Here’s a super-smart way to score a great Black Friday phone deal

Scrambling for the best Black Friday phone deals? I’ve been working with phone deals for years and, in all honesty, even I’m surprised at how mixed a bag we’ve seen this year with deals. 

In the US, extreme trade-in rebates and unlimited plan limitations are everywhere. In the UK, it seems the best value is, in many instances, coming in the form of Black Friday SIM-only deals. Either way, it seems like there needs to be a better way to save on the bit we all love: the sparkly new phone. However, this year, the answer looks like it could come in the form of… not getting a new phone, that’s right I’m talking about going refurbished. 

Finding trustworthy refurbished devices can be a bit of a mess to wade through. So to help you through the process of making big savings this Black Friday, here are some answers to key questions you might have, as well as some of our favorite deals you can get your hands on right now. 

Is buying refurbished phones safe?

Absolutely, provided you are considerate with where you get your device, there is very little to make buying a refurbished device any riskier than if you were to get your phone new.

A great indicator to reassure you when looking at going refurbished is investigating the process the retailer takes to prepare the phone. Ideally, the more checks they do the better, especially when it comes to key areas such as the battery, display, and camera, the last thing you want is a lovely new phone with a lens scratch as big as the discount!

Is there a difference between refurbished and recertified phones?

In the past, yes. Traditionally, a refurbished phone is a phone that has been cleaned, wiped, checked for any issues (which are then logged and referenced at the point of sale), and then put up for sale at a reduced price, the reduction being dependent on the condition of the device. Recertified phones traditionally follow the same process before sale as a refurbished phone, but at the point of sale are then given a warranty or guarantee that allows you to return the phone should you encounter any issues.

In recent years, the term recertified has died off somewhat and phones are now more commonly simply referred to as refurbished, but this doesn’t mean that the benefits of warranty that used to be associated with recertified phones have ended. Many big-name refurbished phone retailers now offer warranties or guarantees as extra reassurance, which is great! 

Now, to throw one final spanner in the works, when looking for refurbished phones, you don’t want to be just looking for refurbished, the real deal comes from ‘Certified Refurbished’ devices. These devices provide the most trustable opportunity for customers as they have gone through a manufacturer-approved recertification process, meaning the phone is receiving the best possible care and means the device will be as close to as possible to new. 

Where are the best places to buy refurbished phones?

Ideally, the bigger the provider the better. Don’t trust any old Bob from your local high street to have given your new phone the care it deserves. Thanks to recent pushes with regards to recycling electricals, many major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, Currys, and Best Buy all now offer refurbished phone deals across some of the best smartphones of 2023.

Great refurbished deals are also available from some of the top carriers across the US and UK, providers such as Vodafone, AT&T, EE, and Verizon. By choosing a refurbished phone as part of a phone + airtime deal you can save hundreds over the course of your contract which can be spent on some of the best Black Friday deals elsewhere. 

Choosing larger retailers or carriers is a great way to reassure yourself about the quality of the device you are receiving as many will fully outline their recertification process and checks, allowing you to see how thoroughly your new phone has been cared for before you pick it up.   

Today’s best Black Friday refurbished phone deals

US refurbished deals

UK refurbished deals