For some time now, we have seen smartphones selling on the online sales sites sold at low prices bearing the refurbished mention. But what is really behind this new buzzword? Is it really worth investing in a refurbished smartphone? In this article we will try to answer all these questions..
The boom of the refurbished smartphone market
Internet users are more and more fond of second-hand smartphones and it shows in the figures. In one year, the second-hand telephone market saw its sales increase by 50%. Today it weighs more than $ 17 billion. And the phenomenon is far from running out of steam since according to very many specialists it will continue to grow for a few more years.
Aware of this new trend, large retail chains but also specialized distributors and e-commerce platforms now offer refurbished smartphones. These are most often devices returned by the customer or which have not passed the manufacturer's quality tests..
They are then sent to factories specializing in reconditioning. The phones then undergo a test battery (camera, jack port, screen, etc.). 
Defective parts are replaced by technicians. Then once the smartphone has been refurbished , it is placed in a packaging with all its accessories to be put back on sale.
Why is it worth buying a refurbished smartphone
The price is the number one argument for this type of product. Refurbished smartphones are generally sold at prices 10% to 60% lower than that of a new model. This allows you to afford a recent phone and benefit from all the latest features without blowing up your budget..
But this is not the only advantage. In the vast majority of cases, these smartphones do not present any significant defect except for a few scratches. In addition, unlike devices purchased from an individual, refurbished smartphones have a warranty of up to 12 months.
The pitfalls to avoid when buying a refurbished smartphone
But beware, the purchase of a refurbished smartphone is not trivial. This juicy market inevitably stirs the appetite of clever little ones. There are a few important points to check. First, beware of counterfeits.
According to the OECD report, one in five smartphones sold worldwide is a fake. Not surprisingly, there are some of these models on the second hand market. So you have to be very careful. 
These counterfeits generally have a shorter lifespan and do not always offer the same performance or the same security on the confidentiality of your data.
Prefer products from store chains such as RemadeInFrance or Smartphones Again. These two companies specializing in smartphone reconditioning have factories in France. Their products are distributed in major brands such as Fnac, Carrefour, Auchan, Amazon and Rue du commerce.
Refurbished certified mobile label
Also check that the company in charge of reconditioning your phone has the Certified mobile refurbished label. This label guarantees a certain number of criteria, such as the total deletion of data on the phone. This device also certifies that your used smartphone has undergone a number of tests before being marketed.