Refurbished iPhone 13 Buyer’s Guide - WeSellTek

Apple releases new and highly-desired iPhones every year. In September of 2021, they introduced a new series of smartphones with subtle enhancements to their previous 2020 iPhone 12s. These Apple iPhone 13 devices are about the same size as the 2020 series, and they contain the same number of cameras. The only visible differences are found with the now diagonal lenses on the back end as well as a smaller “notch” of the front face of the phone. 

Aside from this, the iPhone 13 does have some major internal improvements. Even the least expensive model carries at least 128GB in storage. Unfortunately, this “cheaper” model starts at a price of almost £800 if bought straight from an Apple store or their website. 

This price has made many people stick with their older iPhone versions, even if the iPhone 13 may technically be a better phone. However, consumers are quickly realising that if they opt for buying a iPhone 13 they can receive the same top-quality phone at a fraction of the cost. 

In this iPhone 13 buyer’s guide, we will go over the best options when it comes to refurbished devices, what to look out for, and what level of quality you can expect with a reduced price. 

 

Where can I buy a iPhone 13?

An iPhone 13 that has been refurbished can feel and act just as a new one bought straight from Apple. It will be previously owned, but it could have been returned for several reasons. You can purchase these refurbished products from the Apple Refurbished Store, but the best discounts available are typically around 15%. There are other accredited refurbishing companies that can offer much bigger reductions in price. WeSellTek is a reputable online seller of refurbished smartphones and can provide discounts of up to 40% off on an unlocked and refurbished iPhone 13.

These devices may have once been damaged and in need of repair, but others are sent back in favour of an upgrade. Either way, all iPhone 13 features go through a rigorous inspection, repairing, and cleaning process. Some may need parts replaced and fixed, but others may have been returned to the manufacturer unused -  once an iPhone has been taken from its box it can no longer be sold as new. 

These carefully restored devices are sold at a very different quality compared to used products bought from online retailers like eBay. Our guide, Refurbished iPhone VS New, details how differently an iPhone 13 refurbished device could function compared to a used one. The used iPhones come with no established tests or warranties. They may also be damaged and can unexpectedly stop working. 

It makes it incredibly important to look into what companies you buy from as well as what kind of refurbishment process their devices go through. WeSellTek has a 70 point diagnostics check. This includes a battery health and drain test, as well as some other in-depth screening. 

Refurbished devices are often a little more pricey, but they are guaranteed to be fully restored and in factory conditions before being resold. If you buy from an alternative source, make sure that your iPhone 13 comes with documents such as a return policy, a warranty, the factory certification, and a valid invoice. WeSellTeck offers a 12-month warranty and a 14-day free return policy. 

No matter who you buy from, it’s important to check you receive these guarantees to avoid losing money. 

 

How much does a iPhone 13 cost?

Brand new Apple iPhones can be incredibly expensive, even if they are older models. An iPhone 13 sells from around £800 to over £1,000 on the official Apple website. These prices can make devices unavailable for those living on a budget. They can be much more affordable as a refurbished items with substantial discounts and savings. A refurbished iPhone 13 can sell for under £700.

Most refurbishing companies use a grading system to help determine the price. WeSellTek grades our refurbished products based on their physical conditions, but our iPhone refurbishment process is guaranteed to provide you with a well-functioning device, no matter their outward appearance. The four grades of products you will find on our website are:

  • Fair (Grade D) - These devices may show heavy signs of wear, such as deep scratches or chips. However, they still pass the extensive cleaning and testing process. 
  • Good (Grade C) - Light to medium signs of wear may be visible.  
  • Excellent Condition (Grade B)  - The scuffs and light scratches on these devices are generally not visible during normal use. 
  • Pristine (Grade A) - At worst there will be very light signs of wear visible only on close inspection. 

Even our pristine iPhones can be much more affordable than brand new Apple products. For example, a pristine refurbished iPhone 13 sold on WeSellTek will cost around £700. That’s around £100 less for a device in equally perfect condition. 

 

iPhone 13 features and specifications

Some iPhone 13 specs to look out for:

  • Height - 5.78 inches
  • Width - 2.81 inches
  • Depth - 0.30 inches
  • Weight - 174 grams
  • Memory - Can range from 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB
  • Screen size - 6.1 inches of Super Retina XDR display 
  • Camera quality - Contains a dual 12 MP camera system with ƒ/1.6 aperture for the Wide lens and ƒ/2.4 aperture for the Ultra-Wide lens. The iPhone 13 camera also features: 
    • 120° field of view
    • 2x zoom out and digital zoom up to 5x 
    • Smart HDR 4
    • Dolly Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 30 fps 
    • Night mode
    • 100 % Focus Pixels
    • Sensor-shift optical image stabilisation
    • Truetone flash 
    • Sapphire crystal lens cover
    • Portrait mode with advanced bokeh and Depth control
    • Portrait lighting 

 

iPhone 13 performance

The iPhone 13 is currently the best and fastest iPhone available. It is fitted with the new A15 Bionic chip which contains a neural engine and is said to process 44 % more operations per second than the iPhone12’s A14 chip. This brings significant improvement to overall performance. The iPhone 13 also comes with a larger battery and a longer battery life. 

A refurbished handset will come with these same enhancements. The refurbishment process extensively searches for any issues that may affect any iPhone 13 features, such as the processor or battery. Go through our complete guide to refurbished phones to learn how our refurbished devices can be just as dependable and capable as a new one. 

 

Does a refurbished iPhone 13 come with a new battery?

Checking the quality of the battery is a crucial step before buying a refurbished or used device. Many refurbished iPhones won’t come with a new battery, and having to replace them on your own will add excessive costs. WeSellTek performs a battery health test on every device in order to ascertain if a battery replacement is necessary. We also perform a battery drain test in order to determine iPhone battery life while in use. If the battery health is seen to be at 80%  or lower, the old battery will be exchanged with a new one. 

 

Does a iPhone 13 have wireless charging?

An iPhone 13 is optimally charged with the Apple MagSafe wireless charging puck. It magnetically snaps onto the glass back of the iPhone 13 and can achieve up to 15-watt charging speeds. However, the iPhone 13 still contains the lightning port and can charge with a USB lead.   

 

Does a iPhone 13 come with a charger?

iPhone 13 devices can be likewise charged with a wireless charger and through the lightning port. However, it’s common for refurbishing companies to include only the phone with a purchase. WeSellTek takes care to provide both a USB lead and a UK main plug when you buy a refurbished iPhone 13. 

 

How much storage is in a iPhone 13?

The iPhone 13 comes in a range of storage sizes. While the price of your refurbished device can depend on how much space you want, even the least expensive device should hold a significant amount of storage. The cheapest models start at 128GB. 256GB and 512GB of storage are available in more expensive ones.  

 

How much RAM is there in a iPhone 13?

Each iPhone 13 will come with an additional 4GB of RAM from their A15 bionic chip.

 

Does a iPhone 13 come with a sim card?

Don’t expect your iPhone 13 to come with its own SIM card, though most are commonly unlocked and ready to be paired with any provider. WeSellTek does offer the SIM tool required to open the phone and insert the card.   

 

Does the iPhone 13 have a good camera?

The iPhone 13 has a similar camera layout to the iPhone 12. It still has a dual 12MP camera system with Wide and Ultra-Wide lenses. There are some enhancements such as adding a sensor shift to the optical image stabilization. The iPhone 13 will also have a smart HDR 4 for photos. Other features you can expect from your refurbished iPhone 13 include:  

  • ƒ/1.6 aperture in the Wide lens, ƒ/2.4 aperture in the Ultra-Wide lens
  • True Tone flash with slow sync
  • Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, and High‑Key Light Mono Portrait lighting effects
  • Photographic Styles
  • Retina Flash
  • Ability for Animoji and Memoji
  • TrueDepth camera

 

Does the iPhone 13  have Face ID?

FaceID is only possible because of the TrueDepth camera, found in the front-facing camera of the iPhone 13. A refurbished iPhone 13 is unblocked from FaceID instead of the classic touch ID technology. Through this feature, you can unlock your animated emoji messages, or authenticate a payment. All that’s required is one look at your phone. 

 

iPhone 13 video performance

There are some big improvements when it comes to video recording in the iPhone 13. For example, there is now a Cinematic mode for recording videos with a shallow depth of field (1080p at 30 fps). Some other features to expect: 

  • HDR video recording with Dolby Vision up to 4K at 60 fps
  • 4K video recording at 24 fps, 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
  • 1080p HD video recording at 25 fps, 30 fps or 60 fps
  • 720p HD video recording at 30 fps
  • Sensor-shift optical image stabilisation for video (Wide)
  • 2x optical zoom out and digital zoom up to 3x
  • Audio zoom
  • QuickTake video
  • Slo‑mo video support for 1080p at 120 fps or 240 fps
  • Time-lapse video with stabilisation and night mode Time-lapse
  • Cinematic video stabilisation (4K, 1080p and 720p)
  • Continuous autofocus video
  • The ability to take 8MP still photos while recording 4K video
  • Playback zoom
  • Video formats recorded: HEVC and H.264
  • Stereo recording

 

Does a iPhone 13 come with headphones?

Refurbished devices come in good condition, but they don’t always include the extras put in an Apple box bought straight from the manufacturer. It is not guaranteed to get headphones with any refurbished device. 

 

Does a refurbished iPhone 13 come in its original box?

Likewise, a refurbished device will most likely not come in its original packaging. This may be a big downside to true Apple- fans. However, our handsets come in plain white boxes which can make the unboxing experience feel almost authentic. Besides, you will be receiving an almost mint-condition device that will be just like new! 


Our refurbished iPhone 13 devices look, feel, and perform just like new. Shop our iPhone 13 today! They are being sold for a fraction of the cost of a brand new one! Feel free to explore our full range of refurbished iPhones, and contact WeSellTek to discover what affordable devices are available for you.