Whether it’s eating less meat, swapping your car for a bike or saying no to single-use plastic, many of us are changing our lifestyles to live more ethically. However, few of us are aware of the enormous environmental impact of something we use every day (our smartphone) and what we can all do to reduce it. You want to know more? Here are five reasons why your next smartphone should be refurbished…
Keep your carbon footprint under control
The mining, shipping and production of metals that take place before a smartphone ends up in your hands generates carbon emissions, and carbon emissions are the number one cause of the climate crisis. Metal mining and smartphone manufacturing, which predominantly take place in the global south, are also highly polluting and therefore detrimental to delicate ecosystems. Extending the life of a smartphone can help reduce this impact: the longer a smartphone is used, the less damage will be caused to the planet. Obviously, it’s not always possible to avoid the need for a new phone, so buying a refurbished one (and selling or recycling your old phones) is a more sustainable option.
Find your perfect phone
You might assume that you will have limited options when purchasing a refurbished phone, but this is far from the truth. And in fact, once you free yourself from the automatic update system, you’ll be free to find a phone that meets all your most specific requirements, whether it’s one of the latest models, a top-notch camera, or an epic battery. life.
At giffgaff, refurbished phones are divided into four categories: like new; excellent; very good; and well. While all available smartphones will work flawlessly (all refurbished phones undergo a 30-point check before reaching your hands), these categories help you determine how much wear and tear they’ve suffered from their previous owner. If you want that fresh-out-of-the-box feel, choose “like new” as they look like new, with no visible scratches on the screen or body. “Excellent” has had light use, while “very good” has some signs of wear on the body, but its screens are in tip-top condition, and “good” has some marks on the screen and body but still works perfectly.
Save a lot of money
Unsurprisingly, buying a refurbished smartphone is cheaper than buying the same phone new, and in the current climate, who couldn’t use some savings? The amount you’ll save depends on the manufacturer and model, as well as the condition of the phone. As you might expect, at giffgaff the biggest savings can be found on the ‘good’ models, while you’ll pay more as you move up the ladder to ‘like new’. However, the price of “as new” smartphones compared to the price of buying them new can be wildly different. Take the Samsung Galaxy S22 5G for example: at the time of writing, you can buy this model “as new” for £389 on giffgaff, almost 50% cheaper than buying the same model new.
Guaranteed peace of mind
Buying a smartphone is a big financial commitment, so it’s understandable that when we do it we want peace of mind. And the good news is that you will get it. All giffgaff refurbished phones are professionally repaired, tested and quality controlled, and have a battery status of 80% or better. Beyond this, they also come with a 12 to 24 month warranty, so if you have any issues, you can return the phone within this time for repair or refund.
Give your old phones a new start
We all have that drawer somewhere in our house, the one where we keep everything electrical. Chances are, among the old batteries, cables, and chargers, there’s probably a smartphone you no longer use. The good news is that this means you basically have money sitting in a drawer. You can recycle your old phone, chargers and SIM cards simply and easily with giffgaff. If your phone is worth anything, you could make some money off it or put it towards a giffgaff phone. In fact, giffgaff’s average trade-in value for a phone is currently €133. To see how much you could get for your unused phone, simply fill out this online form (it will only take a few minutes) and giffgaff will guide you through the rest.
Check out giffgaff’s flexible SIM packs, wide range of refurbished phones and all the ways it’s ‘okay’ at giffgaff.com
