The short answer
Yes. A refurbished iPhone is safe to buy. The trick is to buy from someone who tests and backs every phone.
A good seller fixes faults, wipes the phone, and gives you a warranty. A bad one just wipes it and ships it. This guide shows you the difference.
What “refurbished” should mean
Refurbished means the phone was used, then made right again. It is not “used and sold as is”.
Here is what we do to every iPhone:
- We test 80 things on it. See our 80 point check.
- We fix what needs fixing.
- We wipe it clean and reset it. Nothing from the old owner is left.
- We check it is not lost or stolen.
- We make sure it is not locked to a network or another person.
If a phone does not pass, we do not sell it.
Check the battery
A worn battery is the most common refurb problem.
Every iPhone we sell is at 90% health or better. If it is below that, we replace it first.
Ask any seller what battery health you get. A good one will give you a number. We explain it all in our guide to iPhone battery health.
Check the warranty
This is the big one. A warranty is the seller saying “we stand behind this”.
Every phone we sell comes with a 12 month warranty. If it breaks, get in touch and we’ll put it right. We also sell each phone as described. If it turns up different from the listing, we make it right. We call that the Mason Promise.
Check the grade
A grade is how the phone looks. It does not change how it works.
We use three grades: Pristine, Good and Fair. Every grade passes the same 80 point test. See what the grades mean. Pick Pristine if you want it to look new. Pick Fair to save the most.
A quick checklist before you pay
- Is the phone tested, with the faults fixed?
- Is the battery at 90% health or better?
- Is there a real warranty, in writing?
- Is it unlocked and cleared of the old account?
- Does the price include tracked shipping?
If you can tick all five, you are buying safely.
Why people choose refurbished
A refurbished iPhone saves you hundreds. You get the same phone for a lot less. And you keep an old phone out of the bin.
Ready to look? Browse our refurbished iPhones. Every one is tested, graded and backed for 12 months.