Apple Now Selling Refurbished iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Models

Friday November 2, 2018 12:44 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today added the 2017 iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus to its online store for refurbished products in the United States, offering the smartphone at a discount for the first time.

The refurbished store has a selection of 64GB iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models in Silver, Gold, and Space Gray for sale, all of which are discounted by 14 to 16 percent.


The 64GB iPhone 8 models are priced at $499, a discount of $100 off of the regular price of $599, while the 64GB iPhone 8 Plus models in the refurbished store are available for $599, also a $100 discount off of the regular $699 price.

Apple sells the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus as lower-cost alternatives to the flagship iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR. The devices feature a fast A11 Bionic chip, a Touch ID Home button, and a glass body for wireless charging.

There are no iPhone 8 or 8 Plus models with higher storage capacities available from the refurbished store at this time, but refurbished stock fluctuates frequently based on the available devices that Apple has on hand.

Refurbished stock is also limited in quantity and can sell out. Checking the refurbished site often or using a tracking site is the best way to figure out when a particular model that you might want is in stock.

Apple has been offering iPhones in its online refurbished store since 2016, but it often takes some time for new models to show up there. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, for example, were released in September 2017 but have just shown up on the refurbished site.

Purchasing a refurbished iPhone from Apple is a good way to get a like-new device at a lower price point. All of Apple's refurbished products are tested, certified, cleaned, and guaranteed with a one-year warranty that can be extended with AppleCare+.

For refurbished iPhone models, Apple provides a fresh battery and a new outer shell, ensuring peak performance and no scratches or other cosmetic damage on the device that you receive.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tag: refurbished
[ 72 comments ]

Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
MaCheezm0
16 months ago
I have an SE and if the iPhone 8 is the last "small" phone with touch ID left when it is time to get a new one, I would get the 8.
Rating: 6 Votes
Avatar
Count Blah
16 months ago

This is just too late. Maybe the 8 Plus will sell more due to the dual lens and full portrait mode but I don’t see why anyone would choose an 8 at a discount instead of a brand new XR with the A12. It’s not like it’s a massive price difference.

$250 or 50% of the price

Sorry, but that is a big difference to non 1%ers
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Bob Coxner
16 months ago


I take it you've never bought an offical Apple refurbished product. Same warranty, same everything. Nearly every Apple product I've ever bought has been bought this way and I've never seen a single sign of wear or any defect. The one and only "tell" is that it comes in a somewhat plainer (but still nice) box and costs less money.

Now, products refurbished by someone besides Apple? That's where you have to be more careful.


+1. I've bought numerous Apple refurb products and never had a problem. I defy anyone to put a refurb iPhone next to a new one and be able to tell the difference.

As for 3rd parties, it always makes me angry when I see 3rd party ads saying they're selling "refurbished" Apple products. That normally means they turned it on for 5 seconds. If the screen worked it was now "refurbished". If it doesn't have a full 1-year warranty from Apple then it's "used" or "open box" or "pre-owned" but it sure as hell ain't "refurbished".
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
Xenomorph
16 months ago
My friend was waiting for this. They wanted a new phone to replace their iPhone SE. The iPhone 8 is currently the best "small" phone Apple still offers. :/
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
JGIGS
16 months ago
Weird how us Canadians have been able to buy unlocked iphones from the Apple store since the 3G was the first released here but we've never been able to buy refurbished iphones. weird.
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
agsystems
16 months ago

I mean, they *make* the phone so it really stands to reason they would have the requisite tools, machines and parts to do this. My guess is that the internals are removed from the old outer casing, inspected and tested, and placed into a new outer shell. I've bought a lot of Apple refurb products and have never once seen any sign of visible wear.

Most of my Apple gear are refurbs - excellent and fully qualifies for Apple care
Rating: 4 Votes
Avatar
QCassidy352
16 months ago

This is just too late. Maybe the 8 Plus will sell more due to the dual lens and full portrait mode but I don’t see why anyone would choose an 8 at a discount instead of a brand new XR with the A12. It’s not like it’s a massive price difference.

The Xr is simply too big. I would never consider it.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Cosmosent
16 months ago
RE: "Apple sells the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus as lower-cost alternatives to the flagship iPhone XS ('https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-xs/'), XS Max, and XR. The devices feature a fast A11 Bionic chip, a Touch ID ('https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/touch-id/') Home button, and a glass body for wireless charging."


If AAPL had announced "S" versions of the 8 & 8+ on Sept 12th, AND had included an extra GB of DRAM in both, then their stock would NOT have tanked during yesterday's Earnings Call, & which has obviously continued today.

A12 + 3 or 4 GB of DRAM + Hardware Home Button + TouchID = a very nice iPhone for the vast majority of the AAPL User Base !
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
mylittlepwny
16 months ago
Be warned the refurb quality control is not as good as the new phones. These phones are glued back together in a special jig that does not achieve the same level of precision as at the factory.

I've had several AppleCare express replacements (they ship you a refurb phone) and every single one has had misaligned glass front and/or back and one even had a crooked Home Button. My latest iPhone 8+ has a visible air gap on the edge of the front screen big enough for a piece of paper to slide into.
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
Grohowiak
16 months ago

Apple is able to replace the screen or battery in their retail stores and offer a 90 day warranty. So it stands to reason they have the capability to reuse internal components and replace the outer shell and screen.

With that said, the problems I have had with Apple devices failing early have all been Apple refurbished devices. I bought a refurbished iPhone 6S that was dead on arrival. In fairness to Apple, I took it to the Apple retail store and after attempting to troubleshoot the problem they replaced it no questions asked.

I've also had a refurbished iPad 2 and a refurbished Time Capsule both fail in less than two years ownership.

I do find it interesting that Apple is releasing selling refurbished iPhone 8's now. They didn't start selling refurbished iPhone 7's until January or February of this year.


Bad luck.
I buy refurbished since 2008 and every product looked and acted like new.
I saved thousands of $
Rating: 3 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]