Buy Refurbished Earbuds
With refurbished earbuds, you get premium sound for less money—and they’re more sustainable than new ones, too. These earbuds have been returned, professionally inspected, cleaned, and repaired where necessary, and are given a second life with a warranty. In the overview below, you can compare the current selection from reliable refurbished sellers, with prices listed right next to them. NewMobile.com is independent, so you’ll see honest comparisons without any sales pitches. Use the filters to sort by brand or price and instantly find the pair that’s right for you.
What should you look for when buying refurbished earbuds?
Most people are familiar with refurbished phones, but with wireless earbuds, it works a little differently. Two things determine whether a pair is worth buying: hygiene and the battery. Both can be easily addressed, as long as you know what to look for.
How refurbished earbuds work
Refurbished earbuds are units that have been returned or traded in and then inspected by a professional service. Here’s what you can expect:
- Tested and inspected: sound, microphones, charging case, and connectivity have been checked; any defects are repaired or replaced.
- Cleaned: the earbuds and the case are professionally cleaned, and the silicone tips are usually replaced with new ones.
- Warranty: you’re buying from a company, so you have a warranty and the right to return the product, just like with new items.
- Simpler packaging: the original box or accessories may be missing; this keeps the price down and says nothing about the quality.
Exactly what is replaced and included varies by seller. Be sure to check the product description before you order.
Hygiene: Check what the seller replaces
The biggest concern with refurbished earbuds is understandable: they’ve been in someone else’s ears. Reputable refurbishers therefore clean them thoroughly and usually include new silicone tips. Still worried? Replacement tips are available for virtually every popular model, which completely eliminates this concern.
The battery is the real concern
Wireless earbuds contain tiny batteries, and just like in a phone, they wear out over time. The difference: with virtually all earbuds, the battery cannot be replaced. The older the model, the greater the chance that the battery life per charge is noticeably shorter than when it was new. Therefore, it’s best to choose a recent model and check if the seller provides any information about the battery’s condition.
Refurbished or brand-new?
Buying refurbished earbuds is especially worth it when there’s a significant price difference compared to new ones. If the difference is small, then brand-new is the more logical choice—you’ll also start with a fresh battery. So always compare the selection of new wireless earbuds before you decide.
Choose refurbished if you want a more expensive top-of-the-line model for significantly less money and sustainability is a factor.
Choose new if the price difference is small or if you plan to use the earbuds daily for years to come: in that case, a fresh battery is the most important factor.
