[Open Discussion] Do you buy refurbished tech?

Absolutely! I think that's a great bargain, as I myself have returned gadgets just because I didn't quite fancy them, so why not grab someone else's return for fraction of the price? 

Depending on whether I want the latest tech or older versions ie if I want last years or any previous years model ill always go refurbished but as with my s23ultra brand new has some benefits like warranty and cheaper device insurance  iy if you don't want any ov that refurb is the way forward, in my opinion anyways lol.

I bought an S20+ 5G earlier this year, that was listed on amazon as renewed. However, it appears to be a brand new phone. It required several updates to android when setting it up, which suggests it was brand new.

Apart from one occasion when I was gifted a brand new iPhone, I have always purchased second hand iPhones - most recently I’ve used Music Magpie for refurbished phones with no issue at all, saving hundreds of pounds over the years. I always get one that’s highly graded - and it comes wrapped and looking like a new phone. I definitely recommend it. Saves money and eco friendly too 😊

Well I used the Smarty app to link me to Renoxed.co, and I got £50 of a new iPhone thanks to them. Got an iPhone 13 Pro 128GB for £649, my first refurb phone, and it is in mint as new condition and even still under Apples warranty till December! 
Very happy with that.

I've never bought refurbished before but I just ordered an iPhone 13 Mini 256GB from reboxed in what they call 'premium' condition, so I'll happily come back here and update with what the condition/packaging/experience is like. Cost £539 and I've gone for the Klarna pay-in-three-installments option.

I'm currently on the iPhone 11 Pro, but it's been bugging me for a while. My battery has degraded to about 85% of its total capacity, there's quite a few scratches on my screen, the speakers don't work properly (they sound terrible), and I'd like the options of 5G and Magsafe accessories. I'm hoping this is a decent upgrade. I'm keen on upgrading next year to the iPhone 15 if it uses USB-C charging and offers a high refresh rate display on the base model, so this should tide me over til next year.

I used Smarty's offer of £50 off a Reboxed.co phone. I got myself a iPhone 13 Pro that's pretty much like brand new, with 100% battery capacity, not a mark on it, and still under Apples warranty until December for £650! That's a saving of £350 over its new price, £450 if you look at the new 14 Pro. To say I'm happy is an understatement, first refurbished phone I've bought.

The battery in my old iPhone was going so needed a new one and fancied an upgrade. I'll keep this phone for a while now. But with Apple phones being VERY expensive these days I don't think I could stomach 1100 pounds for a new one. 

Refurb is a tricky one.  Sometimes it's good, sometimes it isn't good.
I've saved quite a bit on refurbished tech, but then again, I've bought things only to find that it doesn't work.

If it can be helped, I always try to get something with a warranty (because at least you can easily return it).

I've done pretty well with refurbs. 3 years ago I got a top of the range dell precision laptop on ebay, refurbished. It was like new, nearly three years on site dell warranty included, £1200 (recently had a motherboard swap carried out by Dell in our kitchen). The dell price would have been 2.5k. More recently bought an acer Chromebook. £700 in Curry's, £400 on ebay, refurbished with a year warranty and like new. My son bought an MSI Katana 12th edition i7 gaming laptop. Again ebay, 1 year MSI warranty and £300-400 less.

With laptops it is certainly possible to make massive savings and get an as new machine with full manufacturers warranty. 

I have bought mobiles from curry's ebay store with a years warranty. I only tend to go for top condition equipment from reliable sellers which has almost invariably turned out to be like new. 

I sometimes buy refurb handsets.
It's always worth comparing refurb vs. new, allow with the length of warranty for the item in question.
Refurb be a way getting great value for money on occasions.