Best Refurbished Phones for Students in the UK

Student life is expensive enough without adding the cost of a brand-new phone on top. For most students in the UK, a refurbished phone is often the smarter buy: you can get reliable performance, solid battery life, a good camera, and modern features without paying flagship prices.

The key is choosing a model that still feels fast, lasts through long days on campus, and gives you real value for money. That is why this guide focuses on the best refurbished phones for students in the UK, with picks for Apple users, Android fans, tighter budgets, and students who want the best all-rounder.

Best Refurbished Phones for Students in the UK: Quick Picks

If you want the short version, these are the student-friendly refurbished phones we recommend most:

• Best overall: iPhone 13

• Best Apple value: iPhone 12

• Best budget iPhone: iPhone SE (2022)

• Best low-cost all-rounder: iPhone 11

• Best Android value: Samsung Galaxy S21

• Best for camera lovers: Google Pixel 7a

How We Chose the Best Refurbished Student Phones

Not every refurbished phone is a good student phone. Some are cheap but already feel outdated. Others still look premium, but cost too much to be the smartest-value option.

For this guide, we focused on the things that matter most to students:

• day-to-day speed for apps, browsing, banking, maps, and streaming

• battery life for long classes, travel, and evenings out

• camera quality for everyday photos, video calls, and social content

• software lifespan, so the phone still feels current for the next few academic years

• realistic refurbished value in the UK

• overall reliability and ease of use

We also prioritised phones that make sense for real student budgets rather than simply listing the newest and most expensive models.

Best Refurbished Phones for Students in the UK

iPhone 13 – Best Overall Refurbished Phone for Students

For most students, the refurbished iPhone 13 is the safest all-round choice. It strikes a strong balance between performance, battery life, camera quality, and long-term usability, which makes it ideal if you want one phone to handle everything well.

It is fast enough for everyday uni life, from lecture recordings and note apps to navigation, mobile banking, FaceTime, and social media. The camera is reliable, the design still feels modern, and it gives you a more up-to-date iPhone experience than older budget options.

Best for: students who want one dependable iPhone that does everything well
Why students should buy it: strong all-round performance, good battery, modern design, 5G support
Main trade-off: costs more than older iPhones like the iPhone 11 or SE

If you want a refurbished iPhone that feels current without paying new-model prices, the iPhone 13 is the strongest overall pick.

Check the Discounted Price iPhone 13

iPhone 12 – Best Apple Value Pick

The refurbished iPhone 12 is a great choice for students who want a modern-looking iPhone and 5G support, but want to spend a little less than they would on an iPhone 13.

It still feels fast in daily use, handles student essentials smoothly, and gives you the flat-edge iPhone design many buyers still prefer. For students who care about value, it often hits a very good middle ground between price and modern features.

Best for: Apple users who want strong value
Why students should buy it: modern design, reliable everyday speed, 5G, usually better value than newer models
Main trade-off: not as strong as the iPhone 13 for battery life and overall longevity

If your budget does not stretch comfortably to an iPhone 13, the iPhone 12 is often the smarter-value Apple option.

See Our iPhone 12 With Free Next Day Delivery 

iPhone 11 – Best Low-Cost iPhone for Students

The refurbished iPhone 11 is still one of the best choices for students who want an affordable iPhone without moving too far down the quality ladder.

It is ideal for messaging, streaming, social apps, online study tools, navigation, and general daily use. It may not look as modern as the iPhone 12 or 13, but for many students the lower price is what makes it attractive.

Best for: students who want a dependable iPhone at a lower refurbished price
Why students should buy it: familiar Apple experience, solid performance, good everyday value
Main trade-off: older design and no 5G

If your priority is getting an iPhone for as little as possible while still keeping the experience practical and reliable, the iPhone 11 is a sensible pick.

Buy Now iPhone 11 At 70% off

iPhone SE (2022) – Best Budget iPhone for Students

The refurbished iPhone SE (2022) is best for students who want Apple performance at a lower entry price and do not mind a smaller screen and older-style design.

Its biggest strength is value. You still get a capable chip and a straightforward iPhone experience, but at a price point that can be much easier for students to justify. It is also a good option for anyone who prefers a smaller handset that slips easily into a pocket or bag.

Best for: tighter budgets, compact-phone users, students who just want Apple basics done well
Why students should buy it: lower cost, modern performance for the money, easy to use
Main trade-off: small display and older design compared with more modern iPhones

For students who want the most affordable realistic route into Apple, the iPhone SE (2022) is one of the strongest refurbished options.

Shop the iPhone SE 2022 

Samsung Galaxy S21 – Best Refurbished Android Phone for Students

If you prefer Android, the refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 is one of the best-value student phones available. It still feels premium, the display is strong, and it handles daily tasks with ease.

It is a very good choice for students who want a flagship-style Android without paying current flagship prices. Whether you are using it for Google apps, streaming, multitasking, photos, or travel, it still offers a very balanced experience.

Best for: Android users who want premium feel and strong value
Why students should buy it: excellent display, reliable performance, flagship feel for less
Main trade-off: older than newer Android options, so it is not the longest-term choice in the category

If you want a refurbished Android phone that feels more premium than a typical budget handset, the Galaxy S21 is a smart buy.

Check the Discounted price Samsung Galaxy S21

Google Pixel 7a – Best Camera Phone for Students

The refurbished Google Pixel 7a is a strong pick for students who care most about camera quality, clean Android software, and simple everyday usability.

For many students, the camera is a big deal. Whether it is nights out, campus memories, quick snaps, or social content, the Pixel 7a is a very appealing option because it gives you a polished, easy-to-use camera experience without moving into ultra-expensive territory.

Best for: students who want a great camera and clean Android experience
Why students should buy it: strong photo quality, user-friendly software, good everyday performance
Main trade-off: usually not the very cheapest Android option

If your phone doubles as your everyday camera, the Pixel 7a is one of the best refurbished student choices in the UK.

Buy Google Pixel 7a With 30 Days Return Offer 

Which Refurbished Phone Is Best for Your Budget?

Budget is one of the biggest deciding factors for students, so here is a simpler way to choose.

Best refurbished phones for students under £200

If you are shopping on a tighter budget, the iPhone 11 and some grades of theiPhone SE (2022) are usually the most attractive Apple options. On Android, older Galaxy and Pixel models can also offer strong value if you want to keep spending down.

At this level, focus less on cosmetic perfection and more on battery condition, full functionality, and trusted grading. For Finding Best £200 Phone read Our Detail Guide 

Best refurbished phones for students under £300

This is often the sweet spot for value. The iPhone 12, Samsung Galaxy S21, and some stock of the Google Pixel 7a can become very attractive choices here depending on grade, storage, and current availability.

For most students, this is where the best balance of price and performance tends to sit. For Finding Best £300 Phone read Our Detail Guide 

Best premium-value option

If you can stretch a little further, the iPhone 13 is usually the best premium-value student pick. It feels modern, reliable, and more future-proof than older models, while still costing much less than buying new.

How to Choose a Refurbished Phone for School or University

A student phone should not just be cheap. It needs to be practical.

Choose enough storage

For lighter users, 64GB can be enough. But for most students, 128GB is the safer choice, especially if you keep lots of photos, lecture recordings, apps, downloads, and videos on your device.

Prioritise battery over cosmetics

A phone with light cosmetic wear but stronger battery life is often a better student buy than a cleaner-looking device that runs flat too quickly. Battery matters when you are out all day and do not want to worry about finding a charger between lectures.

Understand refurbished grades

Before buying, make sure you understand the grading. Zextons publicly says it uses transparent grading such as Excellent, Good, and Fair, alongside an 18-month warranty and free UK next-day delivery on refurbished devices.

For students, a Good or Fair grade can often be the better-value choice if you are more concerned with price and performance than near-new appearance.

Buy unlocked where possible

Unlocked phones are usually the better option for students because they give you flexibility. You can use your preferred SIM, switch networks more easily, and often save money by pairing your phone with a good SIM-only deal.

Think long-term, not just short-term price

A slightly better phone can be a smarter buy if it lasts longer and feels good for the next few academic years. That is why value matters more than simply choosing the cheapest model on the page.

Why Buy a Refurbished Student Phone from Zextons?

Buying refurbished only makes sense when the seller is clear about quality, grading, and support.

Zextons says its refurbished devices include an 18-month warranty, free UK next-day delivery, and transparent grading, and its main site also highlights expert grading and discounts of up to 70% on refurbished tech.

That matters for students because it makes the buying process feel safer and simpler. Instead of just chasing the lowest price, you can focus on getting a phone that is tested, clearly graded, and backed by after-sales support. Zextons’ terms also state that refurbished devices undergo diagnostics, cleaning, sanitisation, data wiping, and full functional testing.

FAQs About Refurbished Phones for Students

Are refurbished phones good for students in the UK?

Yes, refurbished phones are often a very smart option for students because they can offer much better value than buying new. The important thing is to buy from a trusted seller with clear grading, testing, and warranty support.

Which refurbished iPhone is best for students?

For most students, the iPhone 13 is the best all-round refurbished iPhone. If you want to spend less, the iPhone 12, iPhone 11, and iPhone SE (2022) are all strong alternatives depending on your budget.

What is the best refurbished Android phone for students?

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is one of the best all-round Android choices for students, while the Google Pixel 7a is especially strong if camera quality matters most to you.

Is a Good or Fair refurbished phone worth buying?

Yes, it can be. For students, a lower cosmetic grade is often worth considering if it helps you get a better model for less money. Functionality, battery condition, and seller support matter more than having a near-perfect outer shell.

How much storage does a student need?

For many students, 128GB is the most practical option. It gives you more room for apps, photos, downloads, and day-to-day use without worrying too quickly about space.

Is refurbished better than buying new on contract?

For many students, yes. A refurbished phone paired with a SIM-only plan can often work out better value than paying for a brand-new phone through a long contract. The best choice depends on your monthly budget and how much you want to spend upfront.

Final Thoughts

The best refurbished phone for students in the UK is not always the newest one. It is the one that gives you the right balance of performance, battery life, usability, and price.

For most students, the iPhone 13 is the best overall refurbished choice. If you want strong Apple value, the iPhone 12is a great option. If your budget is tighter, the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2022)are still very practical picks. And if you prefer Android, the Samsung Galaxy S21 and Google Pixel 7a are two of the smartest refurbished buys for student life.

If you are comparing student-friendly refurbished phones right now, browse the latest Zextons stock by grade, storage, and price to find the option that fits your budget best.