Buying a Smartphone with Sustainability as a Benefit

Many people upgrade their smartphones by buying a new device through a multi-year contract with a phone provider that spreads the cost of the phone over typically two years. I recently upgraded my smartphone over a different path: Last month, I purchased a refurbished Apple iPhone 13 smartphone through an online site that specializes in selling refurbished electronics.

Your immediate response might be to ask, “Why would someone who covers technology developments for a living buy a smartphone that is several years old, may start showing the signs of technological obsolescence, and is unwanted by its previous owner?” Part of that answer comes down to cost, and another part of that answer is evaluating what one really needs in a smartphone.

On its website, Apple advertises its latest smartphone, the iPhone 15 for $799 for a basic configuration with 128 Gbytes of RAM. Through the site Backmarket.com, I was able to purchase an unlocked iPhone 13 with 128 Gbytes of RAM for under half the price. Add $18 for a case and tax and the total price came in a shade over $400.

Buying a refurbished phone, while not entirely risk-free, can be a good experience if one uses a reputable vendor. In my research, I found that Backmarket.com provides a one-year warranty. You can buy a phone (or other electronic device such as a tablet or computer as well as accessories) from them, in fair, good, or excellent condition, with the prices escalating as condition improves.  The reviews I read said you might expect a couple of scratches on the phone’s body and perhaps a battery that does not fully charge to 100%, but otherwise the device should work as intended.

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I specified a blue iPhone 13 in good condition expecting hopefully better quality, and I was more than happy when the device I received did not have a single scratch on it! More important, the battery charges to a full 100%, and has not shown any abnormal discharging in the month I have had. Mind you, I put the device through its paces, including shooting numerous photos and videos at an industry conference I attended last month.

In selecting the iPhone 13, I knew I was getting a device with a good processor─ Apple’s A15 Bionic, which is not their latest but with enough speed and efficiency for the tasks I needed to accomplish. I am also pleased with the phone’s cameras, whose images and videos clearly provide much higher clarity and resolution than those from my previous smartphone, a Samsung A32 whose failing microphone prompted me to upgrade my phone.

Related:Repairing That Old Smartphone May Be Worth It

Environmental Benefits Too

The other ancillary benefit of purchasing a refurbished smartphone is the satisfaction one receives from extending the life of a device that, with a little tender loving care, can still provide several more years of service and not wind up thrown away. While it is only one phone, consider how many smartphones, some of which may still work well, wind up in landfills because they’re considered obsolete by their owners.

Mobile phones are a key contributor to e-waste. The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Forum estimates that over 5 billion mobile phones were thrown out in 2022. This is part of a growing problem of electronic waste, or e-waste, that is expected to reach 74 million tonnes annually by 2030. The WEEE Forum also says that only 17% of the world's e-waste is recycled properly.

According an article quoted on the Verizon site, in the U.S. alone, about 350,000 mobile phones are discarded daily, which would amount to a staggering 152 million a year. Verizon also noted that nearly 40% of metals are sourced from U.S. landfills. Verizon quoted the article as stating that every time one million mobile phones are recycled, they yield 35,274 pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold and 33 pounds of palladium. 

Related:Turning Trashed Electronics Into New Alloys

For the record, I have not disposed of older mobile phones easily. My Samsung A32 is retired from everyday service but has some files and photos that I have not transferred to the iPhone yet. The device still functions well as a data-only device to watch YouTube videos and check websites. I also have an older Moto G smartphone which I let kids use to play games on when they come over. And, my collection also includes a Samsung flip phone I found when cleaning my desk and files this past New Year.