Buying refurbished and secondhand tech

An incredible 62 million tonnes of e-waste was produced in 2022, according to the UN's Global E-Waste Monitor 2024 report. This represents an 82% increase since 2010.

The global IT industry produces 272 million laptops every year, with each laptop’s production responsible for an average of 331 kg of CO2.

With pressure to upgrade your devices frequently, especially following changes to software such as Windows 11 making millions of laptops and computers defunct or a security risk, many of these devices are thrown away and may end up in landfill, with human and environmental consequences. 

But they could be reused, bought and sold secondhand, or be recycled instead.

Buying secondhand tech can reduce the amount of tech waste going to landfill, and sends a signal to the tech companies that people want devices that last for longer.

It also helps keep various valuable materials that require energy and resources to extract and manufacture in circulation, reducing pressure for more mining. These include materials like gold, silver, copper, aluminium, lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements used in components. 

What's the difference between secondhand and refurbished?

While the terms secondhand and refurbished can be used interchangeably, there can be a difference.

According to Which?, a refurbished, or reconditioned, item will usually have been professionally restored by a manufacturer or retailer to the closest it can get to ‘as new’ condition. Refurbished tech often come with warranties.

In contrast, tech items sold as secondhand are generally sold ‘as-is’ by their previous owners, and their condition will be far more variable. They may not come with warranties.

We use both terms on this page, but if you want to be more certain of what you're buying, look for refurbished items.

Buying secondhand or refurbished mobile phones

Secondhand phones are widely available, although many may still be sitting in people's drawers. 

Estimates vary, but range from 20 million to 55 million unused phones in the UK. 

If you are buying secondhand phone, look for a model that came out within the last three years, certainly if it lacks a replaceable battery, which is often one of the first things to degrade. Unfortunately, the majority of smartphones use a sealed design whereby the battery cannot be replaced without a complicated disassembly.

Beyond three years, battery life degrades quickly and you may be unable to receive software updates or install new apps. You have a little more leeway if buying a more basic model as there is simply less to go wrong. The battery life on original 'dumb' phones is considerably longer than smartphones.

Durability

A quick web search can reveal which models tend to last longer. There are also ‘rugged’ models, although they can be expensive. It is worth noting that while plastic casing may look cheaper, it is actually more durable than aluminium, which has a tendency to overheat and warp.

If you don’t need all the capabilities of a smartphone, a basic model (known as ‘dumbphones’ or ‘feature phones’) can save you money and last longer. These 'retro' phones generally have fewer functions and can be cheaper. 

Buying secondhand laptops

Laptops have a longer lifespan than mobile phones, so you can often opt for an older secondhand model. However, the lifespan does vary depending on original cost. On average, the following lifespans apply:

If you do buy a secondhand laptop or PC, ensure that there is a clean install of the operating system so you don’t have to worry about any files or settings left over from the previous user.

Which? have an informative article on what to look out for when buying a secondhand or refurbished laptop, including how to spot good and bad deals.

It is worth ensuring that a PC is still compatible with modern software. Whilst hardware degrades quite slowly, the sheer speed of innovation can still render it practically obsolete within a few years. For example, support for Windows 10 ended in 2025 and the extended support licence will end in October 2027, leaving PCs that cannot run its successor, Windows 11, vulnerable to security breaches and attacks. To avoid throwing away a working laptop or computer in this scenario, the End of 10 campaign is encouraging people to install the free Linux operating system on their computers instead. This is a much 'lighter' and less bulky operating system so can run even on older computers.

Giving old laptops a new life

If you have an old laptop that is struggling with Windows, switching over to Linux can rejuvenate it.

Alyson who works for Ethical Consumer said:

"I had an old Windows 95 laptop that on its last legs and couldn't upgrade to any of the newer Windows operating systems. Someone was able to wipe Windows and install Linux on it instead. It is now being used as a writing device, with no programs on it other than a word document, to keep focused when writing. Although it could have gone straight for recycling, this keeps it being used for a longer."

What to do if your device breaks?

It is a legal obligation for companies to provide a warranty period. The cover usually lasts for 12-24 months but there are exceptions such as Fairphone and Teracube who have longer warranties for their products - our guide to mobile phones has more information.

Amongst laptops, ASUS stands out with a three-year warranty on some of its range.

Several companies provide care packages that include extended warranties at a cost. These can range from £5 a month to several hundred pounds a year.

Most companies will offer repair services beyond the warranty period, but these may not be cheap.

Repairability of tech devices

Unfortunately, many tech devices are not designed to be easily repaired.

iFixit is a company that rates devices based on their repairability. Fairphone is a clear winner as the most repairable phone, while Framework is leading the laptops list.

iFixit also offers free manuals and repair guides to help people repair their devices. And if you’d like company, the Restart Project encourages handy people to organise ‘Restart Parties’ to share their skills – see the Restart Project website for details.

If a laptop is definitely beyond repair you can still use its still-working parts. For example, an LCD display can be used as a stand-alone monitor. As Jessika Luth Richter from Lund University in Sweden says, “keeping devices we have in use for longer does two things: it slows the demand for these materials, but it also gives us more time to develop recycling technologies”.

And in rare positive news, new EU regulations in 2027 will mean that all mobile phones sold across the European Union will have to meet new rules designed to make them last longer, work better over time and become easier to repair. This includes the battery, which will need to be readily removable and replaceable in most cases. This could end the frustration of owning an expensive phone that no longer holds charge.

How to pass on, or dispose of, phones and laptops safely

There will eventually come a time when your device is unable to keep up with your demands and it reaches the end of usability for you.

If it's still working but doesn't meet your requirements, look for a local or national scheme for donating usable devices. For example, the Restart Project is a great option for donating old laptops and phones, with donation sites across the UK listed on its website.

You can also try selling the device e.g. comparison website Freedom Mobiles lets you search for the model of phone and shows the price offered by re-sales sites. Freedom Mobiles state they don't earn commission from their recommendations.

If the device is well and truly dead, it should be disposed of properly.

Because of the hazardous substances they contain, electronic goods should never just be thrown in the bin. Since 2007, all electrical retailers are legally obliged to either offer their own free disposal service, which must accept goods that were not bought in the shop (Curry’s is one shop that does this), or, alternatively, they must contribute financially to the scheme of national ‘designated collection facilities’. An online search for “WEEE recycling near me” should reveal accredited local recycling companies which will safely dispose of it.

The Compare & Recycle website has a longer list of recycling tech options including Currys and other stores.

Electronic equipment can also be recycled at most recycling centres or can often be returned to the manufacturer itself. 

How to sell your secondhand tech

If you're looking to pass on your pre-loved tech, read our feature article on selling secondhand items safely online.

This article was most recently checked and updated in September 2026. It was first published in 2019.