If your smartphone has finally kicked the bucket, you might be nervous at how much you’ll have to shell out for a new handset. Luckily, picking one up at discount site Wowcher can be a great optionto save a bit of cash, but it all depends on the model you pick.

There’s a great range of refurbished handsets available, along with some more vintage choices that might appeal both in terms of cost and nostalgia. Refurbished handsets have been restored to like-new condition and tested rigorously for performance and battery life.

While you won’t get the manufacturer’s guarantee with a refurbished device, and there is a bit more risk involved than buying new, you will get a significant price cut. The question is whether opting for these over a brand new smartphone is always a good idea — so let’s take a look at some of the current options to find out.

First up, there’s the refurbished iPhone 11, with prices starting from £159. Released in 2019, this former flagship iPhone is still a high-powered beast that will deliver snappy performance, decent camera quality and all the quality hallmarks you’d expect of an Apple product. 

It’s still supported by Apple too, meaning you’ll get security updates and new iOS features. That said, support will likely cease in the next couple of years. Down from £429 new, and with different options ranging from ‘acceptable’ to ‘good’ quality and 64GB or 128GB, these refurbished iPhones are well-worth considering.

Next, there’s the £189.99 refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. First launched in 2021, this Samsung handset is still supported by security updates and enhancements to its operating system. As with the iPhone, you should expect this support to end in the next few years, although for the time being you’re good to go.

At less than £200 for a recent flagship phone, 5G capabilities, and ongoing support, this one is an absolute steal.There are plenty of deals to choose from, but we’d maybe steer clear of some of the much older ones on offer.

Unless you’re really desperate for a dirt cheap handset, you might get frustrated by how slowly these models can run – and their age might also mean your data is more vulnerable to hackers.

If you’re unfamiliar with Wowcher, it has a stellar reputation with a 4.4/5 average rating from over 112,000 TrustPilot reviews. “The experience with Wowcher is always fab,” said one five-star review. “The app is so easy to use, the deals are fab, the discounts are truly amazing, and I’ve never had a problem from ordering through to delivery.” High praise indeed.

“Fab deals, super fast payment systems and bargains that really are unbelievable,” said another. The customer service team comes up trumps too, according to shoppers: “Requested a refund for an item I’d duplicated. The response was immediate. Courteous, helpful and such a good response. I was dubious, as with other companies they make it very difficult. So pleased that I will definitely use Wowcher again.”

However, some have been disappointed to find that postage is charged separately: “Price initially quoted does not include postage. After having paid for the item, we then have to pay separately for the postage.” Another added: “The other thing is, when you buy a few items, you have to pay postage for each individual item which then ends up costing a fortune.” As Wowcher is a marketplace for multiple vendors, if you order items from different places you will have to pay for each vendor’s postage fee.

If you’d rather purchase a new phone outright, EE promises the broadest 5G coverage in the UK and has a huge range of new handsets to choose from. Purchasing direct from Samsung is also a good option, especially if you’d like a SIM-free model. All told, if you’re looking for a budget smartphone, Wowcher’s range is well worth a look. Check whether a prospective purchase is still covered by security updates, and if so, you should be good to go with a refurbished handset.