How to buy the best mobile phone Buying a reconditioned mobile phone

Buying a reconditioned mobile phone is a good way to save money on a new handset. Reconditioned phones - which are sometimes termed "refurbished" phones - are essentially used mobile phones that have been restored by an authorised dealer.

This means that the phone has been thoroughly tested, updated with new software if necessary, and usually has a warranty.

Most reconditioned phones are handsets returned through money-back guarantee schemes.

Are reconditioned phones in good condition?

Most reconditioned phones are handsets returned through money-back guarantee schemes.

Although some reconditioned phones are faulty units that have been repaired, most of them are handsets that were returned via money-back guarantee schemes.

Some reconditioned phones also derive from leased phone returns, for example, when a business returns the handsets it leased from a mobile network provider.

This means that reconditioned mobile phones should always be in good condition and function correctly. Orange claims that most people can't tell the difference between its reconditioned phones and brand new handsets.

See how your chosen phone compares to the competition with our mobile phone reviews.

But don't expect all reconditioned phones to be absolutely perfect. Although they should all function as new, they may have some cosmetic flaws, and many do not come in their original packaging.

Reconditioned phone warranties

One of the benefits of buying a reconditioned phone, rather than a second hand one, is that they usually come with warranties.

But not all retailers offer the same length warranties. For instance, while T-Mobile offers the same 12-month warranty on reconditioned phones as it does for new phones, Orange's warranty period is only 6 months. So make sure you check before buying.