Giffgaff Refurbished Phones vs The Big Phone Store
Which Is Better for Your Next Refurbished Phone?
Buying a phone is not just about choosing a model and finding the lowest price.
It is the device you rely on to get to work, speak to family, access your bank, take photos, check directions, manage appointments and keep everyday life moving.
So when you buy refurbished, you want to know the saving is worth it — and that you are not creating problems for yourself later.
Both giffgaff and The Big Phone Store sell refurbished phones in the UK, with quality checks, warranties and unlocked devices.
But there are important differences in battery standards, testing, returns and the support you get after buying.
Price comparison snapshot
| Model |  | Giffgaff |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 14 Plus 256GB | Cheapest £384.99
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£14.01 (4%) | Cheapest £399.00 |
| iPhone 15 256GB | Cheapest £479.99
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£49.01 (9%) | Cheapest £529.00 |
| iPhone 16 Plus 128GB | Cheapest £599.99
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£19.01 (3%) | Cheapest £619.00 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB | Cheapest £749.99
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£119.01 (14%) | Cheapest £869.00 |
Correct as of: 30/07/2026
Giffgaff vs The Big Phone Store: At a Glance
Feature | The Big Phone Store | Giffgaff Refurbished |
|---|---|---|
Device testing | 90-point check | 30-point health check |
Minimum battery health | 85%+ | 80% |
Warranty | 12 months, 24 months, 5 year and lifetime coverage | 12–24 months depending on device |
Returns period | 45 days | 21 days |
Telephone and in-person support | Yes | No call centre |
Physical location | Wolverhampton | Online only |
Optional battery upgrade | Brand New batteries available | Not currently advertised |
Refurbishment specialist | Yes – working with phones since 1999 | Mobile network selling refurbished phones |
A Bigger Name Doesn't Always Mean a Better Refurbished Phone
giffgaff is one of the UK's best-known mobile brands. That familiarity can make it feel like the obvious safe choice.
But when you're buying a refurbished phone, the things that affect your day-to-day experience are not the size of the logo.
They're things like:
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Will the battery comfortably get me through the day?
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Has everything actually been checked properly?
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What happens if the phone isn't quite right?
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Can I speak to somebody if something goes wrong?
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So, why choose The Big Phone Store?
You Spend Less Time Looking for a Charger.
giffgaff guarantees at least 80% battery health.
The Big Phone Store guarantees 85%+.
Five percentage points might not sound exciting on a comparison table. It becomes much more important when you're halfway through a workday, travelling home, using Maps, ordering an Uber or waiting for an important call.
Your phone should fit around your day. You shouldn't have to plan your day around your charger.
And if you want even more reassurance, eligible TBPS phones can be ordered with a new battery upgrade.
We do more checks, so it doesn't become your problem
We carry out a 90-point testing process.
You probably don't want to spend your first night with a new phone testing the microphone, cameras, charging port, speakers, buttons and connectivity yourself.
You want to move your photos across, log into your apps and start using it.
That's the point of the extra testing.
We try to find the problems before you ever have to.
If Something Goes Wrong, You Can Actually Speak to Us
Most people do not think much about customer service when everything is working, but it becomes very important when it isn't.
Maybe your delivery hasn't arrived. Maybe you're unsure about the condition. Maybe you need help with a return or warranty claim.
giffgaff doesn't operate a traditional call centre, and relies largely on their community to help customers, instead of the people behind the operation.
With The Big Phone Store, you can call our UK team, message us on WhatsApp or visit us in Wolverhampton.
Sometimes you don't want another chatbot, help article or support ticket. You just want someone to sort it.
45 Days to Make Sure You Actually Like It
Buying a phone online is difficult because you cannot properly judge it until it is in your hand.
Maybe the Pro Max is much bigger than you expected, maybe you're switching from Android to iPhone and hate it, maybe you bought it for your child and they need something smaller... Or maybe you simply change your mind.
giffgaff currently gives you 21 days to change your mind.
The Big Phone Store gives you 45 days.
That's more time to make sure the phone works for your life, rather than rushing to decide whether you should keep it.
Giffgaff is a legitimate place to buy a refurbished phone, but being the bigger brand does not automatically make it the better refurbished-phone specialist.
If you buy from The Big Phone Store, you get:
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85%+ minimum battery health
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90-point device testing
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45-day returns
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UK telephone and WhatsApp support
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A physical Wolverhampton location
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Optional new battery upgrades on eligible phones
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One refurbishment specialist responsible for the phone from testing onwards
Individually, these might look like small differences.
Together, they mean something much more useful:
Less chance of a problem. More time if you change your mind. And an easier route to getting help if you ever need it.
The Verdict
Why Choose The Big Phone Store?
Your phone probably isn't the most exciting part of your day, but when it stops working properly, it can ruin it.
It's your alarm in the morning. Your train ticket. Your sat nav. Your camera. Your bank. Your work messages. Your way of checking where the kids are and letting people know you're on your way home.
That's why we think a refurbished phone should do more than save you money.
It should be something you can rely on.
You save money. We deal with the uncertainty.