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iPhone 13 mini Where are the 13 refurbs in the outlet?

N

nquinn

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 25, 2020
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Would like to pick up an iPhone 13 mini, but at ~4 months old now don't want to pay full price.

Apple's outlet doesn't even have any iPhone 12s, let alone iPhone 13s in stock!

Is this more of a pandemic issue? Or when might we expect to see some appear? Trying to nap a 256gb 13 mini.
 
Refurbs come out when the device is no longer the newest model. Sometimes longer, for example Apple doesn't sell 12 or 13 models on the refurbished store. The newest models they sell would be the 11/Pro.
 
The iPhone 13 will still be the current phone for the next 7 months and a worldwide chip shortage has led to supply chain issues in many industries, so naturally Apple isn‘t exactly throwing around discounts for their newest product.

You can always try other sites that offer refurbished models, but don‘t expect them to be up to the same standard.

If it were me, I‘d simply buy a new one. I can‘t imagine you‘d save a ton now anyway, so just wait until you find a decent deal on a new iPhone 13 and get it.
 
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As mentioned, you won’t get one from Apple for a long time…

Used may be your best bet if you don’t want to pay full retail.
 
It changes every so often.

On the uk site under refurbished I see 12 mini, standard, Pro and Pro max. Storage is a bit random but they do appear every so often.
 
acorntoy said:
Refurbs come out when the device is no longer the newest model. Sometimes longer, for example Apple doesn't sell 12 or 13 models on the refurbished store. The newest models they sell would be the 11/Pro.
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Realize I'm replying a bit later, but worth mentioning that iPhone 12's are in the outlet now.

Mostly was trying to get a sense for how long it takes most products to appear (6 months? 12 months? longer?)

For example, 14" macbook pros are already in the outlet and they came out 2-3 months after the iPhone 13.
 
nquinn said:
Realize I'm replying a bit later, but worth mentioning that iPhone 12's are in the outlet now.

Mostly was trying to get a sense for how long it takes most products to appear (6 months? 12 months? longer?)

For example, 14" macbook pros are already in the outlet and they came out 2-3 months after the iPhone 13.
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It seems phone take the longest out of all products, usually about 12+ months.
 
acorntoy said:
It seems phone take the longest out of all products, usually about 12+ months.
Click to expand...

Hmm ya wonder why. You would think iPhones would get more returns/refurbs than macbooks and other items given their usage and quantities.

Could just be intentionally held back by Apple to keep new sales up.

Any idea when 12 minis became available compared to first release?
 
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nquinn said:
Hmm ya wonder why.

Could just be intentionally held back by Apple to keep new sales up.
P
Click to expand...

nquinn said:
Hmm ya wonder why. You would think iPhones would get more returns/refurbs than macbooks and other items given their usage and quantities.

Could just be intentionally held back by Apple to keep new sales up.

Any idea when 12 minis became available compared to first release?
Click to expand...
Just pure speculation, but I think it is likely that Apple dumps returned current and last year's iPhones to a number of second and third party sources, with the proviso that the buyer doesn't say where they got them.

Such as to mass iPhone Ebay sellers (with perhaps Apple being the real seller), or to be sold off as Amazon "renewed" etc., or to be used by carriers as incentives for prepaid phone deals.
 
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rui no onna said:
It’s the same for iPads. Current gen models usually aren’t made available on the refurb store until the next model is released.
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Has that always been the case? Have current gen iPhones ever been made available sooner?

(asking because I really need to upgrade this iPhone 8 pronto and don't want to waste $30-$40 on a battery replacement)
 
nquinn said:
Has that always been the case? Have current gen iPhones ever been made available sooner?

(asking because I really need to upgrade this iPhone 8 pronto and don't want to waste $30-$40 on a battery replacement)
Click to expand...

I believe that has been the case ever since iPhones were offered on the refurb store (starting with the 6s, I think). Before the 6s, you couldn't even buy Apple certified refurb iPhones in the US.
 
rui no onna said:
I believe that has been the case ever since iPhones were offered on the refurb store (starting with the 6s, I think). Before the 6s, you couldn't even buy Apple certified refurb iPhones in the US.
Click to expand...

Thanks, that's a good enough data point for me not to wait. November/dec is also too far away for me to get a phone I think. Oddly it actually makes me feel better if they stick with the A15 in the new iPhone 14 non-pros.

Will feel less bad about getting the older 13 mini.

(I mostly want a better cpu and camera. The modest +10% improvement from A14->15 was disappointing).
 
ccprstuff said:
Just pure speculation, but I think it is likely that Apple dumps returned current and last year's iPhones to a number of second and third party sources, with the proviso that the buyer doesn't say where they got them.

Such as to mass iPhone Ebay sellers (with perhaps Apple being the real seller), or to be sold off as Amazon "renewed" etc., or to be used by carriers as incentives for prepaid phone deals.
Click to expand...
Except, everybody knows eBay phones are refurbished that have mixed parts, that are likely also exchanging cheap Chinese batteries in place of Apples OEM. The rule is, you don’t buy refurbished eBay phones, unless it’s from a reputable seller that guarantees it’s Apple OEM parts only. (Which third-party suppliers do not have access to Apples OEM parts, which is why they use parts from other iPhone models.)
 
Should I expect 13 mini's to start appearing in Apple outlet mid-september when the 14 is announced? Or later?

Badly need a phone but don't want to pay full price for a 13 mini right now. I bought a renewed one off Amazon but the lightning port failed within 3 days so not a big fan of non-official Apple refurbs.
 
44267547 said:
Except, everybody knows eBay phones are refurbished that have mixed parts, that are likely also exchanging cheap Chinese batteries in place of Apples OEM. The rule is, you don’t buy refurbished eBay phones, unless it’s from a reputable seller that guarantees it’s Apple OEM parts only. (Which third-party suppliers do not have access to Apples OEM parts, which is why they use parts from other iPhone models.)
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if this is really a concern anymore. iOS will show you if at least the display, battery, and camera are original OEM unless chinese sellers found a way to fake that.


IMG_285D3BA6346D-1.jpeg


Unfortunately this is an Amazon renewed I have to return because the lightning port failed after 3 days!
 
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By outlet, do you mean the Apple refurbished store?

iPhone 13 mini in the refurbished store won't appear right away when the 14 comes out. Apple likes to take their time when it comes to releasing newer iPhones to their refurbished store. It's only now that they started selling refurbished iPhone 12 mini. If you don't mind a refurbished 12 mini, you can buy it from them now.
 
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nquinn said:
Should I expect 13 mini's to start appearing in Apple outlet mid-september when the 14 is announced? Or later?

Badly need a phone but don't want to pay full price for a 13 mini right now. I bought a renewed one off Amazon but the lightning port failed within 3 days so not a big fan of non-official Apple refurbs.
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Probably later for refurbs.

Chances are the 13 mini might also see a $100 price drop on MSRP after the 14 is announced.
 
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