It's the most common question before buying a refurbished phone: Back Market or Amazon? Both are big, legitimate platforms, but they work differently. Here are the differences that actually matter.
How each one works
- Back Market is a marketplace that only sells refurbished tech. It doesn't repair devices itself: professional refurbishers sell through it, and the platform vets and monitors them.
- Amazon Renewed is Amazon's section for checked and refurbished products. Items are also sold by third-party sellers, but Amazon sets requirements and backs purchases with its own guarantee.
Either way, you're not buying from a private seller, which is the big difference from eBay listings or Facebook Marketplace. More in refurbished vs second-hand.
Warranty and returns
| Back Market | Amazon Renewed | |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | Commercial, length shown on each listing | Amazon Renewed Guarantee, 1 year |
| Your legal rights | Consumer Rights Act 2015 | Consumer Rights Act 2015 |
| Returns | Return window shown on the listing | Return window shown on the product page |
| Who handles it | The seller; Back Market steps in if needed | The seller, backed by Amazon's guarantee |
Our tip: always check the exact warranty on the listing before you pay. It can vary from seller to seller.
Grades and battery
- Back Market grades devices by their cosmetic condition and, on many models, offers a new battery option. We explain it in refurbished grades explained.
- Amazon Renewed shows the condition on the product page and, on some products, a minimum battery capacity. There's less consistency between sellers, so read the whole listing.
Which should you choose?
Back Market suits you if…
- You want to pick the exact condition and compare lots of sellers for the same model.
- You care about the new battery option.
- You're after something less common: the refurbished catalogue is huge.
Amazon Renewed suits you if…
- You already shop on Amazon and value easy returns and fast delivery.
- You like having Amazon's guarantee on top of the seller's.
- You want to add a case, charger or screen protector to the same order.
The trick we use
Open the model's page on NiceTwiceTech: each one has buttons to both shops and the new price alongside. Compare the same model, storage and condition, and go for the deal with the better warranty, not just the lowest price.
Summary
There's no outright winner. Back Market stands out for specialisation, grades and new batteries; Amazon Renewed for convenience and its one-year guarantee. Compare the same deal on both and read the warranty before you pay.