Used, refurbished or certified pre-owned: what is the difference?
In this guide
Used, or pre-owned, covers any phone that had an owner before you. Among these, a refurbished iPhone has been restored, often with several major parts replaced. Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH is our own standard for phones that never needed restoring: used before, usually lightly, then inspected, graded by their look and sold with a 12-month 3ASH warranty.
What does used mean?
Used means only that someone owned the phone before you. The word says nothing about how it was looked after, whether anyone checked it, or who helps you if a fault appears. Bought from an individual, a used phone is normally sold as it is: what you can see in a few minutes is what you get. Our guide on whether buying a used iPhone is safe covers the risks and how to avoid them.
What does refurbished mean?
A refurbished phone has been restored before it is sold again: every function is tested, and whatever has failed or worn out is repaired or replaced. Many refurbished phones start out with faults, damaged components or a cracked screen or body, so refurbishing often means replacing several major parts at once, such as the screen, the battery, or the housing that forms the phone's body and back.
Once restored, the phone often looks close to new. It is tested, then offered through refurbishment programmes and platforms, usually with a warranty. Done well, refurbishment gives a phone a second life. Sellers do not all use the word in the same way, which is why we set out our own standard below.
What does Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH mean?
It is our own standard, and it describes a phone that never needed restoring. Its previous owner usually used it lightly, sometimes for only a month or two, and it has stayed in full working order. In everyday use, it does everything a new one does.
Most of the devices we sell need no repair at all. Now and then, a device needs one or two parts that wear with use, such as the battery. When that happens, our specialist engineers fit high-quality parts, the phone works as it originally did, and our warranty covers those parts like the rest of the device.
Every device we certify comes with four promises:
- Inspected. Before it is listed, every device goes through more than 80 checks with Phonecheck software: the screen, front and rear cameras, speakers and microphones, Face ID or Touch ID, the battery, the charging port and wireless charging, connectivity with a real test call, sensors, buttons and vibration. We also check that it has no iCloud lock and is not enrolled in a company's device management, that its IMEI is not reported lost or stolen, and that it runs its original software. The previous owner's data is erased with a certified method.
- Graded. Each device is placed in one of three grades by how it looks: Excellent, Very Good or Good.
- Covered. A 12-month 3ASH warranty is included in the price.
- Returnable. You can return it within 10 days of delivery, in the condition you received it, with its box and accessories.
It ships in its original box with the original cable. The certification is ours, not Apple's: 3ASH DEVICE is an independent store and is not affiliated with Apple, and iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc.
The grade describes the look, never the performance
Every device works fully in every grade. The grade tells you only how it looks, and the price changes with it.
| Grade | How it looks | Screen |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | Close to new, with very fine marks visible only up close | No visible scratches, and the lenses are intact with no scratches |
| Very Good | Light signs of use on the body or screen that do not affect use | Light scratches that may show when the screen is off |
| Good | Visible signs of use on the body, with full performance | Intact, may show light scratches |
Each product page shows illustrative photos for every grade, and our condition guide explains them. If a look close to new matters to you, choose Excellent. If your phone will spend its life in a case, Very Good or Good gives you the same performance for less.
Used, refurbished and certified pre-owned side by side
| Used | Refurbished | Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Second-hand, often sold as it is | Restored before it is sold again | Used, usually lightly, and never needed restoring |
| Parts replaced | Depends on its history | Often several, such as the screen, the battery or the housing | Usually none; now and then one or two parts that wear with use, such as the battery |
| Look | As the seller describes it | Often close to new | As its grade describes: Excellent, Very Good or Good |
| Checks | Depends on the seller | Tested before it is sold | More than 80, with Phonecheck |
| Warranty | Usually none | Usually, on the seller's terms | 12-month 3ASH warranty |
| Returns | Depends on the seller | Depends on the seller | 10-day returns |
Frequently asked questions
Is certified pre-owned the same as refurbished?
No. A refurbished phone has been restored, often with several major parts replaced, such as the screen or the housing. A device that is Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH never needed that: it was used, usually lightly, and most of our devices need no repair at all. If one needs a part that wears with use, such as the battery, our engineers fit a high-quality part and our warranty covers it.
Which should I choose, refurbished or certified pre-owned?
Both can be sound choices. Refurbished suits you if you want a phone that looks close to new after a full restoration. Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH suits you if you prefer a phone that stayed in working order and never needed restoring, with its look described honestly by its grade. If a look close to new matters most, our Excellent grade is the closest.
Does Certified Pre-Owned mean Apple has certified the iPhone?
No. Certified Pre-Owned by 3ASH is our own label. It means 3ASH has inspected and graded the device and stands behind it with a 12-month warranty. It is not an Apple programme.
Do all grades work the same?
Yes. Every device works fully in every grade, and every grade comes with the same inspection, the same 12-month 3ASH warranty and the same 10-day returns. Only the look and the price change.
Is certified pre-owned the same as new?
In use, it comes very close: it works fully and does everything a new one does. The difference is that a new iPhone is unused and sealed in its box. Our new devices, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, come sealed with Apple's one-year limited warranty, and you will find them under new devices.
Now that the labels are clear, see how each grade looks in our condition guide, then browse our pre-owned iPhone by model. If you are still deciding, read whether a used iPhone is worth buying or ask our customer care team.
