Google’s premium flagship phones, such as the Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel XL, are expensive handsets. If you’re unable to meet the sizeable price tags that accompany them, you should consider a refurbished mobile contract.
What is a refurbished Google phone?
A refurbished phone will previously have belonged to someone else, but don’t just think of it as a second-hand handset. If it’s refurbished, it means the phone has been restored to its factory settings and given a thorough maintenance check and repair - as well as a good clean and polish.
There are lots of reasons why someone has returned or got rid of a phone, such as:
- The phone had a fault, was returned, and the fault has now been fixed.
- The owner upgraded to a new phone and recycled or sold their old one.
- The owner changed their mind a few days after buying the phone - and sent it back.
- It was a company phone which isn't needed any more.
New Google handsets sit at the premium end of the mobile market and have been built to a high standard, so it’s important to note that a refurbished Google phone is not a second-class handset.
What are the best refurbished Google deals?
The best deals on refurbished Google pixel phones will depend on your needs and how you use your phone. You can search our deals table to see what’s on offer from different mobile networks and retailers.
Have an idea of the number of minutes and texts you will need each month - and consider how you use data. The more data you need, the more expensive the deal. For example: watching a lot of movies on the go and streaming music will suck up a lot data, which means you’ll need a decent data allowance in your contract.
You can also compare refurbished Google pixel mobile contracts from different networks and balance an upfront cost against the monthly fee.
What are the cheapest refurbished Google phones?
A refurbished contract can often be considerably cheaper than a new mobile contract. You won’t, however, be able to get a refurbished deal on the very latest Google models.
Each time a new Google phone is released, the prices on older Google models will come down as people ditch their old phones to buy the latest model.
Flagship phones (such as Google, Samsung Galaxy and iPhones) do tend to retain their value for longer, so just because it’s last year’s model, don’t expect a huge price drop. You should start to notice significant savings on refurbished contracts once a Google phone is three or four generations old.
When deciding on what type of refurbished Google mobile contract to go for, consider how you want to split your costs, as some networks will vary the upfront fee against the monthly contract cost.
Some require a large sum upfront and then a lower monthly fee, while others flip this and include a higher monthly fee, but you’ll pay less upfront.
What are the benefits of a getting a refurbished Google phone?
- It can work out a lot cheaper than a new mobile contract.
- You can get most of the features of the latest Google handset, but at a more affordable price.
- It will have been thoroughly tested and should function as new.
- You'll have more control over which mobile network you choose.
- Recycling phones is better for the environment.
