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Eco-Friendly Product Guides

Refurbished phones and laptops: a checklist before you buy

A refurbished device can cost far less than new and save the carbon of manufacturing a new one. Here is how to buy one safely.

2 October 2026 · 8 min read

A laptop on a wooden desk

Chetanya Goel · Founder & Editor

Chetanya started Annam Naturals after two years of keeping a household waste diary. Chetanya writes about the boring, repeatable habits that hold up in a real week.

Most of a phone or laptop's lifetime carbon footprint comes from manufacturing it, not from charging it. That makes buying refurbished one of the most effective ways to cut the impact of your electronics. Sale season is when many refurbished sellers offer their best prices too.

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Refurbished, used and open-box

  • Refurbished: tested, repaired where needed, cleaned and resold, usually with a warranty
  • Used or second-hand: sold as is, usually by an individual, often without a warranty
  • Open-box: returned items, often nearly new, sold at a discount

Manufacturer-refurbished and reputable dedicated refurbishers are generally the safest options.

The checklist

Seller and warranty

Buy from a seller with clear grading, a return period and a warranty of at least six months. Check reviews of the seller, not just the product.

Battery health

The battery is the part most likely to have worn. Ask for the battery health percentage or whether the battery has been replaced. A battery well below 80 per cent of original capacity will need replacing soon.

Software support

Check how long the manufacturer will continue to provide security updates for that model. A cheap device that stops receiving updates next year is a security risk.

Condition grade

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Sellers grade cosmetic condition. Minor scratches usually have no effect on function and lower the price.

Ports, buttons and screen

Test charging, buttons, cameras, speakers, microphone and the screen for dead pixels or touch problems when it arrives, within the return window.

Lock status

Make sure the device is not locked to a previous owner's account and is not blacklisted. A reputable refurbisher will guarantee this.

Accessories

Refurbished devices may not come with a charger. That is fine if you already have a compatible one.

For laptops

Also check the storage type and capacity, RAM, and whether the battery and keyboard have been replaced. A business-grade laptop from a few years ago is often more durable and repairable than a new budget model.

The result

A good refurbished device feels new in use, costs significantly less, and avoids the manufacturing emissions of a brand-new unit. When it eventually reaches the end of its life, pass it on or recycle it properly.

For more of this kind of testing, the eco-friendly product guides hub collects everything we've tried in that area.

Frequently asked

Do I need to buy anything to get started?

No. Every method here begins with what is already in your cupboards. We only recommend a purchase when something has genuinely worn out, and we say what it should cost.

How do you test the things you write about?

Minimum four weeks of ordinary household use, with notes. For anything involving energy or money we use a plug-in meter and record the readings before and after.

Are your recommendations paid for?

Never. Brands cannot buy placement. Some outbound links are affiliate links, which we mark, and they do not change what makes the list.

What if a method doesn't work in my home?

Write to us. A surprising amount of our best material comes from readers explaining why something failed in a flat, a shared house or a very cold winter.

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