the Galaxy S20+ was also one of the most expensive smartphones available when it launched at £999, you can now get a refurbished model for around £338.

The third most reliable refurbished mobile is the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. As well as an improved S-Pen and 5G connectivity, the phone has a whole host of impressive features, such as performance optimisation for mobile gaming. As with the S21 Ultra, it also has an incredible 108-megapixel camera and a great battery life.

Further insights from the stiudy showed that the brand of refurbished phones offering the biggest saving is Samsung, with average savings of 61%, the phone offering the biggest saving being the Galaxy S9, which initially launched with a price tag of £739 but can now be picked up for £169.

Here’s the top 10 in full:

Rank	Phone	Battery capacity (mAh)	Refresh rate (Hz)	Camera quality (MP)	Water resistance rating (IP)	Warranty period (years)	Processor score	Average review score	Overall score /10
1	Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra	5,000	120	108	68	1	77	4.42	10.00
2	Samsung Galaxy S20+	4,500	120	64	68	1	65	4.50	9.50
3	Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra	4,500	120	108	68	1	65	4.42	9.00
4	Google Pixel 5	4,080	90	16	68	2	46	4.22	8.50
5	Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max	4,352	120	12	68	1	91	4.42	8.00
6	Samsung Galaxy S20	4,000	120	64	68	1	65	4.26	7.50
7	Samsung Galaxy S21	4,000	120	64	68	1	77	4.00	7.00
8	Samsung Galaxy S20 FE	4,500	120	12	68	1	65	4.28	6.50
9	Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3	4,400	120	12	X8	1	83	4.18	5.50
9	Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max	3,687	60	12	68	1	85	4.46	5.50