Used smartphones? 7 things you need to know before buying them

New, used or refurbished? This is the question often asked by those who intend to change their smartphone by choosing one with better performance but above all of a more recent generation.

And although the benefits of a brand new device are well known, consumers are still unclear today difference between used and refurbished smartphones: «The main difference lies in the fact that refurbished smartphones are marketed only after they have passed numerous hardware and software tests carried out in specialized laboratories, where, if necessary, worn or malfunctioning components are also replaced, as well as complete sanitationHe explains Filippo Zucchelli as well as Marketing Director from Trendevicean Italian company that mainly sells refurbished smartphones, tablets and Macs online, and continues “By purchasing a refurbished consumer, therefore quality assurance which he cannot have in the case of the purchase of second-hand: this makes the consumer serene and safe from unpleasant surprises that often arise in the purchase and sale of used cars between individuals. In fact, once you have purchased a used item, there is no protection for the buyer in the event that he should find technical malfunctions or aesthetic defects not mentioned by the seller “.

However, on the subject is a study conducted by Kantar and commissioned by Swappie – website for the purchase and sale of refurbished smartphones – to highlight that 72% of respondents would consider buying a device online: an evident trend among young people aged between 18 and 34 and in particular in the regions of the Aosta Valley, in Abruzzo and Lombardy. Among the reasons for the purchase, however, the attention to the convenience to responsibility. Consumers, in fact, would prefer a refurbished one to promote the circular economy and protect the environment: even more so, if its quality is guaranteed and comparable to a new smartphone.

Zucchelli again comments on the advantages – not only economic – that derive from the purchase of a remanufactured device: “The refurbished device has mainly two advantages: the first is that economic, linked to savings that can reach up to 50% compared to a new product. The second is certainly the one related to environment protection: According to an estimate based on data provided by manufacturers, a refurbished smartphone is capable of avoid the release into the air of 80kg of CO2 on averageas well as avoiding wasting raw material resources to produce new devices.

So what mistakes shouldn’t you make if you want to buy a second-hand device? «First mistake: on ad sites and in the sale and purchase between individuals, users often make themselves enticed by extremely attractive prices, by not carefully verifying the identity of the seller, his online reputation and the real functional and aesthetic conditions of the device. In most cases, users realize the problem when it is too late. Second mistake: assuming the good faith of the seller, the used product can be functioning but at the limit of its performance, for example with a battery with an excessive number of charge cycles. In this case, difficult to identify for most people, the device works correctly but after a few weeks of use it will be necessary to replace the battery with costs that often cancel out the savings obtained during the purchase phase. By choosing a refurbished one, however, all these problems do not exist »concludes Filippo Zucchelli.

So here is a checklist of 7 tips to help you buy a used smartphone with greater awareness or, even better, refurbished.

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