2026 BUYING GUIDE
Refurbished iPhone: the complete buying guide (and where to buy one in Montreal)
Grades, warranty, pitfalls to avoid — and real Montreal prices, from $80. Shop at 757 Rue Beaubien East, 30 seconds from Beaubien metro.
Open every day, 9 AM–9 PM Same address since 2017 Free recycling 1700+ Google reviews
A refurbished iPhone is a used phone that has been tested, restored if needed, cleaned and resold with a warranty.
Unlike a simple "used" iPhone sold person-to-person, a refurbished device goes through a verification process — at SubSell, every device is tested on more than 30 points (battery, screen, cameras, Face ID, network, iCloud) before going on sale, unlocked (not tied to any carrier) and covered by a warranty of up to 2 years.
Refurbished, used or new: what's the difference?
| New | Refurbished (shop) | Used (private sale) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Full price | Lower than new | Varies |
| Tested & verified | ✔ | ✔ (30+ points) | ✘ |
| Warranty | 1 year Apple | up to 2 years SubSell (by model) + lifetime network | None |
| Guaranteed unlocked | ✔ | ✔ | To verify |
| iCloud lock risk | None | None | Real |
| Environmental footprint | New manufacturing | Reuse | Reuse |
A private-sale used phone can cost a bit less, but there's no recourse if the battery is dead or the device is iCloud-locked. A shop-refurbished phone is the price/safety sweet spot. For everything used-phone in Montreal, see our used phones in Montreal page.
Refurbished iPhone "grades", explained simply
- Grade A — like new: no visible marks at 20 cm.
- Grade B — very good condition: micro-scratches visible in the light, nothing on the lit screen.
- Grade C — good working condition: visible wear marks, 100% functional — the best value for money.
The in-store advantage is seeing the device before buying: at SubSell, you test the phone in hand before paying.
How much does a refurbished iPhone cost in Montreal? (starting-from prices)
| Model | Starting from |
|---|---|
| iPhone SE (2nd Gen) | $80 |
| iPhone 11 | $150 |
| iPhone 12 | $200 |
| iPhone 13 | $335 |
| iPhone 14 | $320 |
| iPhone 15 | $450 |
| iPhone 16 | $500 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | $800 |
| iPhone 17 Air | $950 |
Prices vary by condition, storage and inventory — see the full list on /en/buy. No deposit: tell us you are coming (first come, first served), test in store, and pay only if the device is right for you (cash, Interac or card).
Updated: 2026-11-10
The checklist before buying any refurbished iPhone (anywhere)
- Battery: ask for the displayed battery health (Settings → Battery).
- iCloud lock: the device must be signed out of the previous owner’s account.
- Carrier unlock: the phone must not be tied to any carrier (SIM, eSIM or both depending on the model).
- Clean IMEI: not lost/stolen, not carrier-financed.
- Written warranty: 3 months minimum; SubSell offers up to 2 years by model, plus lifetime on network.
- Hands-on test: cameras, speakers, Face ID/Touch ID, ports — before you pay.
How to check a used iPhone before buying — the full checklist →
Two questions come up almost every time before someone pays, and each has its own guide: are refurbished iPhones any good? covers lifespan, battery and warranty; and how to tell if an iPhone is refurbished gives the five checks you can run yourself, device in hand, in two minutes.
Why buy refurbished at SubSell
SubSell is a Montreal shop (757 Rue Beaubien East, 30 seconds from Beaubien metro) specialized in device buyback and resale since 2017 — over 50,000 transactions and 1,700+ Google reviews at 4.9/5. Every refurbished iPhone is tested, unlocked, covered for up to 2 years, and you can try it in-store before paying.
Bonus: a refurbished phone keeps an existing device in use, and unsellable devices are taken back free of charge and handed to recyclers compliant with Québec standards (ARPE-Québec), with their storage destroyed. Open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Have an old phone? Sell it or trade it in on the spot and cut the price of your refurbished phone even further.
Current inventory
Updated November 10, 2026. Availability changes daily — call to confirm.
Our environmental commitment
Since 2017, more than 50,000 transactions at the shop. Selling or trading instead of throwing away keeps a phone in use: every device we buy back goes back into use first, and is recycled only once it can no longer be used. Devices too damaged or too old to resell are taken back free of charge, no recycling fee, and handed only to recyclers compliant with Quebec environmental standards (ARPE-Québec). Before any resale, your data is erased with professional software; a device that is recycled has its storage destroyed.
Refurbished cell phones in Montreal: what to know
A refurbished cell phone is not just a used phone sold as-is: it has been tested, restored if needed, cleaned, unlocked and warrantied. The difference comes down to verification and recourse if something goes wrong — a private-sale used phone gives you neither, a shop-refurbished phone gives you both.
At SubSell, the refurbished lineup is 100% iPhone — by choice. Focusing on a single ecosystem lets us master every model: 30+ point testing, known reliable parts, unlocked (not tied to any carrier), a warranty up to 2 years, and prices from $80. You see the exact device and try it in-store before paying. Browse refurbished iPhones →
Today's inventory doesn't have the model, color or capacity you're after? That happens often — the shelf turns over at the pace of our buybacks. Call or drop by to ask whether it is in the shop, and in the meantime see the iPhones in store now.
Have a Samsung or another Android? We buy them for cash — and if you're looking to buy refurbished, note that the iPhone holds its resale value well and gets long software support, a safe choice over several years.
Can you trade in your iPhone for a refurbished one?
Yes — that's exactly what we do.
Bring your current iPhone, we evaluate it in about 5 minutes, and the value comes straight off a tested refurbished model in store. You pay only the difference, in cash, by Interac or by card — no plan, no contract. Calculate my trade-in → or see your iPhone's value first.
Montréal & Laval residents: 10% off
Live in Montréal or Laval? 10% off a refurbished iPhone, unlocked with a warranty of up to 2 years (by model), 30 seconds from Beaubien metro.
Code MONTREAL10 · Give your Montréal or Laval postal code (starting with H) in store. One discount offer per purchase; you can still trade in your old phone. Valid until June 30, 2027.
See also: student iPhone discount · iPhone for newcomers to Canada · new graduate discount · iPhone for tourists · Black Friday (November 23 to 30, 2026)
Before you come in
FAQ — Refurbished iPhone
Is a refurbished iPhone reliable?
Yes — when it comes from a seller who genuinely tests devices and offers a warranty. At SubSell, every iPhone passes a 30+ point test and is covered for up to 2 years.
What is the difference between refurbished and used?
A used phone is sold as-is, with no verification and no warranty. A refurbished phone is tested, restored if needed, cleaned, unlocked and warrantied.
Are SubSell's refurbished iPhones unlocked?
Yes: all our refurbished iPhones are unlocked, so not tied to any carrier. Depending on the model, they take a SIM card, an eSIM or both; some recent models, like the iPhone Air, work with eSIM only. In store, we show you what yours takes.
What warranty do I get?
Up to 2 years (by model) on any functional defect (lifetime on any network problem) — and you test the device in-store before paying.
Can I reserve online?
Phones are set aside in store only, first come, first served. Online, tell us you are coming (no deposit): you get a confirmation by email and text, and you try it whenever you like at 757 Rue Beaubien East (Beaubien metro), 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Want to be sure before you head over? Call us and we tell you if it is still there.
Is a refurbished iPhone eco-friendly?
Yes: a refurbished phone keeps an existing device in use. SubSell takes back unsellable devices free of charge and hands them to recyclers compliant with Quebec standards (ARPE-Québec / Recyc-Québec), with their storage destroyed.
Where can I buy a refurbished cell phone in Montreal?
At a shop that tests, unlocks and warranties its devices. At SubSell (Beaubien metro), every refurbished cell phone is an iPhone tested on 30+ points, covered by a warranty of up to 2 years, and testable in-store before you pay — 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Can I trade in my iPhone for a refurbished one?
Yes — that is exactly what we do. Bring your current iPhone, we evaluate it in about 5 minutes, and its value comes straight off a tested refurbished model in store. You pay only the difference, in cash, by Interac or by card.
Straight answers
Questions people ask before selling
- Which phone is best for value for money?
For most people, the best value is a refurbished iPhone one to three generations old: it costs far less than new, still gets the latest iOS updates and resells well later. At SubSell, refurbished iPhones start at $80, checked, not tied to any carrier, with a warranty of up to 2 years depending on the model and a lifetime warranty on network problems.
- Which is the most hacked phone?
There is no official “most hacked phone” ranking. By volume, Android phones face far more malware, largely because of their numbers and apps installed from outside official stores; iPhones are targeted less often, and when they are, it is mostly by rare spyware aimed at specific people. The biggest risks are a phone that no longer gets updates, phishing, and an old phone sold without being erased.
- What are the top 10 best selling phones?
According to Counterpoint Research, the ten best-selling phones worldwide in 2025 were the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, Galaxy A16 5G, Galaxy A06, iPhone 17, iPhone 15, Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16e. Seven of the ten are iPhones. In Q2 2026, the iPhone 17 led.
A question?
Call or write, 9 AM to 9 PM, in French or English: it is the shop that answers. No need to wait for an answer before you come in.
Find your refurbished iPhone today.
757 Rue Beaubien East, Montréal • Mon-Sun 9 AM-9 PM • Walk-ins welcome