Is Back Market Worth It? A Deep Dive into Refurbished Phones
Back Market has established itself as one of the largest providers of refurbished phones, operating in 18 countries and valued in the billions. But are its phones really worth the money? To find out, we took a closer look at three Back Market iPhones, each in different condition levels: Excellent, Good, and Fair. Here are our findings:
The iPhone 12 in Excellent Condition: A Major Disappointment
Price: $357
Expectation: A phone in excellent condition should feel almost new and show only minor signs of wear.
Reality:
Screen Issues: The phone had a low-quality replacement screen that was dark, poorly fitted, and protruded from the body. The bezel was thicker than usual for an iPhone 12, indicating a non-genuine display.
Diagnosis: Tests showed that the ambient light sensor had failed, likely due to the cheap screen replacement.
Conclusion: The “excellent” smartphone was anything but. It seemed like a Frankenstein’s collection of inferior parts.
The iPhone 12 in Good Condition: Slightly better, but still problematic
Price: $266
Expectations: Light scratches on the case, no scratches on the display, and at least 80% battery life.
Reality:
Build Quality: The display was of the same poor quality as the “excellent” model, but the case showed more noticeable wear and scratches.
Inside: Like the previous model, this one had a red water damage indicator and lacked proper seals. The battery was haphazardly attached to critical components with adhesive, indicating shoddy repair work.
Diagnosis: The smartphone passed diagnostic tests without any major defects, but the internal inspection revealed numerous red flags.
Conclusion: Better than the “excellent” model, but still didn’t meet expectations for a refurbished smartphone for $266.
The iPhone 12 in Good Condition: A surprisingly good result
Price: $262
Expectations: Visible scratches and dents, possibly light scratches on the display, and a battery with at least 80% functionality.
Reality:
Build Quality: Surprisingly, this smartphone was in the best condition of the three models. The display appeared to be original, and the smartphone passed all diagnostic tests.
Internal Inspection: Unlike the other models, the internals of this smartphone were clean and showed no signs of shoddy repair, missing screws, or replaced parts.
Battery: With 83% functionality, the battery appeared to be original and worked as expected.
Conclusion: Ironically, the “good” smartphone was in the best condition and outperformed the more expensive options.
The Final Verdict: Is Back Market Worth It?
Our findings suggest that Back Market is inconsistent at best and risky at worst. While the “mediocre” smartphone exceeded expectations, the “excellent” and “good” models had numerous defects – from substandard repairs to non-original parts. If you’re considering a purchase from Back Market:
Caution: The rating system does not reflect the actual quality of the devices.
Check carefully: Make sure you know what you’re getting and be prepared to test the smartphone thoroughly.
Based on our experience, we can’t fully recommend Back Market. While there’s a chance of getting a good smartphone, the risk of receiving a poorly refurbished device is too high. For now, it may be safer to look elsewhere for refurbished smartphones.