Sales of refurbished iPhone 5s with 32 GB of internal memory on board. The demand for the new product was so high that Apple decided to increase the supply of refurbished equipment to Russia.
Previously, refurbished apple products were also sold in the Russian Federation, but they were not at all popular due to the low prices for regular products. Everyone knows well that in December 2014, Apple twice raised the price of its products, so for many Russians, Apple products turned out to be too expensive to buy.
So what is the difference between a regular iPhone and a refurbished one? - this question is asked by almost all buyers who want to save money on their purchase. In fact, there are practically no differences, at least for the end consumer.
Let's assume that a buyer bought an iPhone 5s at the start of sales, and then after some time the display on his device stopped working, or the motherboard burned out. This person went to an authorized Apple service center, where they exchanged his iPhone under warranty for a new one. The buyer received a brand new iPhone completely free of charge, and the copy sent for repair is sent for a large-scale repair procedure.
For any “decommissioned” Apple product, a special card is created in which the history of the smartphone, tablet, or laptop is recorded. To save money on other components, Apple employees replace broken parts, and at the same time replace the case and protective glass of the display with new ones so that the refurbished iPhone looks like new. The use of parts that have already been in use allows us to reduce the cost of the product.
The iPhone, along with a card describing the repair history, is then sent to store shelves labeled “Refurbished.” The new buyer of this device will receive a completely untouched appearance. The product comes with the exact same 1-year warranty. During this period, the new buyer has the right to demand free repairs if the breakdown was not the fault of the buyer.
It is important to understand that the concepts of “Refurbished” and “Used” are fundamentally different from each other. Equipment that has simply been used can be purchased on some site, while officially refurbished products guarantee the full functioning of the device and provide a full warranty, so such devices can be safely purchased without fear of receiving a non-working device after some time.
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The cost of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is falling rapidly. If just recently these smartphones belonged to the premium class, now they can be called affordable without even batting an eyelid. Refurbished iPhone 6s are almost budget-friendly. But maybe there is some kind of catch in them? We talked about whether it is worth buying a refurbished iPhone 6 in this article.
What does a "refurbished" iPhone mean?
A refurbished iPhone, also known as a “Like New” iPhone, is a used smartphone that was returned by its owner to Apple due to a defect or as part of one of its trade-in programs, and then restored to like-new condition. The definition of a refurbished iPhone may not sound very pleasant by ear, but there is one “but”.
The restoration of smartphones for the purpose of subsequent launching them for sale with the mark “Like New” is carried out by Apple itself. She doesn't trust this task to anyone but herself, which is why refurbished iPhones don't just look new, they're new.
Another reassuring thing is that not all smartphones are included in the iPhone restoration program. If an iPhone breakdown falls into the category of “incompatible with life,” such devices are sent for recycling, which is handled by the same famous robot Liam. Therefore, iPhones with minor damage are most often restored.
Although there is no point in worrying about how exactly the iPhones that came out of the recovery program were broken. And here's why.
How Apple restores iPhone
Apple wouldn't be itself if it simply replaced a broken component in an iPhone that came in for restoration and immediately sent it back for sale. As with any other task, the company takes a special approach to restoring smartphones.
So what happens when a broken or damaged iPhone comes to Apple for a “total upgrade”? First of all, the device is tested. Experienced repair specialists determine what the breakdown is and whether it has caused side effects. After the scope of work becomes clear, they begin active actions - repairing the device with replacing the necessary components and, in addition to everything, the display and battery.
The last point is extremely important. An iPhone that has been used (even for several months) by the previous owner will, in any case, run out of battery. In some cases, its capacity will decrease by only 1%, in others - by 50%. Apple doesn't care about percentages at all; it clearly knows that a refurbished iPhone must have a new battery with full capacity installed.
Next, the components of the old iPhone are assembled into a new case. Yes, the smartphone is reassembled, sending the old case for recycling. Again, it is important to note that this happens in all cases without exception, even if the iPhone case looks like a solid “A”.
When all the necessary components are replaced in a previously used iPhone, all its capabilities are tested for performance, and new housing and battery are installed, the smartphone receives the proud title of refurbished. In honor of this, Apple rewards the iPhone with a new serial number and a one-year warranty period - all ties with the once-used smartphone are severed. Before us is a new iPhone, or rather, “Like New”.
Apple can only wrap the iPhone with a full set of new accessories (headphones, charger, pieces of paper and even a paper clip) in the same new packaging and send the smartphone on sale at a significantly reduced price.
Briefly about the main thing. Refurbished iPhone:
- repaired by qualified Apple technicians,
- gets a new display and battery,
- passes all possible performance tests,
- puts on a new body,
- acquires a new serial number,
- put in the box with new accessories, including charger, headphones, etc.,
- receives a one-year warranty.
Should you be wary of fake refurbished iPhones?
It is indeed possible to buy a “refurbished” iPhone not from Apple, but from some Chinese craftsmen. However, this can only happen when purchasing a smartphone in small stores or online. If you purchase a refurbished iPhone from an authorized Apple retailer, then there will be no problems with this device.
After reading this article, you probably already understand that there should be absolutely no worries when purchasing a refurbished iPhone 6. “Like New” iPhone 6 is a high-quality refurbished smartphone in a new case, with a new battery and display, a full set of accessories and a one-year warranty, especially for the most doubtful. In addition, there are practically no new iPhone 6s left in large networks - almost all of them have long been sold out. But a restored “six” is easy to find, and at the best price. The cost of new and
I decided to buy something from previous iPhones back in March. I just needed an additional smartphone for certain tasks, but at the same time I needed normal characteristics. I haven’t used Apple products before, so it was especially interesting. Firstly, I never understood this hype about apple products and wanted to evaluate their products personally. Secondly, I really wanted to use iOS and compare it with Android. Having studied the local market, I came to the conclusion that they either sell them used and at the same time ask for a lot of money for damaged and worn smarts, or refurbished ones - but then I can buy it myself in China, and it will be much cheaper. After studying the offers, I stopped from a well-known seller, which specializes in refurbished smartphones and sells flagships from brands such as: LG, Samsung and iPhone. The reviews were mostly positive, so I ordered it. I chose the Iphone 6S because it is much more powerful than a simple six and significantly cheaper than a seven. In general, it seemed to me that this was the most balanced solution. I took the cheapest gray version with 16 Gb memory, at that time it cost $260.99. At the moment it has dropped a lot in price + it’s on sale now, and you can get it for $209 + film and case as a gift(I didn’t have any gifts). If you useThe apple brand is famous not only for its ability to create super powerful, productive, stylish and fashionable products, but also for the restoration of its products for further sale. The first thing that distinguishes a gadget restored at a factory from one restored somewhere in the Chinese provinces is the quality of work and original components. We have already written on our website about how to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake?
An iPhone that has been restored by Apple remains an original smartphone. It also goes on sale in a branded box and with original components, which you will not find in Chinese refurbished versions. There, only the circuit board remains of the original components.
Quality comes first. Each officially restored model undergoes mandatory testing of build quality and performance. The company takes the issue of quality seriously, they work on the principle “Less is better.” Chinese craftsmen are chasing quantity and will not double-check whether the gadget they restored is in working order.
A newly assembled device is called “refurbished” and is sold at a more affordable price, but has a one-year warranty.
So, to summarize:
- The factory diagnoses the phone and identifies faults;
- iPhone display, battery and case are replaced;
- undergoes a series of tests and inspections to confirm the required characteristics;
- the phone is assigned a unique serial number;
- the resurrected device is packaged and sent for sale.
How to distinguish a new phone from a refurbished one?
There is a simple way to determine where the new one is and where the one that has found a second life is. The main difference between a new smartphone and a refurbished one lies in its serial number. In any refurbished phone, the serial number begins with the letters FG and ends with the abbreviation of the word refurbished - RFB; the photo below shows an example of the serial number of an officially refurbished device.
A similar number must be present on the device itself. You can check the serial number via the path "Settings" — "Basic" — "About the device".
It is better to carry out this check before purchasing directly in the store. This way you can protect yourself from deception and avoid purchasing a fake. It would also be a good idea to check through iTunes, because today lovers of easy money have learned to fake the serial number. To check, you need to connect your smartphone to iTunes, find the serial number and number and check whether the number in iTunes matches what is indicated on the package.
If the check reveals a discrepancy between the serial number on the package and the number in iTunes, and in the store the phone has the status of refurbished, then rest assured that this information is not true and this is an ordinary iPhone that has been used and has not undergone the restoration procedure.
Before you start checking the consistency of the serial numbers, you need to make sure that the device itself is original.
To do this, you can use one of the simplest methods: you just need to connect your smartphone with your computer; if it is detected using , then you have taken possession of the original device.
You can also check without connecting to iTunes; you just need to go into and find any application that is definitely not in. For example, if you find the Garage Band application, then this is definitely not an interpreted version of Google Play, but rather the App Store.
This is what the App Store looks like:
But Google Play looks like this:
However, all these checks are necessary only if you purchase products from other than official points of sale, since only original products are presented in specialized stores.
It is important to be able to distinguish original phones from Chinese “apples”.
Today, masters from the Middle Kingdom have learned to copy almost any smartphone as accurately as possible. But no matter how professionally they master the skills of forgery, there are still some shortcomings that can be noticed even with the naked eye. Such specimens can be distinguished without even reaching the serial collection checkpoint.
What can you find in Chinese copies?
- Presence of grammatical errors or hieroglyphs;
- The back cover must have the inscription iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China, certification marks and model number are also displayed there;
- The iPhone does not allow for removing the back cover; to do this, you need to unscrew the retaining screws;
- None of the iPhone models support the use of two SIM cards.
First of all, as we noted earlier, in order to purchase a truly original product, you need to make a purchase at official points of sale.
If you buy a smartphone elsewhere, carry out a special check using the IMEI serial number directly on the Apple website. The same number should be directly on the device box and displayed in the smartphone when checking through the settings.
The second thing to consider is that when buying an iPhone that has been restored unofficially: you must be prepared for the fact that the risk of encountering a possible defect increases significantly than with an official restoration.
If the store does not provide you with a warranty on the device, then most likely they are trying to sell you an unofficial version.
Most often, in the first fourteen days, during which the buyer legally has the right to return the purchased product, it is possible to determine whether there are defects or malfunctions in the resurrected phone.
By buying an officially resurrected phone, you practically deprive yourself of risks. Here everything works exclusively at the level of awareness that the model is “like new,” but has already passed the stage of replacing some elements.
Even taking into account the fact that all components are installed original and undergo all necessary tests and checks, your brain may subconsciously try to look for some flaws in the operation of the device, even if they are absent.
The most important feature of “like new” phones is not that the company’s professional engineers carry out the necessary replacement of faulty components, but that the Chinese “craftsmen” have learned to make huge money from this.
They work for speed and quality, as a result of which very often this affects the quality of the resurrected devices.
An inexperienced user is unlikely to distinguish a Chinese restoration from an original one, because how can you know whether the original motherboard or case is installed inside your new iPhone?
No, Chinese components do not guarantee that your phone will suddenly stop working or fall apart.
There are two options:
- If the Chinese cheated, then the device will not work at all;
- If it has been properly restored, it will remain in working order for some time; for how long, no one can know for sure; it could be a year, or it could be a week.
By the way, such Chinese crafts are rarely hired by craftsmen for repairs.
The Chinese have never strived for high quality; it is better for them to make ten mediocre models than one, but ideal one.
Is it worth the risk and buying the Chinese recovery? Most likely not, the risk here is not worth it, it is better to pay extra for quality and be confident in your phone.
The same can be said about the components packaged with the smartphone.
Did you really hope to find the original and charger in the Chinese resurrected phone? Don't flatter yourself.
In one hundred percent of cases, the Chinese save on components and, with a high degree of probability, replacing headphones, cables or charging will be required in the very near future after you start using them.
Phones that have been given a new lease of life have gained enormous popularity recently; this is unlikely to surprise anyone, since many people want a fashionable smartphone, but not everyone wants or can pay impressive sums, and phones with “like new” status are much cheaper offered by the mobile device market.
Officially resurrected phones are characterized by excellent quality of components and workmanship.
However, as a rule, such devices more often require contacting service centers, so they must be purchased exclusively at official sales points, because they offer a one-year warranty for the use of a smartphone, under which they can replace it with another one that is working.
Key features before purchasing a refurbished iPhone:
- Today, the sales market offers for sale refurbished models of versions no younger than the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5, so when they try to sell you an iPhone 4 model, you should think about whether this unit is officially restored. Please note that the fourth model was released in 2010 and it is almost impossible to find a new or simply in good condition copy, the same applies to restored ones - the company simply no longer resurrects them;
- iPhones that have been resurrected at the Apple factory are packaged in snow-white boxes and complemented with original accessories from the company;
- Take your choice of where to buy your phone seriously; it is better to give preference to official stores.
There are many video reviews available on the topic of purchasing budget iPhones, where all the advantages and disadvantages of such devices are described in detail.
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Is it worth buying a refurbished iPhone?
Opinion regarding refurbished iPhone models or so-called restored ones.
7 Total Score
Is it worth buying a refurbished iPhone?
Answering the question “is it worth buying a refurbished iPhone?”, we can safely say yes. But only if you purchase the official “like new” version of the smartphone. In such phones, Apple manufacturers do not allow hackwork and fully check the performance of the assembled devices. It is better to avoid the Chinese recovery. Now, knowing all the subtleties and nuances of purchasing devices with “like new” status, you can easily choose the right model. Make the right choice and enjoy using a fashionable and high-quality device. Show off your individuality with Apple products. What do you think?
Our assessment
- cost
- you can “get” a poorly restored device
Is it worth buying a refurbished iPhone? What does “refurbished” mean in general and how does this apply to a smartphone? How can you distinguish a used device from a new one? We will talk about this today in this article.
Tips for those who decide to purchase a new or refurbished iPhone
What does “restored” mean in this case? This word means that the device was broken for some specific reason, after which it was redirected to the Apple service center. There it managed to undergo a course of, so to speak, rehabilitation, after which it again entered the market. Thus, we can already answer the question “Refurbished iPhone - what does it mean?” Now let's move on to specific tips.
Let's say your purchased iPhone was delivered in a branded box from the American company Apple. In this case, you should compare what is written on the device itself and on the box. If these numbers do not match, it means that you were not provided with the original smartphone packaging.
Now the Internet is sinking its roots deeper and deeper into the days of our lives. And if a few years ago, to buy a new device, everyone went to a cellular communication store, now buying gadgets through an international network is gaining more and more popularity. This may not be so fast, but in some cases it can be beneficial in the form of money saved. However, every buyer in this case must understand that he can enter into a deal with an unscrupulous seller. To avoid problems in the near future, first study the terms of the transaction itself. Read what the website says about sales and refunds, or contact the seller to clarify these points with their help.
Even if you bought a refurbished iPhone (we already explained what this means at the beginning of the article), it should be covered by a warranty. It is valid for one year only, but can be extended up to two years. We advise the reader who decides to purchase a refurbished iPhone to contact Russian representatives of the company in advance and find out for sure whether your device is covered by a warranty. This procedure is especially important when you buy a device not from a mobile phone store, but from third parties.
Quick facts about refurbished devices
To the question “Refurbished iPhone - what does it mean?” we have already answered. These types of devices are smartphones that have been repackaged in a new way for resale after undergoing refurbishment procedures. We already found this out at the beginning of the article. Now let us briefly list the main points that are valid for such devices:
- Any restored iPhone (reviews can be read at the end of the article) is repaired at Apple service centers.
- Technical services reserve the right to integrate spare parts into smartphones if the device was previously faulty.
- Any refurbished iPhone, the price of which is automatically reduced by about a third, is certified by Apple.
- Once the repair of the device is completed, it is recognized as fully operational and functioning.
- In order to find out whether the device has been restored, you should check the serial codes on the packaging and on the iPhone itself.
But now let’s talk in more detail about how to do this.
We check the box, smartphone and look at the serial number
- Step one. So, first, we take the packaging from the iPhone and look for the seal there. It should say Apple Certified. The seal will provide additional confirmation that the device has previously undergone a restoration procedure at a service center, after which it was tested by competent specialists.
- Step two. We check the packaging along with the box. If your device has been refurbished, you will most likely find it in an all-white package. The refurbished device can also be sold by third parties in non-branded packaging.
- Step three. We are looking for the serial number of our device. He will help us find out information about recovery. If the device is turned on, then exit to the desktop and go to settings. There, select “General”, then “About device”. In it you need to find the “Serial number” column. If the smartphone is turned off, you should get to the slot where the SIM card is usually inserted. There you can find the treasured sequence of symbols.
- Step four. Now we find out information about the device using the serial number. Look at the first number. If it says “5”, then it has been refurbished and certified by the company. The third digit can tell us about the year the smartphone was manufactured. For example, the number “0” will demonstrate that the device was manufactured in 2010. Thus, now you know the answer to the question of how to distinguish a refurbished iPhone. Now it’s time for us to move on to the conclusion of the article.
Refurbished iPhone: reviews of the devices and is it worth buying
The last question is answered very well by one interesting fact. In 2015, sales data for refurbished iPhone 5S surprised even representatives of the American company. The price was almost halved, which caused an unprecedented rise. Many analysts tend to think that there is nothing wrong with buying refurbished iPhones. In fact, you are buying a device with replaced hardware at a lower price.
Prices for refurbished devices:
- iPhone 5S - 28 thousand rubles.
- iPhone 6 - 40 thousand rubles.
