Refurbished iphone

No, refurbished phones are exactly like the new ones. When the iPhone came out, any minor problem that was reported was exchanged rather than repaired. This resulted in a glut of iPhones that had been owned for 12 hours with no problems.

refurbished phones are cleaned, software updated, and everything is tested to assure it is exactly like the new phones.

You will have no problems if you decide to go with it.

It is very difficult to scratch the iPhone's screen - it is tempered glass similar to the scratch resistant glass included with watches so it is very doubtful there will be any scratches on the glass with a refurbished iPhone and not likely Apple would sell a refurbished iPhone with a scratched glass.

Don't know about scratches anywhere else but although this is more likely with a refurbished iPhone, I think it is doubtful Apple would sell a refurbished iPhone with a poor looking finish front or back.

The same 1-yr warranty included with a new iPhone is included with a refurbished iPhone.

Just bought a refurbished iPhone and it is like a brand new one. I think that the only difference may be the box. The new one I bought earlier came in a black box, the refurbished came in a white box.

The phone works great , no scrathes.

I bought a refurb and had to return it.

And....?

Since there is a difference - you returned it or exchanged it under warranty?

I bought a 4GB refurb for my wife after paying full price for my iPhone and loving it too much 😀

The only way you can tell it's a refurb is the white box.....well and one mine the silk screen for the back is basically unreadable. Serial #, IMEI etc. but I'm not fussed about it; I suppose they re-sprayed it.

Overall, I wish I'd saved $100 on my phone too :-/

Message was edited by: Steve Hodson

You still get apples full warranty/support if its a refurbished phone. You just have to wonder why the phone was returned in the first place 🙂

Buyers remorse is not that unusual and am sure there are probably a bunch of phones with fake problems that turn out to be No Defect Found once flashed, reset and tested....if you get a bad refurb out of teh box, can always return it 😀

I would say that it does make you curious as to what it was returned for, but at the same time these are not just tinkered on in some garage by teenagers once they are returned to be fixed. I am quite sure they are send back to the assembling plant where they are pretty much re-built from scratch depending on the part(s) broken. This insures they are "almost identical" to brand new phones in both functionality and looks, but reassembling costs Apple less than building from scratch. Wouldn't you agree?

There is also another thread addressing this same area, i.e., Refurbished iPhones.

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=5251394#5251394

mikeab

I have not yet purchased an iPhone, but I have purchased both new and refurb Apple products for the past 12 years. Never got a bad refurb. Each has been perfect functionally as well as cosmetically.

Would not hesitate to purchase any Apple refurb.

susan

Agreed. I am typing this on a refurbished iBook G4 that I use for travel, and it has never given me a moments trouble (except that I discovered it's now very hard to find replacement batteries for it).

I know 2 people who have purchased refurbished iPhones. They look and function no differently from the one I bought new.

FYI, refurbished iPhones bought through the Apple online store are $100 cheaper than the new models and get free shipping.

My two refurbished iPhones looked brand new. Not a scratch or any other marks on them