When it comes to smartphones, news models are released annually, making it very difficult to keep track of each one of them. Then there are the different tiers to choose from, which leads to the question: would it make more sense to pick up a refurbished device, as opposed to buying a new one over the counter?

The primary benefit of purchasing a refurbished smartphone is the cost. As with most cars, the moment a new smartphone is unboxed, it suffers an instant depreciation in value.

Try peddling an unboxed handset with the sales pitch “99.99% new” and you will still find it nigh impossible to push it off at close to the original price.

As most refurbished phones are sold at a large discount, you will be able to save significantly. If you’re on a budget and are looking for a functional handset, you could either pick up a brand-new mid-range that offers plenty of bang for your ringgit, or a refurbished flagship from the previous year. Both would serve you well.

A flagship from last year is no slouch when it comes to performance. The gap has been greatly narrowed with each passing generation between mid-range and high-end models, not to mention the availability of software updates.

For eco-warriors out there, rest assured that picking up a refurbished phone is also good for the environment as less electronic waste is produced in the long run. In fact, build quality and the decreasing leaps in technology between one generation and the next does seem to make the refurbished route the wiser choice.

With Apple offering at least five years of major iOS updates, and numerous Android smartphone manufacturers promising a minimum of three major Android updates annually, you can be sure your refurbished device will be able to last a while before you have to consider another purchase.

Things to look out for

One major aspect when it comes to bringing home a smartphone is the quality. Always make your purchase from a reputable reseller. Rating systems in virtual space make this an easier task, and most trusted sellers will provide a warranty.

Do not have high expectations that a refurbished phone will look just like new, although some of them do come close. Having been used daily, most refurbished devices would show signs of wear and tear on the outside, although the well-maintained ones are often good enough to pass off as relatively new.

What is more important is what lies within. Battery technology may have improved by leaps and bounds over the years, but they still remain subject to the laws of physics. Each battery has a limited number of charging cycles before it begins to noticeably degrade.

Thankfully, most refurbished smartphones are equipped with a brand-new battery that should work well for the next few years with proper use.

Beware: malware!

There is also the very remote possibility of purchasing a refurbished handset that contains malware. If you are paranoid about such matters, it’s best to perform a clean wipe of the smartphone and reinstall everything by yourself.

This is a surefire method of ensuring no lingering malware or spyware is able to steal your personal information or keep tabs on you.

Where possible, try to purchase a smartphone directly from the owner instead of going through a reseller, so as to eliminate fees from the middleman. But doing so has its own fair share of risks, since you will have to implicitly trust the owner to avoid being scammed.

When making a purchase from an online retailer, look out for the following:

• Does the store offer a money-back guarantee within a reasonable amount of time?
• Does it offer a warranty – even if it is for three months, as it is extremely rare to find a one-year warranty attached to a refurbished smartphone? What areas do the warranty cover?
• Are secure payment methods part of the deal?

Choice is another factor where refurbished smartphones are concerned. Whatever is available in the market greatly depends on supply, so you might not always be able to pick up the make and model you desire.

Happy hunting!

Edwin Kee dreamt of being a pro-gamer only to have circumstances mould him into a programmer in a past life. He has since moved on to write about consumer electronics and other topics. Check out his blog at manatau.com.