Should I buy a refurbished Apple Watch?

Discover the difference between used and refurbished Apple watches, where it’s best to buy them and how to identify the quality.

Refurbished Apple Watch

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Apple watches are a great way to stay connected with your friends, family and the world. The Apple Watch is an amazing device that can be used for many things including keeping track of your fitness goals, staying in touch with loved ones, and even making payments.

However, they are expensive but thankfully you don’t have to buy new, refurbished watches are available and they work just as well as a brand new watch.

Refurbished Watches are basically products that have been used or returned for different reasons. Depending on the condition they are then graded and prepared for reselling.

They are sourced from multiple channels including unopened devices, returned pieces, and even used ones with physical damages.

The quality is graded based on the condition. Refurbishers replace damaged parts with new ones if needed.

However, there might be certain defects such as light scratches or discoloured cases in some cases. But what makes them different from the used Apple Watches?

Used Or Refurbished

Refurbished Apple Watches pass through numerous tests and checks before being shipped out. They come with a one year warranty. This means that if something goes wrong, you’ll be covered by Apple. This makes them a more secure option for buying second hand.

There are many things to consider when buying a refurbished device. As mentioned already, the most important thing is the warranty.

All certified refurbished devices come with an identical one year warranty as to any other Apple product. But there are some things to watch out for when purchasing a refurbished device.

First off, if your device is damaged during shipping, you may not receive a replacement. Also, if the device breaks down after being used, Apple may refuse to repair it.

Lastly, if you need to replace a component within the device, such as the battery, you’ll likely pay more than if you bought a new unit.

Where To Buy

Walmart offers the cheapest refurbished Apple Watch. They also offer a 30-day refund option you can use if the watch doesn’t perform as you would like it to.

Mac of All Trades also sells refurbished Apple Watches. You can buy them for as low as 399 dollars. As usual, the refurbished watches come with a one year warranty. Additionally, payment plans are available to make it easy to afford a refurbished watch.

Mac of All Trades operates a 40 step inspection to test the quality of the watch. In addition, the Apple Watch is put through a hardware check. The watch is shipped out after it passes all the checks.

Last but not least, you also have the option of a two-year platinum warranty on some products making the deal even sweeter.

RefurbMe is an aggregation website with a lot of useful features. They offer filters and standards for various characteristics, such as wear and tear, warranty policies, battery health, etc., but also include a comparison process.

You need to be aware that the warranty starts from 30 days so it’s wise to double-check the warranty policy before buying a refurbished Apple Watch!

How To Choose

Third-party sellers may offer Apple Watches in different conditions. The most common conditions offered by them are:

  • Grade A. These watches are almost identical to new ones. Any signs of wear or damage will be minimal. Their price is higher than those of Apple’s refurbished products.
  • Grade B. These refurbished Apple Watches show some signs of wear. These watches could possibly have scratches or scuffs.
  • Grade C. These refurbished Apple Watches are obviously worn out. They are barely functional and could even break down if used incorrectly.

Conclusion

Buying second-hand watches certainly cuts down the expense of buying a brand new one and with the right research, you could very well bag yourself a bargain.

Kevin is the Editor of PC Guide. He has a broad interest and enthusiasm for consumer electronics, PCs and all things consumer tech - and more than 15 years experience in tech journalism.