The UK refurbished phone market has grown 42% year-on-year in 2025 according to research firm CCS Insight, driven by rising new handset prices and increasing buyer awareness that "grade A" refurbs are virtually indistinguishable from new. If you've been thinking about going refurbished instead of splashing out on a brand new iPhone 17 or Galaxy S25, now is an excellent time.
We've pulled together the best refurbished deals across the major UK sellers this week, along with what each one offers in terms of warranty and condition grading.
Top refurbished deals this week
| Device | Condition | Seller | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 15 Pro 128GB | Excellent | Backmarket | £619 |
| iPhone 14 128GB | Good | musicMagpie | £359 |
| Galaxy S24 256GB | Excellent | Giffgaff Refurbished | £449 |
| Pixel 9 Pro 256GB | Excellent | Backmarket | £579 |
| iPhone 13 128GB | Good | O2 Refresh | £299 |
| Samsung Z Flip 5 256GB | Fair | musicMagpie | £299 |
Which seller should you use?
Backmarket
Backmarket is Europe's biggest refurbished marketplace, connecting buyers to vetted refurbishers. Every device comes with a 12-month warranty minimum and a 30-day return window. Grade A "Excellent" devices typically look indistinguishable from new. Downside: prices can vary wildly between sellers, so it pays to filter by seller rating.
musicMagpie
UK-based, publicly listed, and probably the best-known refurbisher on the high street thanks to its advertising. Offers a 12-month warranty, 14-day return window, and a clear grading system from "Pristine" through "Good" to "Fair". Prices tend to be slightly higher than Backmarket but reliability is generally excellent.
Giffgaff Refurbished
Giffgaff's refurbishment arm partners with environmental charities and has grown rapidly. All devices come with a 12-month warranty and can be bundled with a Giffgaff goodybag SIM at a discount. Condition grading can be more cautious than competitors - Giffgaff "Very Good" often looks like Backmarket "Excellent".
Network refurbished programs
EE, O2 and Vodafone all sell refurbished phones directly, typically ex-demo or returned handsets from their own inventory. Availability is inconsistent but prices can be very competitive during promotional periods. O2 Refresh in particular has been offering heavily discounted iPhone 13 and 14 models throughout 2025.
What "refurbished" actually means
A refurbished phone has been returned to a seller, inspected, tested, repaired if needed and repackaged for sale. Quality and consistency vary enormously, which is why the seller matters more than the grade. A grade "Good" phone from a reputable UK refurbisher will often outlast a "Pristine" from an unknown eBay reseller.
The key thing to check is battery health. Look for sellers that guarantee a minimum 85% battery health at point of sale - Backmarket, musicMagpie and Giffgaff all do this as standard. Sellers who don't disclose battery health should be avoided.
Is refurbished worth it?
For most buyers, yes. A one-year-old refurbished flagship typically costs 30-40% less than the equivalent new model and performs identically. With all major UK sellers now offering 12-month warranties, the risk profile is close to buying new. The environmental case is also strong - around 70kg of CO2 is saved per refurbished phone compared to manufacturing a new one.