eBay updated iPhone 12 mini: hands-on buying experience

Earlier this week, eBay unveiled the latest expansion to its Certified Recovery Program. Expanding the list of retailers and listings even more since last November’s update, we’re taking a closer look at what to expect when buying a refurbished iPhone 12 on eBay. Read more about the unboxing experience, cosmetic conditions, and more below.

Hands-on experience using a refurbished iPhone on eBay

After an initial update last fall, eBay updated its Certified Renewal Program again earlier this week. In yet another expansion of its major changes from November, even more brands are now getting additional savings from eBay’s condition listings like new.

With these updates in mind and the recent addition of Apple, which has unveiled the iPhone 12 series in its own refurbished store, we thought now would be the perfect time to see what eBay has to offer at the forefront. Not surprisingly, you can get deeper savings on repairs by not buying from the first person. But what exactly are you watching? Let’s dive in.

By far the biggest benefit that eBay offers through its Certified Refurbishment Program is taking the guesswork out of buying from a trusted seller. Every listing with the eBay Refurbished badge is backed by the confidence that you’re buying from one of its top-rated partners. There is also the added benefit of an eBay money back guarantee that comes with a one year warranty.

You can read all about eBay’s recent policy changes on its showcase in our previous review, which details four different terms and conditions the program now offers. In a nutshell though, the original lists of certified refurbished vehicles we used last year now have the terms “Excellent”, “Very Good” and “Good” added to them.

As for the real experience, we’ll see what you can expect when you buy an iPhone 12 through eBay’s refurbishment program.

Unboxing a refurbished iPhone 12 from eBay.

The biggest aspect that eBay is doing things a little differently with their new refurbished levels is the unboxing process. This is what baffled me from my first time getting one of the brand’s certified refurbished products, but just because it’s different doesn’t mean it’s a drop in quality you’re actually getting.

eBay was kind enough to send two iPhone 12 mini models in different condition – each comes in a simple cardboard box and is covered in bubble wrap. It’s far from the new experience you’ll find in the brand’s own eBay stores, but the actual products really speak for themselves.

The most important thing to pay attention to is the chargers included in the kit. This is different from the official offerings you’d expect when buying direct from Apple, though I do think it’s nice to get a true USB-A wall adapter in the box, given that the new iPhone 12 series phone clearly lacks that. Ultimately, this is more like a criticism than a breach of agreement, but it’s worth mentioning that this is one area where there are no exceptions.

Getting a refurbished iPhone 12 in hand

Conventional packaging and third-party experiences may not provide the best experience yet, but the condition of the iPhone 12 mini models I received does matter. I was sent both a version in excellent condition and one of the units in very good condition. Both are new to eBay’s updated storefront as of November last year, and allow the retailer to sell the iPhone first.

iPhone 12 in excellent condition on the left, very good model on the right

So how do they add up and compare? Let’s start with a model in excellent condition. As part of the reformed program, eBay themselves describe this status as new on these refurbished products and return it with a one-year warranty. As far as what I actually got, the results are in line with those expectations. The glossy black color of the refurbished iPhone 12 mini I received proved to be the perfect canvas for revealing any potential scratches, as damage is generally more obvious with this style than with other models in the line.

That being said, the promise as new was right on what I unpacked from eBay. In my opinion, there were only very small micro abrasions that are not even visible on the camera. These very minor defects are almost as close to the new model, so we’re off to a good start. There are no scratches on the screen, and the aluminum casing on the sides of the phone is also in almost perfect condition.

Small dent on iPhone 12 in very good condition.

As for the very good condition model, as expected, everything was a step down from eBay’s Certified Refurbished Store branding. eBay notes that for this condition, you’re counting on minimal overall wear and tear, as well as the same one-year in-house warranty. In practice, the model sent to me was not far off. There are a few dents on the case that are more noticeable than a small scratch on an analog in excellent condition.

What surprised me the most about both devices was the condition of the front and rear windows. Noticeable micro-abrasion, not to mention full-blown scratches, are some of the most common things to look out for when restoring gear. So it’s definitely worth noting that both phones that were delivered to me turned out to be pretty clean.

100% battery capacity on both iPhone 12 mini devices

Internal wear and tear is just as important as the external condition of devices, and eBay again surprised me in this regard. The biggest sign of wear on an iPhone like this is the battery, and like the scratch tests, eBay passed with flying colours. Both models I received came with batteries reporting 100% capacity by Apple’s own internal tool. I also used them in the last week or so, just to get a few more charge cycles on each device, with no change.

So the bottom line here is that while eBay’s certified refurbished iPhone 12 devices may not be completely flawless, each one passes the test in my book. Inside and out, you get a solid device that really lives up to the marketing. Of course, there are trade-offs between each condition, but the difference between Excellent and Very Good states seems to be worth the extra savings.

How well are you getting from eBay?

After passing the test in the condition category, the real value of a certified refurbished iPhone 12 from the eBay program is the price. The inspiration for this entire review was when Apple added iPhone 12 series phones to its own refurbished store. You can get all the details on what the official updated state gives you, but the big difference with eBay is that all four versions of the phone are available.

Originally released for $699, the iPhone 12 mini was not part of Apple’s official upgrade program. On the other hand, eBay’s program has some pretty notable benefits for previous generation phones over other models in the iPhone 12 lineup.

Starting with listings in mint condition, you will only pay $430 for a fully unlocked device. Those who will activate on a specific carrier can further reduce prices. As far as very good models go, unlocked devices are in the $390 price range.

In addition, there are, of course, additional savings that appear from time to time in the sale of coupons on eBay. The regular price is already pretty competitive in the refurbished market, but being able to get another 15% off or more really makes the price unbeatable.

All in all, there can be compromises when buying an iPhone 12 mini from a certified refurbished eBay store, but many will find the added savings more than offset any shortcomings. Those same savings also carry over to the iPhone 12/Pro/Max models, which you can check out right here.

Taking 9to5Toys

Since this is my second time practically working with any of eBay’s updated listings, my biggest takeaway is how consistent the program remains. We’ve been sharing discounts from a retailer for over a year now and have received messages from readers sharing the same findings as me, both in this review and the original one.

As for the iPhone 12 itself, the final verdict on buying a refurbished model on eBay and its Refurbished program is pretty solid. Of course, there are trade-offs to consider, such as lackluster charging accessories, but the extra cash will be hard to beat. The terms really speak for themselves, although the extra savings is definitely worth spending on official accessories. This is the biggest downside of eBay’s updated model. But hardly enough to really ruin the experience.

One of the biggest use cases that comes to my mind is to bring in family members who don’t care about the latest and greatest iPhone news. Though anyone looking to save some money on a previous generation Apple device or other Android smartphones will certainly want to consider using eBay.

So overall I am very impressed with the experience. My first impressions of eBay and its upgraded program have already been enough to give me confidence to buy upgraded in the past, but a second look at what the experience has to offer certainly confirms that this is no fluke.

Reading now