If you're in the market to buy a phone or a laptop, chances are you’ve seen some older models available online at attractively low prices. You probably thought it was too good to be true and found you were right – the device wasn’t new, but ‘refurbished’. Now you were wary, because refurbished basically means second hand, right? Well, yes and no. we look at the pros and cons of buying a refurbished device vis-à-vis a brand new one.
The first reason is, of course, the price of a refurbished device. It is significantly lower than a brand new gadget – between 20 and 50% lower. So, for your money you could get a higher end device with better features and functionality if you opt for a refurbished device. A lot of people will sack off a gently used device simply because they want something newer and snazzier; simply because they have to have the ‘latest’. You can take advantage of this.
Secondly the term ‘refurbished’ has a different connotation than merely ‘second hand’. The refurbished tag means that the device has been disassembled, the parts checked for damage, components checked and so on. The screen, battery performance, processors, optical drive, processors are checked before reassembly. Damaged or missing parts are replaced and the device receives and operating system update to the latest version possible. Companies such Dell, Lenovo and HP certify the device as refurbished.
Thirdly, this is an environment-friendly choice to make. Opting for a refurbished device rather than a ‘fresh from factory’ device means that you enhance the life of a gadget so that fewer devices are discarded.
Some of us have to have a newest, latest and best. For them, refurbished is not an option. The joy of the first unboxing, being the envy of their friends and so on --- these are things that matter. Newer devices could be faster, with better storage or features. A refurbished device will not work for those who have specific requirements of performance, better graphics or sound etc.
Then there is the aesthetics issue. While a refurbished device may work just as efficiently as a new one, there could be minor problems such as scratched screens, dinged surfaces and so on. There could also be less choice in terms of colour, device specs and so on in the refurbished devices category.
There is also the fact that a refurbished device will have a shorter life span than a new one. Remember the device has been used before so the life of the battery and other parts will be consequently reduced. It could have been misused or jolted or damaged before being refurbished which could also impact its lifespan.
Though some refurbished devices do come with a renewed warranty, this may not be comparable with new devices. One must also be wary of buying a refurbished laptop if it is not certified by a reputed company. So while there are reasons to be careful when buying a refurbished laptop or phone, there are some very good reasons to opt for these as well.
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