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Refurbished iPhones

Buying a refurbished iPhone means you get the same great phone, fully checked and warrantied, for a lot less than Apple charges when new. Every iPhone we sell comes with 85%+ battery health guaranteed, is unlocked to UK networks and works with your existing SIM card ('SIM-free').

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Refurbished Phones

Refurbished iPhones — Up to 70% Off

refurbished-iphone-16-colours

Apple is one of the most popular phone brands in the world, and for a good reason. You get a reliable, sleek phone that retains its resale value better than almost any other brand. Buy a refurbished Apple iPhone from The Big Phone Store today and find out why they're so good.

At The Big Phone Store, a refurbished iPhone can cost up to 70% less than buying new. If you are looking to buy an iPhone refurbished in the UK, we have a wide range of models available, with our iPhone stock updadting every day.

Not sure which reconditioned iPhone is best for you? Read below to see our recommendations.

Our #1

Best-Selling Brand

Hear it from us:

“It sounds really complicated and specialised, so to put it simply, if an iPhone doesn’t meet every strict standard we set, there’s no way we’ll send it out to a customer. Ever.”

Lucie Lomberska, The Big Phone Store Warehouse Executive — Lucie Lomberska, The Big Phone Store Warehouse Executive

Buying Guide

Which Refurbished iPhone Is Right for You?

Pick

Model

Why?

Our take?

Best for camera

iPhone 15

The iPhone 15 is the best camera choice for most refurbished buyers because it brings Apple’s 48MP Main camera, 24MP/48MP super-high-res photos, image stabilisation, improved portraits, Night mode and 4K video.

This is the refurbished model we’d recommend if you take lots of photos of family, products, holidays, pets, nights out or social content.

You get a clear camera upgrade over older models without needing to jump to a Pro model.

Best for battery

iPhone 14 Plus

The iPhone 14 Plus is built for customers who want less battery anxiety. Apple lists it at up to 26 hours of video playback and up to 100 hours of audio playback.

This is the easy recommendation for commuters, parents, heavy texters, video watchers and anyone who forgets to charge overnight. In refurbished iPhones, battery condition matters more than the spec sheet, that's why battery health standards are such a big part of our recommendations.

Best value

iPhone 13

The iPhone 13 still gives most buyers what they actually need: a sharp 6.1-inch OLED display, A15 Bionic performance, 5G, strong cameras and iOS 26 compatibility.

This is the “don’t overpay for features you won’t notice” iPhone. It feels modern, runs smoothly, takes great photos and still has strong software life ahead of it. It is the safest value recommendation for most people looking to buy an iPhone, refurbished.

Best for first-time iPhone users

iPhone SE 2022

The iPhone SE 2022 gives customers a familiar home-button design, 5G and Apple’s A15 Bionic chip in a compact, affordable package. We would describe it as a “compact, no-nonsense iPhone”.

This is perfect for first-time iPhone buyers, children, older users, work phones or anyone who wants Apple reliability without changing how they use their phone. It is a lower-risk refurbished iPhone because it is affordable, easy to use, and familiar.

Grading Guide

What to Expect from our Refurbished iPhone grades

  • Like New iPhones

    -No marks visible at normal viewing distance. Glass back and frame in near-pristine condition.

    -100% battery

    -Best for buyers who want as-new, or buying as a gift

  • Pristine iPhones
    -Micro-scratches only, visible under direct light or close inspection, not in normal use

    -85%+ battery

    -Best for those who want near-new condition without the new price

  • Very Good iPhones
    -Light scratches visible at certain angles

    -85%+ battery

    The sweet spot — better condition than expected at a strong price

  • Good iPhones
    -Noticeable scuffs and scratches; heavier cosmetic wear

    -85%+ battery

    -Great for budget-first buyers, or anyone putting the phone straight into a case

how are refurbished iphones checked?

Refurbished iPhone Testing Standards

The most common criticism in the wider refurbished iPhone market is battery health not matching expectations. We address that directly.

Every second-hand iPhone we receive has its battery tested and logged before grading, we replace any battery below our 85% minimum threshold, and Like New devices come with 100% battery health guaranteed. For users who want maximum battery capacity, you can choose a brand new battery for any iPhone at checkout, which we will install for you.

We also use Phonecheck to make sure the phone works properly, and CheckMEND to make sure the phone isn't blacklisted.

In 2025, we published updated grading definitions in plain English, backed by short videos showing what each grade looks like in practice. In 2026 we took that one step further by giving customers real examples of our phones by grade. See our iPhone grading examples.

Still unsure? You can visit our Wolverhampton store to inspect and test our devices in person before buying. For customers unsure whether to buy new, used, or an iPhone reconditioned by a specialist, seeing the devices in person can make the decision much easier.

Our refurbished iPhones come with a minimum 85% battery health, higher than any of our major competitors. Get yours today!

iPhone Warranty, Returns & Delivery

iPhones hold their value well, and tend to be used for longer than most phones. A standard 12-month warranty covers you for the first year, but given the price point and the lifespan of an iPhone, it’s worth upgrading to cover your phone if something goes wrong later.

Our lifetime warranty in particular makes sense here. On a phone that could easily run for five or six years, it’s the closest thing to total peace of mind on a refurbished device.

  • 12-month warranty on every refurbished iPhone, upgradable to 2 years, 5 years or lifetime

  • 45-day no-quibble returns, with a full refund or exchange if you're not happy with your device

  • 95% of post-sale issues are processed within 24 hours, and 100% resolved within 48–72 hours

  • Free delivery within 1-2 days on orders over £150, dispatched from our Wolverhampton facility

  • Replacement Sent First: if your iPhone develops a confirmed fault and needs replacing, we dispatch the replacement before you return the original. You stay connected while we sort it.

  • Optional insurance to cover loss, theft and accidental damage, for anything outside standard warranty terms

Our packaging is worth a mention too. We upgraded to a foil-laminated, reinforced box with bubble-bag cushioning specifically to protect devices in transit. Since the redesign, transit damage incidents dropped by 80%. Your iPhone arrives in a gift bag with a microfibre cloth, because refurbished shouldn’t feel like anything less than perfect.

Customer Reviews

We value the opinions of all of our customers, and we're sure that you do too! If you're still unsure about buying the iPhones you want, take a look at the reviews our customers have left for us.

5 stars 5/5
Based on 27 customer reviews
H
Helen 1 week ago
5 stars

Great phone. Lived up to expectations.

Value for money

5 stars

Overall performance

5 stars

Phone condition

4 stars

Battery

5 stars

Delivery speed

5 stars

Recycled packaging

5 stars
S
Sally 1 week ago
5 stars

It’s great it works well and I’m very pleased with what I have paid for it

Value for money

5 stars

Overall performance

5 stars

Phone condition

null star

Battery

5 stars

Delivery speed

5 stars

Recycled packaging

5 stars
F
Fishy 1 week ago
5 stars

I was led to this phone as I wanted 512Gb of memory. I didn’t really want a bigger phone, but I liked the idea of better battery life. Holy smokes I was wrong. I love this phone. It’s not too big but I really appreciate the additional screen real estate. It’s comfortable in the hand and actually does fit easily in the pocket. It’s perfect for my needs! The Big Phone company was epic - delivery was so fast and the phone was absolutely pristine - like new. Can’t recommend them highly enough.

Value for money

5 stars

Overall performance

5 stars

Phone condition

5 stars

Battery

5 stars

Delivery speed

5 stars

Recycled packaging

5 stars

Frequently Asked Questions

The Big Phone Store is the best place to buy a reliable refurbished iPhone. This is because we have the highest minimum battery health of any of our competitors (85%), meaning that when you buy a phone from us, you're getting more bang for your buck. We also have over 25 years of experience refurbishing phones, longer than the iPhone has even existed. Alongside your refurbished iPhone, you'll receive a 12-month warranty that can be upgraded to a 2-year, 5-year or lifetime warranty.

You can buy an iPhone from us either in-store or online.

Yes. A fully certified refurbished iPhone from a trusted seller is as reliable as a new one. Every device we sell passes a 90‑point diagnostic, includes a battery health guarantee, and is backed by a 12‑month warranty. We’ve shipped thousands of refurbished iPhones across the UK with returns kept to a minimum.

Yes. Models like the iPhone 14, 15, 16 and 17 series are powerful enough to last years. Even older models like iPhone 12 and 13 still perform well for everyday use.

Yes - you’ll save money, get warranty protection, and reduce e-waste.

Yes. Second-hand phones are sold as-is.

Refurbished phones are inspected, tested, cleaned, reset, graded and warrantied.

When purchasing a refurb iPhone, it's important to check the device's condition, storage capacity, and specifications to ensure it meets your needs. Luckily, The Big Phone Store website provides all the detailed information you need to make an informed choice.

Yes, at The Big Phone Store every iPhone comes with a 12-month warranty as standard. You can also upgrade to a 2-year, 5-year or a lifetime warranty to cover your new refurbished phone against unexpected faults.

Batteries are replaced only when needed. All devices meet our minimum battery health standard (85%+, or 100% on Like New iPhones). If you want a new battery for your refurbished iPhone, you can add a battery upgrade at checkout.

Refurbished iPhones cost less than brand-new iPhones simply because they are pre-owned, come without a box, may have some minor cosmetic scuffs, and may not have 100% battery capacity. They're still in fully working condition. The main difference is their appearance.
iPhones naturally get cheaper over time, and also get cheaper right after a new iPhone series is released, simply because they are no longer the most in-demand models. The older the iPhone, the cheaper it usually is. Buying refurbished gives you an even better iPhone deal, because you can choose the exact condition, colour and storage to suit your budget.

The Refurbished iPhone 13 is currently one of the best balances of price and performance.

Yes, as long as you choose a trusted seller like The Big Phone Store. Every iPhone we sell undergoes 90+ functionality checks, and also gets a background check to make sure that it's fully legitimate and safe to use.

  • Fully Certified Refurbished Phone (tested, data-wiped, and ready to use)

  • USB Charging Cable

  • SIM Pin Tool (where applicable)

  • Free Microfibre Cleaning Pouch

  • Presented in a Premium Gift-Ready Box

  • 12-Month Standard Warranty

Refurbished iPhones are up to 70% cheaper than new models depending on grade and age.

We offer flexible payment plans with Klarna, Clearpay, Paypal and Bank Transfer. This means you can choose the option that suits you, including spreading the cost to make your purchase even more affordable.

This depends on the model you buy. Older iPhones, both new and refurbished, may not receive iOS updates anymore. Newer iPhones such as the iPhone 16 and 17 series will stay up-to-date with the latest software updates for longer. Buying refurbished does not affect which version of iOS the phone runs on. Your refurbished iPhone will work exactly the same as a new iPhone.