iPhone XR Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones - How is the quality?

[Yebubbleman]

I'm currently rocking a 128GB iPhone 7 Plus. I wanted to switch to a 256GB iPhone 8 Plus (because I absolutely love the now-defunct Plus form factor), but that got discontinued. I was waiting to see what this refresh would bring, but I'm wary of the standard iPhone 12 for a myriad of reasons. One of them is that the cost is way high (higher than a similar capacity iPhone 11 would've been a couple of weeks ago). The other fairly important reason I'm wary is that this is the first totally new body style for the iPhone in many years (One could argue that the 11 was an "s" release of the XR, which was kind of an "s" release of the 8 and 8 Plus) and Apple tends to have issues with whole new body styles, especially where antennae and cellular network changes (such as 5G) are thrown into the mix.

Long backstory short, I want a 256GB iPhone. I want it to tide me over while I gear up for 2021 or 2022 iPhones. I'd rather not go with the second generation SE or the iPhone 12 mini as I like the larger screen size and the cost of the 256GB iPhone 11, while tolerable for being a current gen phone is not tolerable for being a gen-before-current phone. I have my eye on an Apple Certified Refurbished model 256GB iPhone Xr. (It's not currently in stock, but I have Refurb.me notifications set up to alert me when it comes in stock.) It's $200 less than a brand new 256GB iPhone 11 and $400 less than a 256GB iPhone 12 and with that kind of money, I can save for a more substantial iPhone upgrade one to two years down the road. However, I've never purchased an Apple Certified Refurbished iPhone before.

I've done Apple Certified Refurbished Macs (and have had nothing but good experiences), have done Apple Certified Refurbished iPads (with mixed experiences, though I blame that more on the specific models of iPad than anything else), have done Apple Certified Refurbished iPod touches (and have had nothing but good experiences), and even Apple TV's and AirPort Extremes (with nothing but good experiences). Has anyone done Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones? Are they decent in quality? Is there anything that I should know?

I know I can get the typical AppleCare+ plans with it, but given that being without a phone is kind of a pain, I'd prefer to not be likely to need to send my phone in.

 

[Cookie18]

Refurb iPhones are the same good quality as all of their other refurb items.

How badly do you need a phone? There’s rumours of an iPhone SE Plus coming early next year which will be in an 8 Plus body.

 

[menist]

They are like new except for the motherboard and screen. New housing and new battery as it’s stated on the page.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Refurb iPhones are the same good quality as all of their other refurb items.

How badly do you need a phone? There’s rumours of an iPhone SE Plus coming early next year which will be in an 8 Plus body.

Honestly, it was rumors of the SE Plus that stopped me from getting the 8 Plus when I had the chance. But those seemed spotty and/or like what they were actually talking about was the iPhone 12 mini. If something like an SE Plus with the same body style as the 8 Plus came out, I'd be all over it. But I'm not confident we'll see such a thing, sadly.

They are like new except for the motherboard and screen. New housing and new battery as it’s stated on the page.

I know what constitutes an Apple Certified Refurbished model, thanks. I'm no stranger to the concept and I wasn't asking what they were. I was asking if people had experience with them and if those experiences were good enough to warrant my buying one. If they aren't, I'll suck it up and go with a new 128GB Xr instead, but I'd rather have the higher capacity at the cheaper price ($550 compared to the $750 of a brand new 11) if I can.

 

[menist]

My bad, Apple refurbished is what I go to first or direct someone to if they need a iPhone at a discount. It’s the same experience as buying it new. Same 1 year warranty, AppleCare+ can be added on and same 14 day free return. Quality is the same besides the notes I mention above, I’ve purchased a iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus in the past, they all are still working to this day, and btw I never bought AppleCare for them. Yeah, just keep refreshing and lookout for good deals on there, iPhone 11 will be popping on there soon after the 12 are released.

 

[Septembersrain]

The Apple refurbished are actually sometimes better than brand new. Reason being they go through another quality control test. So any flaws when it was new may be caught by this next QC run.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Also, if anyone knows of any issues to be aware of with specific regards to the iPhone XR, that'd be particularly helpful.

My bad, Apple refurbished is what I go to first or direct someone to if they need a iPhone at a discount. It’s the same experience as buying it new. Same 1 year warranty, AppleCare+ can be added on and same 14 day free return. Quality is the same besides the notes I mention above, I’ve purchased a iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, and iPhone 8 Plus in the past, they all are still working to this day, and btw I never bought AppleCare for them. Yeah, just keep refreshing and lookout for good deals on there, iPhone 11 will be popping on there soon after the 12 are released.

Again, I'm aware of what goes into an Apple Certified Refurbished product. You don't need to remind me. I've bought several of them over the years. For Macs, I've NEVER had an issue. For iPod touches and Apple TVs I've never had an issue. The only devices where I've SOMETIMES had issues were iPads, though I get them replaced at an Apple Store (which is usually done with another refurbished unit) and that's the end of that. Though the number of issues on refurbished iPads is not far off from the number of issues I've had on brand new iPads. And it depends heavily on the model of iPad (the Air 2 was by far the worst; though I've replaced a couple of mini 4's and first gen 12.9" iPad Pros).

I'm more wanting to know if I'm likely to have to return the iPhone XR I'm virtually camping out for because, where I'm okay with getting an iPad swapped; replacing my smartphone, especially during a pandemic, is going to be a pain that I'd rather avoid. Hell, I'd opt to spend the same amount of money that the refurbished 256GB XR would cost just to get a new 128GB XR to avoid that kind of a hassle (even though I'd really rather not get a 128GB phone at this point).

It sounds like you've had good experiences though, which gives me optimism. Now I just have to wait for the damn thing to come back in stock and pounce on it.

The Apple refurbished are actually sometimes better than brand new. Reason being they go through another quality control test. So any flaws when it was new may be caught by this next QC run.

I know. I just more want to hear others actual experiences with it. I've had stellar luck with Apple Certified Refurbished Macs, iPod touches, and Apple TVs, and mixed luck with iPads (not enough to turn me off to it totally, but enough to make me want to ask how it is for iPhones).

 

[iFone88]

I bought my watch off their certified refurbished programme. Came like new. If have no hesitation in using it again.