What does 'refurbished' mean for an Android phone?

A refurbished Android phone is a device that has been returned, professionally inspected, and restored to full working condition before being resold. It is not a broken phone. It is not a second-hand phone bought from a stranger. It's a device that's been through a structured process, tested against a set of quality checks by certified professionals, and graded honestly before it reaches you. There's a meaningful environmental upside too. Choosing a refurbished Android phone instead of a new one avoids up to 77 kg of CO2e per device, compared to manufacturing a new smartphone from scratch.

Is buying a refurbished Android phone worth it?

Yes. A refurbished Android phone is worth buying when three conditions are met: the seller is certified, the phone comes with a warranty, and you have a return window. On Back Market, all three apply as standard. The typical saving on a refurbished Android phone is 30 to 70% compared to the new retail price. The Back Market Guarantee covers any functional defect not mentioned in the listing, for a minimum of 12 months. You also get 30 days to return the phone if it doesn't meet your expectations, no questions asked. The only real trade-off is cosmetic. Depending on the grade you choose, the phone may carry light marks or signs of use. Performance, network compatibility, and software are identical to new.

Do refurbished Android phones come with a warranty?

Yes. Every Android phone sold on Back Market comes with the Back Market Guarantee, a commercial warranty that covers any functional defect not already disclosed in the product listing. The minimum duration is 12 months, starting from the date of delivery. You also have a 30-day right of return if the phone simply doesn't suit you. Extended warranty plans are available at checkout for longer peace of mind.

How much cheaper is a refurbished Android phone compared to new?

Savings depend on the model and condition grade, but they're typically significant. Here are current price comparisons based on live Back Market listings: Samsung Galaxy S24: new from £1,750.49 / refurbished from £263 on Back Market Google Pixel 8: new from £956.12 / refurbished from £182 on Back Market Samsung Galaxy A55: new from £849.44 / refurbished from £170 on Back Market On average, buyers save between £80 and £400 depending on the model. The newer and more premium the handset, the larger the absolute saving tends to be.

Which Android phone should I buy on a budget in the UK?

The right Android phone depends on how you use it. Here's a straightforward breakdown by use case: Best value overall: Samsung Galaxy A55. Reliable, 5G-ready, solid camera, available from £170 refurbished on Back Market. Best for photos: Google Pixel 7a. Google's computational photography is genuinely exceptional, available from £133 refurbished. Best battery life: Motorola Moto G50. Consistently strong battery life in the budget tier, available from £61 refurbished. Best premium for less: Samsung Galaxy S23. Flagship-grade specs, available from £204 refurbished.

Refurbished Android Smartphones • 2024

Name: Cheap Android Smartphone Deals | Up to 70% Off vs New | • 2024
Brand: Back Market
Price: 261 GBP
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.33 (654569 reviews)

2026 2016 2024 2017 Beige Black Blue Bronze Brown Copper

57 products applies (starting at £0.49)

Trade in to get it for less

Today’s purchase could set you back a lot less when you trade in an old device at the same time.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 14 Pro 5G

(160)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£261.00

Versus £344.14 new

OnePlus 13

(38)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£659.00

Versus £870.39 new

Honor Magic V3

(49)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£534.00

Versus £1,652.95 new

Xiaomi 14T

(130)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£471.99

Versus £539.26 new

Xiaomi 14T Pro

(163)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£514.00

Versus £799.71 new

Galaxy S24

(5,721)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£269.00

Versus £817.67 new

+4 more colours

Galaxy S24 Ultra

(5,985)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£460.00

Versus £1,357.64 new

+4 more colours

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL

(921)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£353.00

Versus £1,099.00 new

Galaxy A56

(847)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£278.00

Versus £421.46 new

Smart Essentials

Google Pixel 8a

(1,109)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£166.00

Versus £467.97 new

+1 more colours

Galaxy S24+

(3,217)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£339.00

Versus £996.08 new

+3 more colours

Galaxy Z Flip6

(2,283)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£287.00

Versus £1,011.35 new

+3 more colours

Galaxy S24 FE

(973)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£239.00

Versus £741.91 new

Google Pixel 9

(711)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£275.00

Versus £892.46 new

Galaxy A55

(926)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£184.00

Versus £426.69 new

Google Pixel 9 Pro

(677)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£350.00

Versus £1,093.99 new

Galaxy Z Fold6

(1,129)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£515.00

Versus £1,685.59 new

+4 more colours

Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold

(100)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£558.00

Versus £1,749.00 new

Galaxy A35

(407)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£122.00

Versus £367.31 new

+1 more colours

Smart Essentials

Galaxy A16 5G

(347)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£135.99

Versus £205.87 new

+1 more colours

Galaxy A06

(247)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£96.99

Versus £158.08 new

Smart Essentials

Galaxy A16

(553)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£113.00

Versus £209.16 new

Galaxy A26

(231)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£191.00

Versus £419.55 new

Galaxy A36

(239)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£261.99

Versus £419.55 new

Honor X6b

(5)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£82.00

Versus £129.99 new

Motorola Moto G35

(15)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£124.00

Galaxy Xcover7

(43)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£199.00

Versus £340.39 new

Motorola Moto G15

(18)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£131.00

Versus £139.99 new

Honor 200 Lite

(48)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£159.99

Versus £251.99 new

Honor 200

(26)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£208.00

Versus £503.43 new

Motorola Moto G55

(26)

Starting at

Refurbished price:£223.00

Versus £243.07 new

General

I swapped my smartphone for a dumbphone for a week and was surprised by the result | Back Market

Writer and self-confessed phone addict Rhys Thomas ditches his iPhone 15 for a Nokia 2660 Flip dumbphone in the ultimate modern-day experiment. Read his story.

Customer reviews for Refurbished Android Smartphones • 2024

Overall rating

654,569 verified reviews

Rating details

Accessories
4.1/5
Appearance
4.4/5
Battery
4.1/5
Lens & Camera
4.5/5
Overall performance
4.2/5
Packaging
4.5/5
Shipping
4.6/5

Reviews

Darren D.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 29/06/2026, United Kingdom.
I've been really impressed with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The performance is excellent, the battery comfortably lasts all day, and the display is outstanding. The camera system is a significant step up from my previous phone, producing fantastic photos in a wide range of lighting conditions without needing to understand lots of camera settings. The S Pen is a useful addition, and the overall build quality feels premium. Despite having so many features, the phone is straightforward to use, which is something I particularly appreciate. Buying a refurbished device was also a great decision. The phone arrived in excellent condition, looked virtually brand new, and performed exactly as expected. It's reassuring to know I've saved money while also making a more environmentally friendly choice. Overall, I would highly recommend both the Galaxy S25 Ultra and purchasing a refurbished model. It's an excellent phone and represents fantastic value for money.
Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB - Black - Unlocked
Galaxy S25 Ultra 256GB - Black - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
17/06/2026
Lorna P.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 12/09/2026, United Kingdom.
This is the second time I've purchased a refurbished phone from back market. My S20+ lasted years, but after I dropped it the usb and sim card slot stopped working, so I decided it was time for an upgrade. The S23 Ultra arrived in perfect condition, not a single mark on it. The battery life is great. It doesn't heat up during intensive use like my old S20 either. The optional insurance is brilliant too, it takes the worry away if anything happens to the phone. I would definitely purchase from Back Market again, and I recommend them to everyone I know looking for a new phone. I do have it in a robust case to protect it from any accidental drops. The second picture shows it next to my old S20+ for size comparison.
Galaxy S23 Ultra 512GB - Purple - Unlocked
Galaxy S23 Ultra 512GB - Purple - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Premium
Purchased
31/08/2026
Manan B.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 18/08/2026, United Kingdom.
Really happy with my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra from Back Market. The phone arrived brand new, sealed and in perfect condition. Everything works perfectly, the camera and performance are excellent, and the whole buying experience was smooth. Very happy with my purchase and would definitely recommend Back Market.
Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB - Black - Unlocked
Galaxy S26 Ultra 256GB - Black - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
24/07/2026
Brian C.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 21/06/2026, United Kingdom.
This phone I’ve had for a few days, is in great condition. If I didn’t know it was reconditioned I would believe it to be new. I’ve used Back Market before and I would recommend them to anyone looking for a quality handset for a more reasonable price.
Galaxy A57 256GB - Dark Blue - Unlocked
Galaxy A57 256GB - Dark Blue - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Premium
Purchased
16/06/2026
Mihaela S.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 11/07/2026, United Kingdom.
I ordered the excellent condition and it came looking brand new! I ordered it on Thursday and it came Saturday. Phone is in amazing condition, battery capacity is on 89% but I have no issues with that, seems good to me for a refurbished phone. I would definitely recommend this seller. Also a cable came in the box 👍🏼😁
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 128GB - Grey - Unlocked
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL 128GB - Grey - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
09/07/2026
Mahipalsinh C.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 28/05/2026, United Kingdom.
I was worried about phone because spending money in refurbished phone make more risky, this is 3rd time I'm buying product from here my experience was on 2time while buying watch was really bad but this time when i got my z fold in my hand it as incredible and i notice only 1 minor and vere very tiny 1 scratch on scree but i was not much visible until you see deeply rest of other things were like brand new so happy still using phone with no issues.
Galaxy Z Fold7 256GB - Blue - Unlocked
Galaxy Z Fold7 256GB - Blue - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
24/04/2026
Peter D.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 06/04/2026, United Kingdom.
I was a bit sceptical about buying a refurbished phone, I had nothing to worry about the phone came in pristine condition and at a fantastic price, almost 50% off the price of a new phone. Packaging was good and delivered on time. I would highly recommend buyingfrom Back Market.
Galaxy Z Flip7 256GB - Black - Unlocked
Galaxy Z Flip7 256GB - Black - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
24/03/2026
Eric F.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 14/07/2025, United Kingdom.
This was my first time purchasing a refurbished mobile, and after much pondering I settled on the Dark Red S22 Ultra 128gb, they said the the screen was flawless, and that's how it arrived, absolutely pristine condition, like brand new, not a mark anywhere on the screen or body, the battery came charged at more than 80%, and of course it had the built is S pen, I couldn't be more pleased with it it, delivery was quick and it came very packaged, along with excellent communication and great buying experience. Black Market come highly recommend
Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 128GB - Dark Red - Unlocked
Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G 128GB - Dark Red - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
02/07/2025
Charles R.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 16/10/2026, United Kingdom.
My first S25 phone had a faulty speaker, which was a shame. Back Market apologised and immediately sent out a replacement which arrived within two days. The replacement phone is excellent and all the functions work fine. its like a new phone. Excellent customer service from Back Market to replacement the faulty model so quickly. I love my new phone.
Galaxy S25 256GB - Blue - Unlocked
Galaxy S25 256GB - Blue - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Excellent
Purchased
03/10/2026
Christopher B.
Verified purchase
Reviewed 29/11/2025, United Kingdom.
Good value. I ordered a good condition phone and very happy with the condition of the phone I received. Very fast shipping. I only purchase reconditioned phones and have done so for many years. Back Market are my go to supplier and have always been impressed with both the phones and purchasing experience. In my case I usually by Samsung S series Android phones and typically buy a model that is two models down from the latest model. So I purchased a month ago a Samsung S23+ 256GB good condition and the latest model on sale is the S25. The saving of buying an older model and one that is reconditioned is considerable and is something that I will continue to do in the future. I intend to keep my phone for a couple of years and then buy a reconditioned S25 equivalent when that model has been superseded by newer models and is therefore very good value buying a reconditioned one. If you trade in your old phone you can get an even better price as a result.
Galaxy S23+ 256GB - Black - Unlocked
Galaxy S23+ 256GB - Black - Unlocked
See item
Condition
Good
Purchased
29/10/2025

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Refurbished Android Smartphones FAQs

A refurbished Android phone is a device that has been returned, professionally inspected, and restored to full working condition before being resold. It is not a broken phone. It is not a second-hand phone bought from a stranger. It's a device that's been through a structured process, tested against a set of quality checks by certified professionals, and graded honestly before it reaches you. There's a meaningful environmental upside too. Choosing a refurbished Android phone instead of a new one avoids up to 77 kg of CO2e per device, compared to manufacturing a new smartphone from scratch.
Yes. A refurbished Android phone is worth buying when three conditions are met: the seller is certified, the phone comes with a warranty, and you have a return window. On Back Market, all three apply as standard.
The typical saving on a refurbished Android phone is 30 to 70% compared to the new retail price. The Back Market Guarantee covers any functional defect not mentioned in the listing, for a minimum of 12 months. You also get 30 days to return the phone if it doesn't meet your expectations, no questions asked. The only real trade-off is cosmetic. Depending on the grade you choose, the phone may carry light marks or signs of use. Performance, network compatibility, and software are identical to new.
Yes. Every Android phone sold on Back Market comes with the Back Market Guarantee, a commercial warranty that covers any functional defect not already disclosed in the product listing. The minimum duration is 12 months, starting from the date of delivery. You also have a 30-day right of return if the phone simply doesn't suit you. Extended warranty plans are available at checkout for longer peace of mind.
Savings depend on the model and condition grade, but they're typically significant. Here are current price comparisons based on live Back Market listings:
Samsung Galaxy S24: new from £1,750.49 / refurbished from £263 on Back Market
Google Pixel 8: new from £956.12 / refurbished from £182 on Back Market
Samsung Galaxy A55: new from £849.44 / refurbished from £170 on Back Market
On average, buyers save between £80 and £400 depending on the model. The newer and more premium the handset, the larger the absolute saving tends to be.
The right Android phone depends on how you use it. Here's a straightforward breakdown by use case:
Best value overall: Samsung Galaxy A55. Reliable, 5G-ready, solid camera, available from £170 refurbished on Back Market.
Best for photos: Google Pixel 7a. Google's computational photography is genuinely exceptional, available from £133 refurbished.
Best battery life: Motorola Moto G50. Consistently strong battery life in the budget tier, available from £61 refurbished.
Best premium for less: Samsung Galaxy S23. Flagship-grade specs, available from £204 refurbished.

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Refurbished Android Smartphones • 2024

Trade in to get it for less

I swapped my smartphone for a dumbphone for a week and was surprised by the result | Back Market

Reviews

Darren D.

Lorna P.

Manan B.

Brian C.

Mihaela S.

Mahipalsinh C.

Peter D.

Eric F.

Charles R.

Christopher B.

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Refurbished Android Smartphones FAQs

What does 'refurbished' mean for an Android phone?

Is buying a refurbished Android phone worth it?

Do refurbished Android phones come with a warranty?

How much cheaper is a refurbished Android phone compared to new?

Which Android phone should I buy on a budget in the UK?