Refurbished Samsung Phones, Up to 50% Off
Quick Overview
Samsung is the world's largest smartphone manufacturer, with a range that covers everything from entry-level essentials to Ultra-tier flagships, buying a refurbished Samsung from The Big Phone Store costs up to 50% less than buying new, same hardware, same features, same Android experience, tested, graded and dispatched from our Wolverhampton facility with a 12-month warranty as standard. The information below covers everything you need to know about buying refurbished Samsung phones, including model comparisons, grading, and tips for choosing the right device. It's designed for anyone considering a Samsung phone at a lower price, whether you're a first-time buyer or upgrading.
Is a refurbished Samsung right for you?
You want a huge choice, from sub-£100 workhorses to powerful camera phones, all from one manufacturer
You like to make a phone your own. Samsung's One UI is the most customisable major Android skin, and it rewards people who enjoy setting things up their way
You want a big, brilliant screen. Samsung makes some of the best OLED displays in the industry, across almost every price point
You're already in the Samsung ecosystem, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Buds, SmartThings, Samsung Pay, and want everything to connect without friction
You want a great camera with versatile zoom. Samsung's Galaxy S Ultra series has long offered the most flexible camera hardware of any Android phone.
You want a phone that looks and feels premium, without paying the full new price. Make the smart choice, extend a device's life and help reduce electronic waste
Why Samsung is a standout in the phone market
Samsung was founded in South Korea in 1938, originally as a trading company. Electronics came later, and mobile phones later still. But when Samsung entered the smartphone market properly, it did so at scale. By 2012, it had overtaken Nokia as the world's biggest handset seller. It hasn't relinquished that position since.
What makes Samsung different from most manufacturers is that it makes its own components. Samsung doesn't just assemble phones, it manufactures the OLED screens, the image sensors, and in recent years, its own Exynos processors. That vertical integration means Samsung can push hardware quality across its full range in a way that competitors who buy components off the shelf simply can't match.
The result is a lineup that spans a genuinely wide range. The Galaxy A series is built for people who want solid, reliable Android performance without flagship pricing. The Galaxy S series is for buyers who want the best Samsung has, including the camera hardware, display quality and processing power that makes the Ultra models some of the most capable smartphones ever made.
In a refurbished context, Samsung holds its value well and ages gracefully. The screen quality you get on a refurbished Galaxy S22 or S23 is still class-leading. The cameras still outperform almost anything at the same resale price. And because Samsung supports its S series with four years of OS updates and five years of security patches, a refurbished S22 bought today still has meaningful software life ahead of it.
What our team uses, and why
"I've always loved Samsung more than any other phone brand. It's just easy to get on with, and you can customise it exactly how you want. The software does what you tell it to, rather than making decisions for you. I've tried switching but I always come back." — Oliver King, AI Engineer, The Big Phone Store
"I bought the S22 because at the time I wanted something fairly new to the market but not too expensive. I wanted a good camera and a reliable phone. Having used Samsung devices for a long time, I wanted to stick to something familiar, and I wasn't disappointed." — Rachel Gordon, Administrative Co-Ordinator, The Big Phone Store
TrustPilot reviews mentioning Samsung | Samsung return rate |
336 — 4.8 ★★★★★ | >0.2% |
S Series vs A Series, Which Is Right for You?
This is the most common question we get about Samsung, and it matters because the two ranges are built for completely different buyers.
| Galaxy S Series | Galaxy A Series |
Who it's for | Buyers who want the best Samsung has, top-tier camera, premium display, flagship performance | Buyers who want reliable everyday Android without paying flagship prices |
Camera | Multi-lens systems with powerful telephoto zoom, high-resolution sensors, advanced video | Good cameras that handle everyday photos well, less versatile at extremes |
Display | Highest-grade OLED, high refresh rates, bright in sunlight | Good to very good OLED or LCD depending on model, quality varies by price point |
Performance | Flagship-class processor, handles everything fast | Solid performance for daily use; may show strain on demanding tasks |
Build | Premium materials, often IP68 water resistance | Varies, some models match S Series build quality, others use polycarbonate |
Software updates | 4 years OS / 5 years security (S22 onwards) | 4 years OS / 5 years security (recent A series) |
Best refurbished value | S22, S23, strong specs, prices have dropped significantly | A54, A35, the sweet spot between budget and capable |
Right for you if… | You want the full Samsung experience and camera versatility | You want a dependable daily driver at a practical price |
Which Refurbished Samsung Is Right for You?
Pick | Model | Why | Our take |
Best for camera | Galaxy S23 Ultra | The S23 Ultra has a 200MP main sensor, 10x optical zoom, 100x Space Zoom, and Samsung's most capable video setup. Nothing else in the refurbished Android market touches it for camera versatility. | If zoom, detail, and video quality matter, this is the one. It's a lot of phone, but the camera genuinely earns it. |
Best all-rounder | Galaxy S23 | The S23 brings the full S series experience, Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, 50MP triple camera, 120Hz OLED, in a more manageable size and at a lower price than the Ultra. | The sweet spot of the S23 family. Strong enough for everything, not oversized, and now at a refurbished price that makes it excellent value. |
Best value | Galaxy S22 | The S22 still runs on Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, has a 50MP triple camera, and supports Android updates until 2026 OS and 2027 security patches. Prices have dropped considerably. | One of the best refurbished value picks in the Android market right now. The spec drop versus the S23 is small; the price drop is significant. |
Best budget pick | Galaxy A54 | The A54 brings a 50MP main camera, 120Hz Super AMOLED display, and 5G in Samsung's mid-range chassis, at a price that competes with budget phones on spec while feeling like a proper Samsung. | The refurbished A54 is easy to recommend for anyone who wants a capable everyday phone without S-series spending. |
Best for first-timers | Galaxy A35 | Clean Samsung software, a solid camera, a bright screen, and nothing confusing about it. If you're new to Android or new to Samsung, this is where to start. | Low risk, genuinely capable, familiar in the hand. An easy first Samsung. |
Our Best-Selling Refurbished Samsungs
The most powerful Samsung we stock. The 200MP sensor and 10x optical zoom make it stand out from everything else in the refurbished Android market. Consistently one of our most searched models.
87% popularity score
The value king of the S series right now. Prices have come down sharply since the S23 launched, but the hardware hasn't changed. Each used phone is tested with battery health and display checks before resale, so the phone works exactly as expected. Strong camera, great display, solid performance.
81% popularity score
The most popular A series model we stock. It punches well above its price and consistently surprises buyers who expected a budget feel. It still offers great features and a vibrant display for everyday buyers. Our most recommended entry point into the Samsung range.
79% popularity score
Grade Guide, What to Expect from Second Hand Samsung Phones
Every grade is fully functional. Every refurbished Samsung we sell has passed our full diagnostics. The difference is cosmetic only.
Grade | What it looks like | Battery health on arrival | Best suited to |
Like New | No marks visible at normal viewing distance | 100% | Buyers who want brand new devices, or buying as a gift |
Pristine | Micro-scratches only, visible under direct light | 85%+ | Near-new condition without the Like New price |
Very Good | Light scratches visible at certain angles | 85%+ | The sweet spot, better condition than expected at a strong price |
Good | Noticeable scuffs and scratches; heavier cosmetic wear. Our most affordable price | 85%+ | Budget-first buyers, or anyone putting the phone straight into a case |
All of our refurbished Samsung mobile phones are unlocked and sim free. Sim free models can be used with different networks and carriers, giving you the freedom to choose your plan.
Best Samsung at Each Grade
Grade | Best model | Why |
Like New | S24 Ultra | Like New makes most sense on a high-spec model, you're getting Samsung's best camera, latest software, display and performance, as close to new as a refurbished device gets. |
Pristine | S23 | Pristine S23 is the S series sweet spot, full flagship performance and camera at a grade that keeps the price accessible without sacrificing condition. |
Very Good | S22+ | Very Good S22 is one of the best all-round refurbished buys in the Android market. The grade keeps the price low; the hardware is still genuinely strong. |
Good | A34 | Good condition suits the A34 because it's often chosen as a practical daily phone. A case covers cosmetic wear; the performance underneath is unchanged. |
By Budget
Budget | Best pick | Why |
Under £150 | Galaxy A54 | Clean Samsung experience, solid camera, reliable 5G performance. The best way into the Samsung range and save money. |
Under £250 | Galaxy A22+ | The best mid-range Samsung we stock. Feels more expensive than it is, especially at the refurbished price point. |
Under £350 | Galaxy S23 Ultra | The Ultra series hardware at a price that would have been unthinkable two years ago. If budget allows, this is where to go. |
Under £500 | Galaxy S24 Ultra | A highly capable refurbished Android phone. At this price, nothing else comes close on camera versatility. |
Samsung vs iPhone, What It Means Day to Day
Feature | Samsung Galaxy | Apple iPhone | What it means for you |
Customisation | Extensive, home screen, default apps, widgets, launchers | Limited, Apple controls most of the interface | If you want to set things up your way, Samsung gives you more room. iPhone is more consistent but less flexible. |
App ecosystem | Google Play Store | App Store | Both have virtually every major app. Some apps arrive on iPhone first; some Android exclusives exist. For most people, it makes no difference. |
Software updates | 4 years OS, 5 years security (recent models) | 6+ years | iPhone holds the edge here. A refurbished iPhone 13 still has more software life ahead than an equivalent Samsung. |
Resale value | Depreciates faster than iPhone | Holds value longer than almost any other smartphone | A Samsung bought refurbished today will be worth less in two years than an equivalent iPhone. Worth factoring in if you upgrade often. |
Camera style | Bold, vivid, versatile zoom options | Natural, consistent, excellent in most conditions | Samsung photos tend to pop more. iPhone photos tend to look closer to what your eyes actually saw. Neither is objectively better. |
Display | Among the best OLED screens available, across a wide range | Excellent, but Samsung supplies many of Apple's own screens | Samsung's screen advantage is real at the upper end. At lower price points, the gap narrows considerably. |
A note on Samsung screens from our workshop
Our in-house re-glassing capability matters more for Samsung than almost any other brand. Where only the top glass is damaged, and the underlying display is intact, we replace just the glass rather than the whole screen, so that you keep the original Samsung OLED. There's no pop-up warning. No quality loss. And the overall price tends to be much friendlier to your wallet.
We complete up to 500 re-glassing jobs per day in our Wolverhampton facility. It's one of the things that lets us offer refurbished Samsungs at genuinely strong prices without cutting corners on screen quality.
"When it comes to Samsung devices, genuine re-glassing is the most efficient way to repair them properly, and it means we don’t have to charge our customers sky-high prices, so it’s overall better for the phone and the consumer." — Steve Athwal, CEO, The Big Phone Store
What do customers say about our Samsungs?
"I bought my mum a Samsung galaxy and she loves it! No issues so far. The customer service is also amazing, and its a small team so great attention to detail. I would go with them over the bigger companies next time." — ZH, TrustPilot
"Bought my first phone for 5 years-what a difference. My galaxy A34 5G is brilliant, and you wouldn't know it was not new. Ordering was easy, delivery very quick, packaging secure. Full marks to the Big Phone Store." — JD, TrustPilot
You can visit our Wolverhampton store to see and see our high standard Samsung devices in person before buying. If you're deciding between the S series and A series, or comparing Samsung to iPhone or Pixel, seeing them side by side often makes the decision straightforward. You can also shop refurbished Samsung Galaxy phones online and make your purchase with confidence.