I spent €1,400 to find out which refurbished seller actually delivers on their promises. Three platforms (Back Market, Refurbed, and Rebuy), three identical iPhone 13 orders. For anyone looking for a refurbished phone or reconditioned iPhone: the results surprised me.
Quick Overview: Back Market vs Refurbed vs Rebuy
| Criteria | Back Market | Refurbed | Rebuy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Model | Marketplace | Marketplace | Direct Seller |
| Warranty | 12 months (up to 36 extendable) | 12 months (extendable) | 36 months |
| Delivery Time (my test) | 5 days | 7 days | 3 days |
| Price (iPhone 13) | €449 | €438 | €459 |
| Original Parts | No (third-party display) | No (third-party display) | Yes (all original) |
| Battery Capacity | 84% | 81% | 87% |
| Customer Service Response | 1 day | 3 days | 4 hours |
| My Verdict | Biggest selection, but quality lottery | Fastest growth, variable quality | Safest choice |
Why I did this test
A friend asked me: "Where should I buy my refurbished iPhone?" I wanted to give a clear answer. But I couldn't.
All three platforms have 4.5 stars on Trustpilot. All advertise quality and sustainability. But in the reviews? Horror stories about swollen batteries right next to people raving about perfect devices. How do you make sense of that?
So I thought: I'll just order the same device from all three. An iPhone 13 with 128GB, condition "Very Good." Around €450 each. About €1,400 total for this test.
Crazy? Maybe. But I wanted clarity. A comprehensive seller comparison that I could actually trust.
The ordering process: First surprises
Back Market was fastest. Website loads quickly, order completed in four minutes. What surprised me: My device came from a seller called "TechPhoneShop Berlin." Not from Back Market itself. I hadn't fully realized that.
Refurbed took longer. More selection, but also more confusion. Three different sellers had the same iPhone in the same condition, all at slightly different prices. I picked the cheapest one (€438). Again: A third-party seller, this time from Austria. If you want to compare iPhone 13 prices, you'll see similar variations.
Rebuy felt different. No marketplace, just a direct seller. The refurbished phone came from Rebuy themselves. Price was a bit higher at €459, but with three years warranty instead of just one.
Delivery: Who arrived first?
Rebuy won the race. Package arrived after three days. Simple packaging, but neat.
Back Market took five days. The packaging was more elaborate, almost like Apple's own. The iPhone came in its own box with accessories.
Refurbed? Seven days. And the package came from Vienna. The wait was annoying, I'll be honest.
The moment of truth: Unboxing and checking
All three iPhones on the table. All three labeled "Very Good." But how good is "Very Good," really?
The Rebuy iPhone actually looked almost new. A tiny scratch on the edge that I could only see in direct light. Display flawless. Battery capacity according to iOS: 87%. What "Very Good" means clearly varies a lot.
The Back Market iPhone had more wear marks. Small scratches on the back, but nothing dramatic. Display was perfect. Battery capacity: 84%.
The Refurbed iPhone fell somewhere in between. Barely visible scratches, overall good impression. But the battery capacity? Only 81%.
That made me suspicious.
The battery check: Where I got skeptical
Stiftung Warentest found in their test that 20% of refurbished devices had defects. Battery problems were at the top of the list.
81% battery capacity isn't bad. But for "Very Good"? Back Market guarantees at least 80%. Refurbed often advertises "new batteries." There was no sign of that here.
I used all three iPhones identically for a day. Same apps, same brightness, same usage. The Rebuy device lasted longest. The Refurbed iPhone had to be charged first.
What really surprised me
Then I checked something most people skip: iOS diagnostics via Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History.
On the Rebuy iPhone: All original Apple parts.
On the Back Market iPhone: Display marked as "Unknown Part." That means: Not an original display.
On the Refurbed iPhone: Also a non-original display.
This explains some reports on German consumer forums where users warn: Non-original parts can disable features like True Tone and compromise water resistance.
Back Market actually mentions somewhere in their terms that iPhones are no longer water-resistant after refurbishment. Refurbed mentions this nowhere.
The marketplace lottery problem
The most important thing many people don't know: Back Market and Refurbed are marketplaces. They don't sell directly, they connect you with hundreds of different refurbishers.
That explains why experiences vary so wildly. Order twice from the same "shop" and you might get two completely different quality levels, because different partners fulfill the orders.
Rebuy is different. They buy, check, and sell themselves. Less selection, but more consistent quality.
Customer service put to the test
I contacted all three platforms with a question about the device. Just to test how fast and helpful the responses would be.
Rebuy answered after 4 hours. A human, not a bot, helpful response.
Back Market took a day. The answer was okay, but somehow generic.
Refurbed responded after 3 days. The answer came from the seller, not from Refurbed itself. And it was only half helpful.
This matches what many users report on Trustpilot for Refurbed: "12 emails since July without a solution," "mostly automated bot messages."
The verdict: Who's the best?
After this test, I'd say:
Rebuy is the safest choice for your next refurbished phone. Consistent quality, original parts (at least on my device), longest warranty, best service. The price is slightly higher, but you know what you're getting. More about Rebuy on their seller page.
Back Market has the biggest selection and often the best prices. But: You're playing the lottery. The refurbisher fulfilling your order determines your experience. Sometimes perfect, sometimes disappointing. Back Market in detail shows their strengths and weaknesses.
Refurbed is growing in Germany at 38.6% per year, faster than Back Market. The sustainability image is strong. But in my test? Longest delivery time, weakest battery, non-original parts. The company itself may be reputable, but the sellers on the platform vary significantly. The Refurbed profile shows more details.
The truth about refurbished and reconditioned devices
What I learned from this test: It's less about the platform and more about the individual refurbisher.
On marketplaces like Back Market and Refurbed, check the specific seller's reviews before buying, not just the platform's. With Rebuy, you get consistency but less selection.
And wherever you buy: Check your device immediately. Check battery capacity, run iOS diagnostics, report problems right away. The 30-day return window is your best friend.
Buying reconditioned devices is smart. You save an average of 25-33% compared to new prices and 91% CO2 compared to a new device. But trust blindly? After this test, I wouldn't recommend that to anyone.
