Refurbished Phone Contract Deals UK (October 2026): iPhone 13 From £14.99, Galaxy S25 From £24.99

Last updated: 26 October 2026

Which refurbished phone contract is the best value? When we checked on 26 October 2026, a refurbished iPhone 13 with 100GB of data was £14.99 a month with £9 upfront on iD Mobile through Mobiles.co.uk, or £411.96 over 24 months. For a newer phone, the refurbished Galaxy S25 with 400GB is £24.99 a month, and the refurbished iPhone 16 with 400GB is £25.99 a month. Every refurbished phone in these deals comes with a 12-month warranty, according to Mobiles.co.uk. This SwitchSquid guide compares refurbished phone contracts on full contract cost, links to our refurbished phones page if you would rather buy SIM free, explains what “Good” and “Excellent” condition mean, and shows when buying new still makes more sense. We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page; it doesn’t change the price you pay.

Sources: Mobiles.co.uk refurbished phones, iD Mobile, Consumer Rights Act 2015 and Ofcom: in or out of contract, checked on 26 October 2026.

Refurbished phone contract deals compared

The table shows the featured deal, upfront cost and 24-month total Mobiles.co.uk listed for each phone when we checked on 26 October 2026. Plans with a higher upfront cost can have a lower monthly price. All of these deals are on iD Mobile, which runs on Three’s network, with unlimited UK calls and texts.

Prices change often on refurbished stock, because each colour and condition is a limited batch. The deal shown in your basket is the one that counts. Where the table says “varies by plan”, the starting price comes from Mobiles.co.uk’s refurbished listing page, and the data allowance depends on which plan you pick on the product page.

Refurbished or new: how much do you actually save?

The saving depends on how old the model is. A refurbished iPhone 13 at £411.96 over two years is less than many new mid-range phones cost on their own, and you get 100GB of data included. For a recent flagship, the gap is smaller but still real: the refurbished Galaxy S25 deal comes to £671.96 with 400GB of data, which is a lot of phone for under £28 a month on average.

Here is a simple way to compare. Take the 24-month total of the refurbished deal, then look up the same phone new on the same network with similar data. If the new deal costs less than about £5 a month more, the new phone may be worth it for the full warranty period and a fresh battery. If the gap is £10 a month or more, refurbished usually wins.

Refurbished also has an environmental benefit, because each phone reused is one fewer new handset made. That shouldn’t be the only reason to buy one, but it is a fair tie-breaker.

What “Good” and “Excellent” condition mean

Retailers grade refurbished phones by how they look, not how they work. Mobiles.co.uk says each handset has been tested by an engineer, and the grade then describes the cosmetic condition:

• Excellent: close to new, with little or no visible wear. This is what the Galaxy S25, iPhone 15 Excellent, iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 deals above are.

• Good: fully working, but light scratches or marks are possible on the screen edges or body. The iPhone 14 deal above is listed as Good; for the iPhone 13, check the condition grade shown at checkout.

Grades differ between retailers, so read the description on the product page. If you plan to use a case and screen protector anyway, Good condition is usually the best value.

What to check before you buy a refurbished phone

1. Warranty. Mobiles.co.uk lists a 12-month warranty on its refurbished phones. That is on top of your rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which says goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described.

2. Battery health. Batteries wear with age. Ask, or check the listing, for any minimum battery health promise. On an iPhone you can see it under Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health once the phone arrives.

3. Software support. Older models eventually stop getting updates. A 2021 phone such as the iPhone 13 is fine in 2026, but if you plan to keep it beyond 2028, a newer model is the safer choice.

4. Network. These deals are on iD Mobile, which uses Three’s network. Check coverage at home and at work on iD Mobile’s coverage checker before you sign.

5. Price rises. Each deal rises by a fixed £1.80 every April, shown in pounds and pence on the product page under Ofcom’s rules. We have included those rises in the totals above.

Contract or SIM free?

A contract spreads the cost and includes data, which suits most people. If you would rather own the phone outright, you can buy a SIM-free refurbished handset and pair it with a cheap SIM only plan. That route can work out cheaper if you find a good SIM-free price and a low-cost SIM such as those in our best SIM only deals for October 2026. As a rough guide, a 24-month contract total above is the figure your SIM-free price plus 24 months of SIM only has to beat.

Which refurbished phone should you choose?

• Lowest monthly price here: iPhone 13 at £14.99 a month. It still takes good photos and runs current apps well, and 100GB of data is plenty for most people.

• Android pick: Galaxy S25 at £24.99 a month with 400GB. A recent flagship with Galaxy AI features and a small, easy-to-hold body.

• Best iPhone for the long term: iPhone 16 at £25.99 a month with 400GB. Newer hardware means more years of updates.

• Newest: iPhone 17 at £29.99 a month with £39 upfront, if you want the latest model without the new price.

If you are also thinking about older advice on refurbished phones, our explainer are refurbished phones any good? covers grading and returns in more depth.

Our view

Refurbished phones have moved from a niche to a sensible default for anyone who doesn’t need this year’s model. The iPhone 13 deal at £14.99 a month keeps the 24-month cost to £411.96, and the Galaxy S25 and iPhone 16 deals give you a recent flagship with 400GB of data for under £30 a month, including the April rises. Check the condition grade, the warranty and the network coverage, and you are unlikely to notice the phone wasn’t new.

FAQ

Are refurbished phones any good?

Yes, if you buy from a retailer that tests each phone and gives a warranty. Mobiles.co.uk says an engineer tests each refurbished handset and offers a 12-month warranty. The grade describes how the phone looks; it should work like new.

How much is a refurbished iPhone 13 on contract?

When we checked on 26 October 2026, the refurbished iPhone 13 128GB (check the condition grade shown at checkout) was £14.99 a month with £9 upfront and 100GB of data on iD Mobile. Over 24 months, including the April rises, it comes to £411.96.

Do refurbished phones come with a warranty?

The refurbished phones in this guide come with a 12-month warranty from Mobiles.co.uk. You also have rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which means the phone must be of satisfactory quality and as described. If it develops a fault, contact the retailer first.

Is a refurbished Galaxy S25 worth it?

For most people, yes. At £24.99 a month with 400GB of data and £29 upfront, it costs £671.96 over 24 months. You get a 2025 flagship with plenty of years of software updates left, for less than many new mid-range phone contracts.

Will a refurbished phone have a worn battery?

It can have some wear, because batteries age with use. Check the listing for any battery health promise, and on an iPhone look at Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health when it arrives. If the battery is clearly faulty, raise it with the retailer under the warranty.

Do refurbished phone contracts go up in price?

Yes. The deals in this guide rise by a fixed £1.80 a month each April, which is shown on the product page. We have included those rises in the 24-month totals so you can compare deals fairly.