Samsung now sells samsung official refurbished smartphones in Germany. Sounds like good news for bargain hunters, right?
Spoiler: The Galaxy S25 as "Certified Re-Newed" currently costs 769 Euros. The brand new S25? 669 Euros.
Yes, you read that correctly. The refurbished device is 100 Euros more expensive than the factory-new one. Since January 2026, the Samsung Certified Re-Newed Program has been running in Germany. The pricing raises questions.
What is Samsung Certified Re-Newed?
Samsung takes returns, tests them in their own facilities, and resells them as certified refurbished under the "Certified Re-Newed" label. But not every return makes the cut: An S25 that came back after 3 months because the buyer preferred the iPhone? Perfect. A scratched S25 after 18 months? Gets rejected.
What happens goes far beyond the usual "wipe the display and repackage." Every device goes through more than 100 quality tests in Samsung production facilities. The battery? Gets completely replaced. Certified new, not "good enough." Broken parts? Only genuine Samsung replacement parts go in, no knockoffs from China.
The most interesting part: Every device gets a new IMEI number. That's basically a smartphone's birth certificate. New IMEI means: No history in databases, no problems with insurance or carriers. The device starts with a clean slate.
And the warranty? Full 24 months like new devices. Back Market and Refurbed give you only 12 as standard.
Galaxy S25 Official Refurbished: All Models Available
Samsung starts with the current flagship series. You can buy the Galaxy S25, S25+, and S25 Ultra directly from Samsung Germany as samsung official refurbished devices.
According to NotebookCheck, all German CRN devices receive new IMEI numbers. No history in databases, no issues with insurance or carriers.
The Price Shocker: Official Refurbished More Expensive Than New?
Here's where it gets absurd.
The Certified Re-Newed Galaxy S25 (128 GB) currently costs 769 Euros at Samsung. The factory-new S25 with identical specs? 669 Euros. In the same shop.
You pay 100 Euros extra for someone else having unboxed the device already.
For the S25 Ultra, the price gap is even bigger: 1,239 Euros refurbished versus 1,099 Euros new. That's a 140 Euro premium for "sustainable."
What's going wrong here? Samsung probably lowered new device prices (the S26 is coming soon) but forgot to adjust the samsung official refurbished prices. A classic pricing error, as Heise Online reports. It turns Certified Re-Newed from a bargain into a luxury item.
Until Samsung fixes this: ALWAYS compare both prices before clicking "Buy."
Samsung Official Refurbished vs. Third-Party: When Does What Make Sense?
40% of Germans rate full manufacturer warranty as purchase-decisive. For this group, samsung official refurbished sounds perfect.
But here's an uncomfortable truth: Quality comes from the technician, not the logo on the letterhead. RefurbMe experts explain it this way: A reputable third-party refurbisher with good technicians delivers the same quality as Samsung. Often for less money.
When Samsung Certified Re-Newed Makes Sense:
You want the S25, not the S24. You value maximum security with replacement parts. And 24 months warranty matters more to you than 100 Euros in savings.
When Back Market or Refurbed Are Better:
You're looking for an S24 or S23. Samsung doesn't even offer those as CRN. Price matters more to you than the brand logo. And 12 months warranty is perfectly fine (honestly: with electronics, you'll notice problems within the first 6 months anyway).
Current status? For the S25, I'd actually buy the new device right now. It's cheaper AND brand new. Doesn't make sense, but that's how it is.
Conclusion: Samsung Official Refurbished with Potential
Samsung Certified Re-Newed brings the first samsung official refurbished smartphones with full manufacturer warranty to Germany. The Galaxy S25 as an officially refurbished device is technically flawless, but currently more expensive than new stock.
Once Samsung corrects the prices, the samsung official refurbished offering will become a real alternative to third-party sellers like Back Market or Refurbed. The 24-month warranty and guaranteed genuine replacement parts then justify a premium over the standard 12-month warranty from third-party sellers.
Current status: Wait for price adjustment or buy the cheaper new device until Samsung lowers the official refurbished prices.
