Three UK Launches ‘Like New’ Smartphones: a step forward, but with a limited scope

Three supports this offer with an impressive 36-month warranty on 'Like New' phones purchased with a Value or Complete plan, and a 12-month warranty for those who opt for a Lite plan. It’s believed that Three has partnered with Ingram Micro Lifecycle to facilitate this scheme, with these refurbished phones coming in retail packaging designed with a 'sustainable' cardboard look. All devices are checked on 65 different point before they are sold.

While it’s positive to see another British operator actively selling refurbished devices, limiting the offering to pristine Grade A models could pose a challenge. By excluding lower-graded phones, Three reduces the available supply, which might impact its ability to scale the program.

Surveys suggest that consumers are open to purchasing phones in various grades, as long as they're well-informed about cosmetic conditions. It seems Three is hesitant to offer a broader range, possibly due to misconceptions about Grade A devices being technically superior to Grade C. However, we predict that Three may soon reconsider and expand its offering to include more grades in the future.