How to know if an iPhone is refurbished

Refurbished iPhones are available in the market at low rates and are sometimes even certified by Apple Inc. itself. These are specifically the phones that have been returned by their previous owners due to some kind of software glitch or device problems (ranging from breaks and scratches to bigger hardware problems). Apple takes away these devices from the market, repairs them, replaces faulty parts and resells them. Most of the refurbished products are fully functional and operational but available at a low price. This makes refurbished phones a popular choice among buyers.

Now, there could be cases when the retailer would be selling you a refurbished iPhone, stating it to be a completely new package. Some cases have also been reported where a refurbished iPhone still has the inherent problems of software and hardware. Whatever it is, as a buyer, you need to know what you are paying for. Even if you are actually looking for a refurbished phone, you need to know that it is fully functional and operational.

From the outside, the packaging of a refurbished iPhone would look just like an original (read unused) one. However, there are certain tricks to identify refurbishments.

Look for the Apple certified seal 

The Apple certification seal will rightly indicate if your iPhone has been tested and worked upon by Apple technicians. 

Check the package carefully 

Refurbished phones come only in all white boxes or no box at all. For this, you can go to an original Apple store, check out their packaging and match it with the refurbished packaging you have eyes on. 

Checking the serial number 

The serial number contains a lot of information than you can imagine. Follow the steps below: 

After turning on the phone, go to Settings > General > About > Serial number (fourth last in the list). You can also get the serial number by turning off the phone, taking out the SIM and the serial number should be printed on the SIM tray.

Now, if your phone has been worked upon by Apple technicians, the first digit of the refurbished device would be 5. Further, the thirds digit in the serial number represents the year of manufacturing. If the number is 7, it means that the phone was manufactured in 2007. The different between the year of manufacture and the year you are buying it should help address queries. Lastly, the fourth and the fifth digits will indicate the week (pertaining to the year of manufacturing) of production.

Check for the space where the Apple seal features itself 

For devices like iPhone 4S, 5, 5S, 6 and 6S, the Apple certification seal should be at the bottom of the box. Anything otherwise would mean that the seller is trying to do something strange. 

If you have the budget, it is always advisable to go for new devices than refurbished ones. However, if you have brought home a refurbished device by mistake, you are stuck with it. This should also work fine, but do ensure:

1. That the battery is new and working. Old batteries come with reduced battery life.
2. Don’t try running unnecessary apps.
3. Add extra screen protection solutions (screen guards, covers, etc)
4. Never go for third party software, even if it is for things like virus protection
 

A well refurbished iPhone is as good as a new one. However, as a customer, you should ensure that your investment doesn’t go in the wrong way.

Guide to Buy a Refurbished Smartphone [Infographic]

Are you planning to buy a latest smartphone? You can give a thought to refurbished phone if you are tight on budget. You can get the same features and warranty with a refurbished one as well. 

Refurbished phones have been used formerly by customers however the customer might return the phone to the company for some internal faults. The company checks the phone and runs several tests. They also repair it if they find any faults. Here are some tips you should follow while buying refurbished phones.

 

Refurbished Phones

There’s no getting around the fact that Smartphones are expensive but the latest Smartphones are even more costly. We all want the latest phone and a model which is supposedly the best brand and has all the advanced features inbuilt in it! At Hot Bargain Phones our refurbished handsets are no less than the brand new sets, most of our handsets are as good as new ones. We can guarantee our customers that our phones will work just as well as the new model, the only difference is that our prices are much more affordable. Unlike a handset which is described as “used” or “second hand”, a refurbished handset is one which would have been inspected by the manufacturer to meet their original specifications. 

At Hot Bargain Phones our products function identical to a new handset. Personally, I have had my phone replaced by a refurbished one a number of times and there is no difference apart from the sheer fact that the phone does not come in its original packaging. The phones are reset to their original settings, just as a “new” phone, so what’s the actual difference? Refurbished handsets are the handsets that were either previously used by someone else, unwanted handsets that were returned to the retailer (even if unused, a handset can’t be sold as new if the seal on the box has been broken), or a handset that was previously leased by a company. 

Buying a refurbished phone can cut the costs considerably in comparison to buying a new phone, and there are not any obvious differences, everyone has a Smartphone in this generation, so why miss out just because of the expensive prices when you can purchase the latest phones from us at an affordable and reasonable price? Smartphones are beneficial for many things, for example if you are a business orientated person then not having a Smartphone is out of the picture, you basically need it if you want to survive in the business world! It is most likely that your Smartphone is used as your own portable, personal assistant, as it comes in handy when using it to plan journeys, write memos, set reminders and visit the social media sites that have pretty much become a long obsession for some people, this is just to name a few of the many things a smart phone is useful for. 

Gaining is Winning

We are the largest suppliers of used iPhones in the world. We refurbish used and pre-owned phones, which we also unlock and make them available and affordable to you.

Why choose us?

•    We offer FREE insured delivery in the UK and FREE accidental damage cover (for 3 months).
•    100% warranty cover for 365 days.
•    Excellent customer service guaranteed.
•    An efficient technical team available.
•    The best prices and deals you can find.
•    Worldwide delivery available.
•    Orders dispatched between 24-48 hours after thorough inspection.
•    We buy unlocked phones from you!

We also sell accessories. From adaptors and batteries, to chargers, cables and data storage devices.

 

What are refurbishing phones?

Refurbished phones are returned or donated from the previous owner and made ready for resale. All phones are fully inspected and tested by our qualified engineers.
Refurbished phones can contain minor cosmetic flaws but this will not affect the phones function or performance.

Why are phones refurbished?

Mobile users tend to routinely upgrade their mobile phone every few years, with some trading up more frequently. Used phones are sent back to the manufacturer to be refurbished, especially if they are not very old.

Mobile providers do usually allow customers to return a phone within a short period of time – known as a “cooling off period”, if they do not like it or have changed their mind. These devices are usually in perfect working order, but because they have been used, they cannot be sold as new. They are wiped of all data and resold as refurbished.

Locked or unlocked?

A locked phone will only work with a specific provider. An unlocked phone will work with any provider. Most mobile phone companies install special “locking” software on their phones that prevents them from being used with any other network’s SIM card.

It’s important to remember that you may have to purchase a SIM to operate the phone if you no longer have a SIM or if the refurbished phone is in addition to your current phone.
There are benefits to both locked and unlocked, but unlocked has proved the most popular.

Used Vs Refurbished

A used phone is sold as it is. It has not been fixed or tested and comes with no warranty or guarantee. If a used phone has a cracked screen, it will be sold with a cracked screen.
A refurbished phone is thoroughly tested, repaired if necessary and has been cleaned.

Gaining a refurbished phone is a great result because they are sold for a lot less than a new phone.

What are factory unlocked phones?

Mobile phones have become integral parts of our lives. While some people use the basic versions of mobile phones, others use high-end smartphones. There is hardly any person without a mobile now. There are two broad categories in which the mobiles are available – factory unlocked phones and locked phones.

Factory unlocked phones – what does it mean

Factory unlocked phones are those which can be used with SIM cards of any service provider. The hardware and software of the phones are not made for use with particular one service provider. People usually prefer factory unlocked phones over locked phones as these phones provide the flexibility of changing SIM cards as and when required. Customers can choose the service provider as per their own will by checking out the offers that providers give.

On the other hand, locked phones are those which are tied to a particular service provider. There is a bond with the mobile company and the provider for a fixed span of time. The phone can be unlocked after the contract period gets over. Since there is no freedom and flexibility in using locked phones, people generally avoid using these phones. Apart from restrictions on changing the service provider, locked phones have other limitations too, which makes using the phones difficult. 

Refurbished smartphones – high demands with people for its innumerable benefits

People often tend to get confused between refurbished phones and used phones. It is true that refurbished phones are not new, but they are not been into use much. It might happen that the buyer bought the phone and planned to change the same within couple of days. It is obvious that this phone cannot be sold in the market as a new phone. This phone is tested by experts, cleaned if necessary and then is brought into the market again. There should be no change in the functioning of the refurbished phone and should have the same warranty as the new phone.

The only benefit is that the price of such phones is way less than new phones of the same model and brand. It is possible to get all the attractive features on the phone by paying considerably less amount of money for the same. Getting full warranty on the refurbished phone is an additional benefit as such advantages are available with new phones only. If warranty is not being provided, it might not be a refurbished phone at all.

Hot Bargain Phones – great destination for finding used and refurbished phones

If you are intending to purchase refurbished and used phones, it is recommended to buy the same from trusted sources. Hot Bargain Phones is a reliable online portal where high end smartphones are on sale. Attractive discounts are made available on the phones. The rates of used smartphones on the site are less than half of the actual price. One thing is assured that there is no compromise with the functionality of the phones whatsoever. Majority of the phones that are sold on the site are factory unlocked phones.

Benefits of getting a used Smartphone

Modern day life is unimaginable without a smartphone. However, regardless of you being a college goer or a top executive, paying a huge price for a smartphone isn’t always justified. Smartphones do incorporate a lot of advantage than the traditional cellular devices. Every day new models are being introduced into the market by several manufacturers from around the globe. However, the more you pay for a phone, the more functionality you are exposed to and it is only human to desire more. A bridge between paying less and still getting the experience of the best smartphone functionality would be to go for used and refurbished phones. While it may sound a pretty cheap option for many, there are several underlying advantages for this buying behavior.

1.       Saving money

The top reason to go for a used phone is obviously to save a considerable amount of money of you planned investment. Depending upon the functionality you need, you can go for the best smart phone yet pay the price of an average one. Used smart phones aren’t as bad as deemed. In most cases, they are refurbished and sold. Others won’t be able to get a hint that you are holding a device that has been used for sometime by others. These phones are as good as new. Also, considering the fact that there is a considerable seller base that opts to upgrade every time a new model is launched in the market, their old phones (not quite outdated literally) can be had at a nominal price.

2.       Refurbished is as good as new

9 out of 10 users wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a new and a refurbished phone. However, you will be paying a lot less price than the MRP of the same model. The only reason why a refurbished phone (in some case, even only a week old) is sold at a lower price because charging the full amount is illegal.

Coincidentally, many online sellers are even selling refurbished iphones as new products and the buyers don’t know the difference.

3.       Saving the planet

Electronic waste amounts to a considerable amount of pollution in our planet. If everyone is opting for a new phone, the old models will literally amount to a non-recyclable dump that will consequently affect our planet’s health. In the United States alone, more than 260 million phones are being used and more than 170 million are replaced every year. Only 10% is recycled and refurbished while the rest 90% goes into landfills and toxic dumps. 

Where to get used Smartphones?

There are several sellers who provide used smart phones, with or without refurbishing. Depending on the extent of use and the damage (if done), phones are being replaced with new parts and even cases and offered in a highly reduced price tag. One of the best known sellers is probably eBay where you can get any used smart phone of your choice. Even some special services have emerged seeing the rise in demand for used and refurbished phone.

In conclusion, saving money and the environment should be enough reason to go for a used smart phone. Do keep in mind that you are losing nothing but actually contributing to your savings and obviously, the planet.

What Can We Expect From The Future Of Phones?

Technology has dramatically changed over the past 20 years and it has changed almost every single person’s life in many ways. Mobile phones are one of the many technical devices that have undergone immense changes. However there is still more to come. Endless rumors come out about new amazing things to expect from the future and technology, but how can we be certain what to expect from the upcoming years. Well here at Hot Bargain Phones we have done a bit of research and have picked out the most likely changes that will be made.

One factor that has already come out is being able to use our mobile phone on a touch and go credit card machine. Well you can now use your phone as a credit card! So could this be the end of wallets and endless amounts of credit cards? Currently only Barclay card have made this step and are the only bank to give their customers the ability to use this feature, however it is said that this could be happening with many other banks and can be done from only one phone device. 

In the next few years Samsung is said to be revealing a new feature to their world class phones. The Samsung team are working hard to create a new flexible screen that will give the users the ability to have the screen at the exact size that they require. The ins and outs of the new feature has not been revealed yet but we are certainly looking forward for its arrival as it will certainly for fill its name ‘smart’ phone. 

Did you know that Apples iPhone is said to have a better resolution than the human eye? So how could it be possible to move forward and improve on this? Well go into the next dimension of course, the third dimension! We could be soon expecting to see full 3D screens and holographic displays come right out of your phone! 

No specific manufacturer has been named saying that they will be launching this next idea, however many people seem to be speaking about it and it seems as though it is taken fairly seriously. As you may know some elderly people can struggle with looking at a phone screen, but this problem may be solved. It is said that phone manufacturers are planning to put a projector into the phone so then there are limited viewing issues and it could be an extra cool feature! As well as very useful and practical. 

Something that we find most exciting that is soon to be launched is the iWatch, by Apple. Apple keeps on surprising us with new features and new technology, and once again they don’t fail. Our hopes have all been brought up by the rumours of the Apple iWatch.  The watch is said to have all features from an iPhone, calling, taking pictures, using the internet, Siri excreta so if launched this could be a very handy gadget! We already have seen and maybe even purchased the Google glasses, so maybe wearable technology is the next big thing. 

So it is safe to say that we may have some interesting things to look forward to in the next couple of years. But don’t forget that right here at Hot Bargain Phones you can get up to date phones at a great price. 

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10 Best Free iPhone Apps That You Shouldn’t Miss

Gone are the days when iPhone was the only smartphone in the market. Today there are lots of other smartphones available in the market that give equal competition to the iPhone. Android phones have captured the largest market share of smartphones. However, iPhone continues to be the market leader and a lot of the credit goes to its app market which has the boundless number of apps. Apple app store hosts more than 1,200,000 apps. Thus, one cannot imagine an iPhone without apps. 

We often hear that catch phrase, ‘there is an app for that’ which reminds us that how important these apps are. In fact, apps have become a part of our chores. So, which apps are worth to be downloaded? Thousands of apps are developed every year but all of them are not worth to be downloaded on your phone.We have handpicked the 10 best free must-have apps for you this time around to have in your iPhone.

 

The above-mentioned apps work on both locked iPhones and unlocked iPhones. If you know some more apps that are really a cut above the best, be sure to let us know about them in the comment section here.