Best refurbished iPhones in September 2023

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Refurbished iPhones offer a great way to save money on your next iPhone purchase. The Apple Store, Best Buy, and Amazon are typically great starting points if you're looking for deals on refurbished iPhones. Depending on the model you choose, you could save from $50 to $350.

If you're looking for unlocked refurbished iPhones — the Apple Store is your best bet. All refurbished iPhones sold via Apple are unlocked and Apple usually has a wide selection of models for sale.

However, one of our favorite refurbished iPhone deals right now comes from Verizon. The carrier has the refurbished Phone 14 on sale for $18/month over the span of 36 months. It includes a 90-day limited warranty and no trade-in or 5G data plan is required.

To help you find the best refurbished iPhones, we're rounding up all the best deals below. If you're looking for deals on Apple's current flagships, make sure to check out our guide to the best iPhone 15 deals and Apple Store coupons.

Refurbished iPhones — best deals now

Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro: <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900245-15733793?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-12-pro-certified-pre-owned/" data-link-merchant="verizon.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">free w/ unlimited @ Verizon
Verizon is offering a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro for free with eligible unlimited data plans. In our <a href="https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/iphone-12-pro" data-link-merchant="tomsguide.com"" data-link-merchant="verizon.com"">iPhone 12 Pro review, we said the Editor's Choice phone delivers amazing camera and video quality. The iPhone 12 Pro features a 6.1-inch OLED (2532 x 1170) display, A14 Bionic CPU, and 128GB of storage. It also boasts a 12MP wide (f/1.6), 12MP ultra-wide (f/2.4), and 12MP telephoto (f/2.0) lenses as well as a 12MP TrueDepth (f/2.2) front camera. Verizon states that the phone is in "great" condition, which means it could have some light scratches and scuffs.

Refurbished iPhone 11: <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900245-15733793?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-11-certified-pre-owned/" data-link-merchant="verizon.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">free w/ new line @ Verizon
The iPhone 11 packs a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina HD display (1792 x 828), Apple's A13 Bionic CPU, and dual 12MP ultra wide and wide cameras. (Unlike the "Pro" models it lacks the third rear lens). Open a new line at Verizon and you'll get this phone for free. Verizon lists it as "good" condition, which means it has serious scratches, scuff, or dents. It includes a 90-day limited warranty.

Unlocked refurbished iPhone XS (64GB): <a href="https://target.georiot.com/Proxy.ashx?tsid=45724&GR_URL=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2FApple-iPhone-XS-Fully-Unlocked%2Fdp%2FB07K4V35TJ%3Ftag%3Dhawk-future-20%26ascsubtag%3Dhawk-custom-tracking-20" data-link-merchant="Amazon US"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">was $253 now $233 @ Amazon
The iPhone XS boasts a 5.8-inch OLED (2436 x 1125 pixels) display, A12 Bionic CPU, dual 12MP wide (ƒ/1.8) and telephoto (ƒ/2.4) lenses, and a 7MP (ƒ/2.2) front camera. Amazon lists the phone as "looks like new" and it backs it with a 90-day Amazon Renewed Guarantee.

Refurbished iPhone XR: <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-8900245-15733793?sid=hawk-custom-tracking&url=https://www.verizon.com/smartphones/apple-iphone-xr-certified-pre-owned/" data-link-merchant="verizon.com"" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">free w/ new line @ Verizon
The iPhone XR has officially been cut from Apple's lineup, so just finding this phone in stock is miraculous. You can get the phone for free if you open a new line at Verizon. It features a 6.1-inch LCD (1792 x 828), A12 Bionic CPU, 12MP (f/1.8) rear lens, and 7MP (f/2.2) front lens. Verizon lists it as "good" condition, which means it has serious scratches, scuff, or dents. It includes a 90-day limited warranty.

How to shop for refurbished iPhones

Buying any refurbished device is an easy way to save a few bucks. However, there are a few things you should always keep in mind when buying refurbished:

Cosmetic defects: Many refurbished Apple iPhones are sold in "like new" condition. However, the descriptions may change based on retailer. As a result, we recommend you always read the condition of any iPhone before making any purchases. Some sites like Amazon will list the info on the product page, but you may need to poke around before you find it.
Warranty info: Refurbished iPhones purchased from the Apple Store are all backed by a one-year Apple warranty. In addition, you also get up to 90 days of support and the option to further protect your device with Apple Care. However, that's not always the case with refurbs sold by other retailers. So we recommend you always look for the warranty info and if possible avoid buying refurbished Apple iPhones with no warranty info listed.
Return info: Buyer's remorse is real. For that reason you should know the return window for your your refurbished device. Apple, for instance, has a 14-day returns policy, whereas Amazon has a 90-day policy.

As deals editor-in-chief at Tom’s Guide, Louis is constantly looking for ways to avoid paying full price for the latest gadgets, appliances, and apparel. With over 10 years of deals-hunting experience, Louis price checks against multiple retailers and searches high and low for the best deals to bring readers. He's also always on the look out for the best coupon codes to use when shopping. A born-and-bred New Yorker, Louis is also an avid swimmer and marathoner. His work has appeared on Gizmodo, CNET, and Time Out New York.