Should You Buy A Refurbished iPhone 11?

Many are skeptical after hearing the word ‘refurbished’ for devices. Refurbished devices have a bad image in the tech world, with many calling them old products resold for a premium, and there is an inherent risk of getting a device with some technical problem. However, with the increasing prices of iPhones, the refurbished iPhone market has seen a rise in demand. We set out to check if refurbished iPhones are actually affordable and have any relevance against current mid-range phones. 

In this article, we will discuss the iPhone 11, which was a flagship phone three years ago and is one of the best-selling refurbished Apple products and still holds its relevance among people in 2022. The iPhone 11 came with a new camera layout and started the Pro and Pro Max versions of the iPhone. The iPhone 11 also showcased a new camera layout and came with a larger 6.1-inch LCD display with True Tone. Now, the question is whether buying a refurbished iPhone 11 is actually a reasonable option.

What Is A Refurbished Product?

A refurbished product from Apple is a pre-owned device that has been returned by its owner due to some issues or the users have decided to send their mobiles to Apple’s recycling program. However, refurbished iPhones on other websites are pre-owned iPhones sold by their owners to repair shops or a retailer due to some technical issue. These phones are then repaired and faulty parts are replaced by new parts to remove any prevailing issues. Refurbished iPhones cost less than new iPhones bought from the Apple Store but are similar in most aspects. 

Is Buying A Refurbished iPhone Safe?

Buying a refurbished iPhone is safe as long as you use legitimate sellers and check the phone for any defects. To stay on the safe side, always check the following things in a refurbished iPhone:

  1. Battery Health: You can check the battery health of your refurbished iPhone from settings. Always check the maximum battery capacity and peak performance capability of the iPhone before buying it. Make sure the maximum battery capacity is above 90% to get long-term usage with your refurbished phone. 
  2. True Tone Display: Many resellers replace the original iPhone display with a cheap LCD or OLED panel. To verify its authenticity, always check if the display supports True Tone before buying the refurbished phone. 
  3. Water Damage: You can check if the iPhone is damaged by water through Apple’s Liquid Contact Indicator present in the sim card slot. If the iPhone is damaged by water, the LCI will show red color instead of its default white color. 
  4. Check Activation Lock: As a theft protection system, iPhones come equipped with an activation lock which will show up when you start setting up your refurbished iPhone. During setup, if the iPhone asks for Apple Id and Password, the phone is still connected to the previous owner’s Apple ID and you should contact the seller immediately.

Is A Refurbished iPhone 11 A Reasonable Option In 2022?

Often, old flagship phones are available for affordable rates 2 or 3 years after their release and the same case applies to the iPhone 11. Plus, buying a refurbished iPhone 11 in 2022 will save you another 150-200$ from the MRP. Coming to the phone, the iPhone 11 holds up pretty well against other mid-range phones under 400$ mainly because of its CPU, the  A13 Bionic chip. With a 6-core CPU, 4-core GPU and an 8-core neural engine, the A13 is pretty formidable and shows great gaming potential. 

Coming to the cameras(iPhone’s major selling point), the iPhone 11 comes with two 12MP cameras with one of them being an ultrawide. Its camera supports night mode, Deep Fusion, Portrait Mode, Smart HDR processing and 4K 60FPS video recording. While it may not compete with the likes of iPhone 13 or S22 but is still great for casual posting on Instagram or Snapchat and can take wonderful photos under the right lighting. Surprisingly, the iPhone 11 comes with superb battery performance with a claimed capacity of 17 hours.

The lack of 5G connectivity and a lower-quality LCD display are the major drawbacks of iPhone 11, however, you will get assured software updates from Apple for the next 3 years according to Apple’s 5 year guaranteed updates policy. A major reason to buy the iPhone 11 is its build quality, something you don't get with midrange phone and the iPhone 11 also gives a premium feel unlike other phones in the range. Hence, buying a refurbished iPhone 11 is an attractive option in 2022. 

Now, the only thing left is where to buy it. While you can try and find a refurbished iPhone 11 from Apple’s refurbished store but it will cost relatively more and is not always available. We recommend using Back Market, a website specializing in selling refurbished devices. If you’re looking to buy a refurbished iPhone 11, then look no further than Back Market. You can buy an iPhone at a surprisingly low price of 300$ with 1 year warranty, 30 day return policy and 24x7 customer support. 

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