There comes a point in the life of every phone, tablet or laptop when the warning signs become impossible to ignore: a mobile that needs to be topped up throughout the day, or a computer where you could make a cup of tea in the time it takes to boot up.
Buying a new device is the obvious solution, but the cost of upgrading can be significant, or indeed eye-watering if you happen, say, to have your eye on Apple’s newfangled €2,369 foldable iPhone.
So, what’s the best way to save yourself some cash, avoid leaving a four-figure dent in your current account, and even do your bit for the environment? An increasingly popular option is a refurbished – or should we say “preloved” – device.
It can offer access to a much newer model than your budget might otherwise allow, as long as you are willing to tolerate some minor imperfections.
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Unlike an ordinary second-hand product, a refurbished device will generally have been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned, with faulty components repaired or replaced.
How much can you save, though, and what are you giving up in return?
Last week, a new iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage cost €1,129 through the official Apple Store. On one of the most popular refurbishment websites, the same model in “excellent” condition was on offer for €806.99.
A brand-new Galaxy A57 5G with 256GB storage was for sale at €539 on the official Samsung website. That price included a discount of €80. A refurb site offered the same model for about €387.
For tablets, a similar type of saving was available, with an 11-inch iPad Air (256GB) costing €979 compared to €739.99 for a “premium” refurbished model.
Laptops are a little trickier to compare because there are so many variables to account for. However, examples found last week on refurb sites included €600 or so for a MacBook Air from 2020, and €262 for a well-travelled Microsoft Surface laptop.
Reuse of pre-owned devices also has an environmental benefit. It’s a great example of the circular economy in action, extending the life of electronics that still have plenty of tread on their tyres.
This is at a time when the differences between successive generations of devices can become increasingly difficult to notice. The last time I upgraded my iPhone, the only big day-to-day improvement was that I no longer had to micromanage storage space.
The cameras on the latest models may be a little better but, unless photography is part of your work or a serious hobby, that may not matter much.
If those are some of the upsides of refurbishment, then what are the downsides?
As anybody who has kept a mobile or laptop for several years will know, the battery is often the first thing to go.
There may also be issues with older devices around security and operating system updates; a “vintage” laptop might not even be able to run all the software you need.
The cosmetic condition of the item will play a big part, from near perfect to well-used.
The popular Swappie website has four different categorisations: fair, very good, excellent and premium.
Fair condition means there will be noticeable scratches and marks, while an excellent device will have “gentle signs of use”, while premium will be close to immaculate.
If you’re worried about how long your phone will stay charged, Swappie offers new batteries for an additional €80 and promises that its standard batteries will have at least 86 per cent of their original capacity.
A broadly similar set of rules applies for MacBooks when bought through that website.
Another big concern for anybody looking at a refurbished device is what protections are in place.
A brand-new Apple product comes with a one-year limited manufacturer’s warranty, while Irish law allows consumers to seek remedy for faulty products bought from a business for up to six years. How does it work then if you buy a refurbished device?
If you use Swappie, you can return the item for a full refund within 30 days, and a one-year warranty starts from the date of purchase.
This covers technical and mechanical faults, including defective batteries and faulty cameras, with a replacement or refund available if a device cannot be fixed.
Another popular site, Refurbed, offers the same return period and minimum one-year warranty, which does allow some reassurance.
These commercial warranties are in addition to, rather than a replacement for, your statutory consumer rights.
If you purchase more informally through a private seller on an online marketplace, normal consumer protections are far less likely to apply.
Enforcing your rights may be trickier too when buying from a seller based outside the EU.
As with anything, if a deal sounds too good to be true, don’t take the risk, especially with the significant outlay that can be involved in buying a phone or laptop.
Whether or not you should go for a refurbished device boils down to a few key factors.
What is your budget? How important is it to you to have a “big name” product? And maybe most importantly, are you buying for one of your children?
For some people, having a shiny new product straight out of the box is the be-all and end-all. But for plenty of buyers, a refurbished device might be just as practical as a second-hand car.
It expands your options and means you can have a high-end laptop or mobile phone that you would not be able to buy new. Some people simply won’t be bothered if the item has a light scratch or a couple of scuff marks.
Refurbishment can be useful for parents – many of whom will have grown weary of demands for specific devices (let’s not mention Apple). It doesn’t really matter how many times you explain to a teenager how the phone they have their eye on may have much the same technical capabilities as something that’s half the price.
While many adults will spread the cost of a new device over a two-year package with their mobile provider, a pre-owned phone offers more flexibility to pick and choose the cheapest mobile plan.
Whichever option you choose, Apple products, even refurbished, are premium-priced, whether they are phones, tablets or laptops.
One last thing to keep in mind is that very good deals on devices made by less flashy manufacturers are nearly always available from big retailers, both online and in their stores.
You can contact us at OnTheMoney@irishtimes.com with personal finance questions you would like to see us address. If you missed last week’s newsletter, you can read it here.
