Best Refurbished Phones 2026: Awarded Picks at Used Pricing
Refurbished phones from Apple Certified, Amazon Renewed, or Best Buy Open Box now come with 90-day-to-1-year warranties — making them as safe as new for most buyers. Here are the strongest refurbished picks from MKBHD's Smartphone Awards.
Updated · 5 picks · Rankings reflect MKBHD Smartphone Awards outcomes.
How we picked
Phones widely available refurbished from Apple Certified, Amazon Renewed, or carrier-backed refurb programs. MKBHD Smartphone Awards placement is the editorial anchor.
- #1
Won Best Camera at MKBHD's 2023 Smartphone Awards. Now $599–$699 from Apple Certified Refurbished. Supports Apple Intelligence with 4+ years of iOS updates remaining.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2023 Best Camera
- Apple Certified Refurb at $599–$699
- Apple Intelligence supported
- #2
Best refurbished Galaxy Ultra — 2024 Phone of the Year
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Samsung · 2024 · From $1299
Won Phone of the Year at MKBHD's 2024 Smartphone Awards. Samsung Certified Re-Newed pricing typically $799–$899 — same camera and S Pen as S25 Ultra, with Samsung warranty.
Pros
- MKBHD's 2024 Phone of the Year
- Samsung Certified Re-Newed $799–$899
- Same as S25 Ultra
- #3
Best refurbished Pixel Pro — 2023 runner-up Best Camera
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Google · 2023 · From $999
Runner-up Best Camera at MKBHD's 2023 Smartphone Awards. Refurbished at Best Buy or Amazon Renewed for $499–$649. 5+ years of remaining Pixel updates.
Pros
- Runner-up Best Camera 2023
- Refurbished pricing $499–$649
- Magic Editor included
- #4
Now $499 from Apple Certified Refurbished. Cheapest USB-C iPhone available — but does NOT support Apple Intelligence.
Pros
- Cheapest USB-C iPhone
- Apple Certified at $499
Cons
- No Apple Intelligence
- #5
First iPhone Pro Max with 5x telephoto, titanium build, and USB-C. Refurbished at $799–$899 from Apple Certified. Apple Intelligence supported.
Pros
- First 5x telephoto iPhone
- Apple Certified $799–$899
- Apple Intelligence
Frequently Asked Questions
Are refurbished phones safe to buy in 2026?
Yes from Apple Certified Refurbished, Samsung Certified Re-Newed, Amazon Renewed (with Renewed Premium for top-tier), and Best Buy Open Box. All include 90-day to 1-year warranty coverage.
Where to buy refurbished iPhones in 2026?
Apple Certified Refurbished is the safest option (1-year warranty, like-new condition). Amazon Renewed Premium is similar quality at slightly lower prices. Avoid sub-$300 deals from unknown sellers.
How much do you save buying refurbished?
Typically 20–40% off launch price. iPhone 15 Pro at $599–$699 refurbished is roughly $400 off the original $999 launch — a 40% savings on a phone that won MKBHD's 2023 Best Camera.
About this list
We index every phone that won or placed in MKBHD's annual Smartphone Awards (2014–2025) and surface the strongest matches for this category. Award badges link to the full award history. We earn a commission on purchases via our retailer links — at no extra cost to you.