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r/apple•
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iPhone 5s has been acting up, got it replaced by Apple, what's your experience with refurbished iPhones?

iPhone

So my iPhone 5s had been acting up and draining my battery furiously, had it checked out and apparently there was something wrong with Springboard. They tried to fix it but the phone was still draining battery like crazy. So I went back with it.

They came to the conclusion that it was best to replace it. So, what's your experience with a refurbished iPhone?

Posted Dec 18, 2014, 6:05 PM UTC

08
Bajuiceta25•

Just got my 5S replaced last week because of internal antenna damage.

The refurb they give you is fine. At least for me. And if it isn't they'll replace it until you get one that is.

I wouldn't worry!

2
Mykem•

I got a replacement/refurbished iPhone 5 after the one I'd been using for the past 1.5 years started to accumulate dirt in the lens barrel. What I found was that the refurbished phone actually had an improved anodization than the original one (which was bought a month after the release date and had none of the scuffing issue reported on the earlier version of the phone). It seems like Apple and its supplier/manufacturer constantly improve the manufacturing process. With that said, the iPhone 5s is a more mature product than the 5. Whatever mistake Apple had made with he 5 was already improved in the 5s.

Refurbished Apple product actually means that unlike production line items, these phones have gone through another QA to ensure that they're working/functional. I don't know if the iPhone receives the same certification process as refurbished Mac (since these are also sold to consumers via Apple Store) but here's what Apple has to say about its Refurbished Certification program:

http://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/refurbfaq_popup

2
CarbonDudeoxide•

Just to note, that refurbishment article is for refurbished devices on the Apple Online Store. The replacement devices you get at the Genius Bar are new, or refurbished using used parts. No device you get from the genius bar has ever been used by someone else.

1
AlbinoAlex•

I've had defective refurbs in the past (broken Wi-Fi antenna, visible LEDs, etc.) It happens, but they've always been happy to replace them again, this time with working refurbs.

1
ABadSanta•

Not sure how relevant this is to you, but I got my 6 replaced for a presumably refurbished 6 and it works as if it was straight from the factory.

1
CarbonDudeoxide•

That's because your replacement was new straight from the factory.

2
Zoklar•

Replacement iPods count? Had a 1g touch, first/original one the wifi stopped working (greyed out). The second one had an issue with the headphone jack. The third one was perfectly fine, and I kept it for years before eventually trading it in.

They're basically new products without the new packaging. I'd equate it to getting your phone repaired, except they replaced everything, which can also be an upgrade as any cosmetics (in the old ipods case the back) are back to factory "new".

1
CarbonDudeoxide•

They are refurbished in the sense that someone else had it before you, but in the sense that the parts inside the phone may not be brand new. These replacement phones are still in the same condition and standard of new phones.

0