WSJ Tech News Briefing · Friday, August 28, 2026
Consumers looking to buy refurbished phones face risks including activation problems due to lingering accounts, phones that haven't been paid off, and the use of shoddy aftermarket parts. WSJ Personal Technology columnist Nicole N. advises that while malware is rare, it's crucial to buy from reputable sources and check for warranties.
“Refurbished means that this phone has been looked at, cleaned, repaired, maybe some of its parts have been replaced.”
“The more common issues you're going to run into are a lingering Apple or Google account. So if that phone is still on a find my network associated with someone's Apple or Google account, you can't activate it on a cellular network.”
“If you're buying from the original manufacturer, you'll typically get a one-year warranty. 90 days is okay, but I'd say if you're buying a used phone, make sure it has a one-year warranty.”