Back Market vs musicMagpie vs Amazon Renewed: Which Is Best in 2026?
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All three are safe places to buy refurbished tech in the UK. Back Market usually has the widest choice and the longest change-of-mind window. musicMagpie suits buyers who want one company to refurbish and sell the device. Amazon Renewed is easiest if you already shop on Amazon.
At a glance
| Back Market | musicMagpie | Amazon Renewed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Marketplace of vetted refurbishers | Refurbishes and sells its own stock | Approved refurbishers on Amazon |
| Warranty | 1 year from delivery | 12 months | Amazon Renewed Guarantee (check listing) |
| Change-of-mind returns | 30 days from delivery | 14-day money-back guarantee | Amazon returns policy (check listing) |
| Best for | Choice and price | Dealing with one company | Prime delivery |
Terms checked on 24 October 2026. Check each retailer’s page on the day you buy, as policies change.
Who is actually cheapest?
We compare refurbished iPhone prices every day, so we can answer this with data rather than impressions. On 24 October 2026, across the 128GB iPhone 13 to iPhone 16 in Good condition, the cheapest retailer was Phones Direct for four models and Back Market for two. musicMagpie was more often cheapest at the top Premium grade. The winner changes from week to week, which is why it pays to compare.
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Back Market
Back Market is a marketplace: you buy from independent refurbishers it approves. Every device has a one-year warranty from delivery, and you have 30 days from delivery to return it for any reason.
Because many sellers compete, Back Market often has the widest range of models, colours and grades. One thing we’ve learned from tracking it: the price shown for a grade can belong to a different colour or a new-battery version. Always check that the listing matches the exact colour you want before you pay.
musicMagpie
musicMagpie refurbishes devices itself and sells them through its own store. Phones come with a free 12-month warranty, a 14-day money-back guarantee and free UK delivery. It also buys old phones, so you can trade in and buy in one place.
Amazon Renewed
Amazon Renewed sells refurbished products from approved sellers, backed by the Amazon Renewed Guarantee. The main draw is convenience: a familiar checkout, Prime delivery on many items and Amazon’s returns process. Browse Amazon Renewed iPhones.
Other retailers worth checking
Phones Direct, Loop Mobile and Envirofone are smaller UK specialists. In our data they’re regularly the cheapest for particular models and grades, so we include them in every price comparison.
Which should you choose?
- Lowest price: compare all of them. No single retailer wins every model.
- Most time to decide: Back Market, with 30 days to change your mind.
- One company handling everything: musicMagpie.
- Fastest delivery: Amazon Renewed with Prime.
Our verdict
There’s no single winner. Decide whether price, returns or convenience matters most, then check our live comparison. Which iPhone to buy.
