Best Buy Marketplace Refurbished iPhone 11 Pro: Is It Worth It?
After my Amazon refurbished AirPods experience, I’m curious how other retailers handle refurbished gear. Next up is Best Buy Marketplace, the third-party seller section on Best Buy’s site, notorious for little quality control.
Scrolling through the chaos, I found an iPhone 11 Pro listed at 570 Canadian dollars. Compared to local used markets, that’s not a bad price. The seller had a 3.9-star average rating, which is decent, but also a ton of 1-star and 5-star reviews, making it tough to know what to expect.
Well, guess what? I bought it.
First Impressions & Packaging
The phone came with a generic white box marked “Fully Functional.” No fancy refurb packaging, just the basics. They included a charging cube and cable which appear to be original Apple accessories, but these days, it’s hard to be 100% sure without testing.
Opening the box, the phone looked a bit dusty and slightly neglected. The packaging wasn’t anything fancy, but as long as the screen and internals were in good shape, I could live with it.
It also includes:
A charging cube which appears to be Apple original 20 watts charger
Also a charging cable which appears to be original
Cosmetic Condition & Screen
The listing made it sound like the phone was in excellent condition, but reality was a bit different. There were light scratches scattered across the back, and one deep scratch on the side that immediately caught my eye. If I had to rate it, maybe a 7/10, not the “nearly perfect” I was hoping for.
The screen at least looked genuine Apple, colors were crisp, touch response felt right, and there were no signs of a cheap replacement panel.
Setup & Battery Health
Booting up, I was greeted by the familiar “Hola” screen. After setting it up, I went straight to battery health. It wasn’t terrible, not bottom-of-the-barrel, but it also wasn’t anywhere near brand-new levels. About what you’d expect from a phone that’s seen a couple of years of daily charging.
Accessory & Cable Authenticity Check
I plugged in the included charger and cable, then ran the cable through 3uTools. To my surprise, it came back as an authentic Apple USB-C to Lightning cable, something that’s becoming increasingly rare with third-party sellers.
The verification report shows the rear camera, front camera, and battery are all original. Still, that doesn’t guarantee everything else is untouched, the back glass or other components could have been replaced without showing up in the report.
Phone Function Tests
Before cracking it open, I ran it through a full hardware check using a diagnostic app. The cameras worked perfectly, NFC was responsive, the speakers sounded fine, and all buttons clicked cleanly. No red flags.
Time for the Teardown: What Did Best Buy Fix?
This is the moment of truth. Using my trusty PRG screw mat to keep track of everything, I carefully opened up the iPhone. At first glance, the internals looked immaculate, like no one had been inside. Just a fingerprint here and there, nothing suspicious.
After a detailed teardown, I found no clear signs that any parts had been replaced or repaired. The only hint that it was ever opened is a small line on the inside, maybe from quality control or previous inspection.
Overall, the phone looks legit and untouched, which makes me a happy customer.
The Catch with Best Buy Marketplace
Here’s the thing, my experience was solid, but Best Buy Marketplace is basically the Wild West. It’s not heavily regulated, so sellers vary a lot in quality. I’ve seen reports of units with mismatched parts, mystery defects, and even return headaches like $10 restocking fees or paying for your own return shipping.
Also, there’s no battery health guarantee. You could get lucky like I did… or end up with a phone that needs a new battery within months.
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering buying a refurbished phone from Best Buy Marketplace, proceed with caution. While my iPhone 11 Pro turned out pretty decent and untouched internally, others might not be so lucky.
For $570 CAD, this wasn’t a bad deal, but the lack of solid guarantees and mixed seller reputations means you should be careful.
See you in the next article!
