5 best refurbished phones, in UAE, for 2024

For one, these smartphones save you money – costing just half the price of a brand-new phone, in some cases. Another great advantage, is that you’re saving previously used smartphones from becoming e-waste. Oftentimes, refurbished phones have been gently used, or have lived a short life with their previous owners, so if they’re in working order, an early demise can be doubly tragic and undeserved.

While refurbished phones have been used before they arrive at your doorstep, Amazon Renewed ensures they are professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by qualified suppliers. The phones are restored to their original factory settings, and arrive with accessories that may not be original but compatible and fully functional. All products are also backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee, with which, you are eligible for a replacement or, in some cases, a refund, within one year of receiving the product if it does not work as expected.

Our curated list below highlights the best refurbished phones available, which have been rated as ‘Excellent’ on Amazon Renewed, right now. Shop with Prime membership and have your favourite one delivered to you as early as tomorrow!

1. Best iPhone: Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max 

Pros

Cons

This fantastic smartphone was a gamechanger when it came into the market in 2023, and it still remains one of the best Apple iPhones you can buy. Its titanium construction is sleek and lightweight, and its 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display is bright and vivid. The phone is rated IP68 for dust- and water-resistance. When it was first released, it debuted the new Action button, which replaced the ringer switch: you can customise it to perform different functions, like turning on the flashlight or acting as the camera’s shutter trigger. Apple swapped its Lightning port with the USB-C port in this device, so it’s a huge convenience for iPhone users, who already use USB-C cables to charge other gadgets. The phone works beautifully, with an A17 Pro processor that’s fast and capable, and a six-core graphics processing unit (GPU) that lets you play a slew of mobile games. A trio of cameras, including one with 5x optical telephoto zoom, offers hi-res, rich imagery and sharp details, no matter whether you’re clicking images in the day or night. The only downside may be that some users may find the phone to be a little too big and unwieldy for one-handed use.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh316.25 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty by Salama Care for Dh227, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh380, and two-year damage protection with one-year extended warranty for Dh484.

2. Best Android Phone: Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 

Pros

Cons

Three years after it was first launched, Samsung’s Galaxy S21 Ultra still remains a solid, premium-feeling smartphone, with excellent specs all around that cannot be ignored. Its 6.8-inch screen is covered in Gorilla Glass Victus, which prevents scratches and scuff marks; the display has a peak brightness of 1,500 nits, and a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It’s rated IP68 for water resistance, and has a better integrated camera module than its predecessor. There’s no bump on the back – the cameras are merged into the corner of the phone, which means it’s easier to slip into your pocket. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 888 processor works brilliantly here, with fast, reliable performance that will see you through hours of browsing, streaming or working. With 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage, it has plenty of memory for all your photos and videos, and won’t lag when you’re working with large files. At 229g, it is a heavy phone, though, so that’s something to consider.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh98.58 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty by Salama Care for Dh86, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh143, and two-year damage protection with one-year extended warranty for Dh182.

3. Best Stylus Phone: Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G 

Pros

Cons

Among Samsung’s roster of smartphones is one that offers no-fuss functionality in a performance-packed frame. The Galaxy Note 20 is built with chromed metal and trimmed with brushed edges that make it look classy and elegant. The matte plastic back is resistant to fingerprints. Its large, 6.4-inch AMOLED screen is bright and responsive, although its conventional 60Hz refresh rate may be disappointing for mobile gamers. The phone uses a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage (which is unfortunately non-expandable, unlike the Note 20 Ultra). Its triple-lens camera stack produces excellent everyday photography, thanks to its 12MP main lens, 12MP ultrawide lens, and 64MP telephoto lens with 3x lossless zoom. You’re also getting the S Pen here, which can be used for quick notes, and now comes with Air Action navigation for convenient shortcuts.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh49.08 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty by Salama Care for Dh57, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh95, and two-year damage protection with one-year extended warranty for Dh121.

4. Best Value: Oppo A77 

Pros

Cons

A phone that’s affordable, but still features all the specs you’re looking for in a modern phone, Oppo A77 is definitely worth your consideration. The IPX4-rated phone offers 5G connectivity and features a 6.5-inch Full HD screen that’s bright and responsive, even though it maxes out at a resolution of 720p. Its camera system works well enough for daily use; the 48MP main camera and 8MP front camera generate decent images, and you can adjust brightness and other factors post-production. Videos can be recorded in 1080p with 30fps, which is great for capturing life’s key moments. While the Oppo A77 supports dual Sim cards, you’ll have to decide whether you want to use a second Sim or a microSD for memory expansion, since they share a slot. Overall, it's a reliable workhorse of a phone that offers a good mix of storage space, stable Wi-Fi, and basic features, in an affordable package.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh54.08 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty by Salama Care for Dh57, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh95, and two-year damage protection with one-year extended warranty for Dh121.

5. Best Budget: Honor 90 Lite 

Pros

Cons

Feature-rich, with a premium aesthetic, Honor 90 Lite is a smart, stylish phone that’s affordable, to boot. It’s lightweight and elegant, with rounded edges, and a unique criss-cross camera arrangement on the back that’s quite eye-catching. The 6.7-inch LCD panel with FHD+ resolution, has a refresh rate of 90Hz. Reviewers say the screen looks great for a budget phone, with vibrant, sharp colours and decent response speed. The 100MP main camera is accompanied by a 5MP ultra-wide and 16MP selfie camera; while picture quality is great in the day time, some reviewers point out that there is some oversaturation and noise in night shots. The Honor 90 Lite’s MediaTek Dimensity 6020 5G chip offers fast and fluid performance, but it's best not to overload it with intensive graphic demands, like heavy gaming titles. The phone’s 4,500mAh battery can run all day, and it charges up in mere minutes, thanks to its 35W fast charging capability. Overall, it’s an affordable phone that can do the job you need it to do, thanks to a good processor, camera system and capable battery.

Bonus: Buy with 0% installments and pay Dh49.92 for 12 months with select banks.

Warranty: Amazon offers one-year extended warranty by Salama Care for Dh57, one-year accidental damage protection for Dh95, and two-year damage protection with one-year extended warranty for Dh121.

Our recommendations are independently chosen by Gulf News editors. If you decide to shop through links on our website, we may earn an affiliate commission, as we are part of Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.