Many people are prepared to spend a lot of money on new smartphones – that’s why it’s worth buying second-hand for everyone else: you can find high-quality second-hand devices on which you can easily play TonyBet in high quality.
A new smartphone every year? This is a problem
A new smartphone every year – in view of the well-known environmental and human rights problems in the electronics industry, this seems a bit out of date. After all, smartphones, tablets, televisions etc. contain raw materials whose extraction causes massive environmental disasters, often in countries where there are hardly any effective regulations to prevent this. At the same time, the raw materials are so valuable and their extraction so lucrative that armed conflicts have long since broken out over control of the mines. In parts of Africa in particular, cobalt, tungsten, tin, coltan and gold mines are financing and fueling such conflicts.
Added to this are often undignified and dangerous working conditions, both in the extraction of raw materials and in the production of appliances, as well as high energy consumption in production.
After use, mountains of e-waste are produced worldwide, endangering the environment and the health of many people. This often affects poorer countries with lax or poorly controlled environmental standards.
Smartphones & tablets: there is little to be said for new
In short, there are many good reasons to limit your own consumption of electronics – and to buy used rather than new. This not only conserves natural resources, but also saves money. In fact, there is very little rational reason to buy new.
I personally have only been buying used smartphones and tablets for several years now and have had very good experiences so far.
Mobile banking with your smartphone
In the vast majority of cases, used smartphones work just as well and last just as long as new ones – and you save resources. In online stores for used and refurbished electronics, there has long been a huge selection of smartphones, tablets and laptops for all requirements. You can find top models that have only recently been purchased and have already been sold off, as well as basic devices that are several years old.
Smartphones and tablets: The best tips for buying second-hand
- Compare prices: If you are looking for a specific model, compare the offers in various online stores for used electronics. Used cell phones are not always bargains. However, you should be able to save around 30 percent compared to the new price, sometimes up to 50 percent.
- Buy from reputable stores: The market for used IT is large – and used does not equal refurbished. Stick to trustworthy stores that really check and refurbish the devices professionally. Either stick to our list of the best. Or, if in doubt, use the fake store finder from the consumer advice center.
- Use filters cleverly: The range of refurbished smartphones on offer can seem overwhelming at first. Make sure you use the online store filters. For example, you can only display products from a certain year of manufacture, with a certain operating system, specific storage capacities, etc.
- Speaking of memory: You can save a lot of money if a device with a medium memory capacity is sufficient for you. Be sure to compare the various options here (see filter).
- You can also save money if you don’t stick to one color: The same smartphone or tablet model can have significant price differences in different colors.
- The optical condition of the device also influences the price: if you don’t mind minor signs of use, you will usually pay significantly less. Many stores allow you to filter by the condition of the device. External signs of use should have no influence on the technical performance.
- If you already know that a new top smartphone is coming onto the market soon – such as a new Samsung or iPhone model – it may be worth waiting for it: you may be able to get the previous model much cheaper on refurbished platforms.
- Don’t buy too old: At some point, there will no longer be any updates or support for old versions of operating systems or software – this can be frustrating or even dangerous. If you are considering an older model, find out about software updates in advance. Tip: To be on the safe side, stick to cell phone models that are no more than two to three years old.
- Find out in advance about possible repairs and spare parts. For popular models, you may be able to get a cheap repair service or battery replacement sooner than for rarer models. Depending on the model, you may still be able to save money despite the possibility of replacing the battery.