How We Pick Our Recommendations
We evaluate hundreds of used and refurbished electronics each month to find the absolute best value. Our picks balance price, reliability, longevity, and real-world performance. We don't just look for the cheapest - we look for the best dollar-for-dollar value.
Value Score
Price vs performance ratio
Longevity
Expected useful lifespan
Risk Level
Likelihood of issues
Best Budget Phones
Testing Guide →iPhone 14 Pro (Refurbished)
The sweet spot for iOS users. Still has the Dynamic Island, 48MP camera, and will receive software updates through 2029. Apple Certified Refurbished includes new battery and 1-year warranty.
Samsung Galaxy S23 (Refurbished)
Compact flagship with excellent camera and 4 years of updates remaining. Samsung Certified Re-Newed program offers like-new condition with warranty.
Google Pixel 7 (Used/Refurbished)
Incredible value with flagship camera, guaranteed updates through 2028, and pure Android experience. The best phone under $250.
Best Budget Laptops
Testing Guide →MacBook Air M2 (Refurbished)
The M2 Air is impossibly thin, fanless, and fast enough for 95% of users. Apple Certified Refurbished comes with new battery and full warranty. Incredible value at $300+ off retail.
ThinkPad T14 Gen 2 (Refurbished)
Business-class durability at consumer prices. Excellent keyboard, great port selection, easy to repair and upgrade. Enterprise refurbs are often in excellent condition.
Dell Latitude 5520 (Refurbished)
11th Gen Intel, 16GB RAM models available at incredible prices. Perfect for students, basic productivity, and web browsing. Enterprise quality at budget price.
Best Budget Tablets
Testing Guide →iPad Air 5th Gen (Refurbished)
M1 chip brings laptop-class performance. Perfect middle ground between base iPad and Pro. Support through 2030+ guaranteed. Apple Pencil 2 compatible.
iPad 9th Gen (Refurbished)
The budget iPad king. A13 chip handles everything smoothly. Perfect for media consumption, basic productivity, and kids. Still supported through 2027+.
Best Budget Monitors
Testing Guide →Monitors are one of the BEST categories to buy used. Technology changes slowly, and issues are immediately visible when testing.
Dell U2720Q (Used)
27" 4K USB-C monitor with excellent color accuracy. Perfect for productivity and creative work. USB-C hub built in. Retails $500+, used prices are incredible.
LG 27GL850-B (Used)
27" 1440p 144Hz IPS gaming monitor. Fast response times, G-Sync compatible, and excellent colors. A gaming classic that's aged incredibly well.
Dell U3419W (Used)
34" ultrawide curved monitor. Massive productivity boost with picture-by-picture. USB-C docking. Original price $900+, now incredible value used.
Best Budget TVs
Testing Guide →Note: We recommend refurbished over used for OLED TVs due to burn-in risk. LED/LCD TVs are safe to buy used.
LG C2 55" OLED (Refurbished)
Perfect blacks, incredible gaming features (4K 120Hz, VRR, low input lag). The C2 is the gold standard for TVs. Refurbished from LG includes burn-in coverage.
TCL 6-Series 55" (Used)
Best picture quality per dollar in LED TVs. Mini-LED backlighting, Google TV built in. No burn-in risk, safe to buy used.
Best Budget Audio
Testing Guide →Sony WH-1000XM4 (Refurbished)
Class-leading noise cancellation, 30-hour battery, incredible sound. The XM5 exists but XM4 at this price is unbeatable value. Buy refurbished for warranty.
AirPods Pro 2 (Refurbished)
Best earbuds for iPhone users. Incredible ANC, spatial audio, and seamless integration. Only buy Apple Certified to ensure authenticity and battery health.
Sonos One (Used)
Room-filling sound in a compact package. Alexa or Google built in. Works with Sonos multi-room system. Very durable, safe to buy used.
Best Gaming Deals
Console Guide →PlayStation 5 Disc Edition (Used)
Full PS5 experience with disc drive for cheap physical games. Massive game library, excellent exclusives. Very reliable, safe to buy used.
Nintendo Switch OLED (Used)
The best portable gaming experience. OLED screen is gorgeous. Nintendo games hold value, but the console itself drops. Check for drift before buying.
NVIDIA RTX 3070 (Used)
Still excellent 1440p gaming performance. Mining crash dropped prices dramatically. Check for mining wear, but most cards are fine. Great upgrade path.
Best Camera Deals
Camera Guide →Sony A7 III (Used)
The camera that changed everything. Full-frame, incredible autofocus, 4K video. Massive lens selection. Professional quality at amateur prices used.
Fujifilm X-T30 II (Used)
Gorgeous film simulations, compact body, excellent image quality. Perfect for beginners who want to learn photography. Great video too.
Best Smart Home Deals
Thermostat Guide →Google Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Gen) (Used)
Learns your schedule, saves on energy bills. Beautiful design. These last forever and work perfectly used. Original $250, now incredible value.
Roborock S7 (Refurbished)
Vacuums AND mops. Sonic mopping is genuinely effective. LiDAR navigation. One of the best robot vacuums ever made, now at budget prices.
Best Wearable Deals
Smartwatch Guide →Apple Watch Series 8 (Refurbished)
All the essential health features: ECG, blood oxygen, crash detection. S8 chip is plenty fast. Apple Certified means new battery and warranty.
Garmin Venu 2 (Used)
11-day battery, brilliant AMOLED display, comprehensive fitness tracking. More fitness features than Apple Watch at half the price used.
Best Places to Buy
Different platforms excel for different products. Here's where we recommend buying each category:
Best for Refurbished
- Apple Products: Apple Certified Refurbished
- Everything Else: Amazon Renewed
- Phones/Tablets: Back Market
- Laptops: Manufacturer Outlets
Best for Used
- Phones: Swappa (verified IMEI)
- Cameras: MPB, KEH
- PC Parts: r/hardwareswap
- Local Pickup: Facebook Marketplace
- Everything: eBay (check ratings)
Always Test Before You Buy
No matter where you buy, use our testing guides to verify the product works correctly. For local purchases, test everything before handing over cash!
Ready to Save Big?
Use our complete testing guides to verify any used or refurbished electronics before you buy. Don't waste money on broken gear!


