5 Disadvantages of Buying Refurbished Game Consoles

When you’re frugal with your gadget purchases, purchasing a refurbished console is one of the best ways to save money while still getting a gaming machine that works like new. You can definitely get the console cheaper if you buy it from someone who is selling their old unit. However, the biggest drawback to this path is that it is presented as is. Refurbishers do their best to inspect, clean and repair the console before shipping it to you. Without their warranty, you simply would have no formal way of knowing how well it works until you try it. It’s a huge gamble.

Buying a refurbished console, especially if the manufacturer did the refurbishing themselves, eliminates much of the risk and anxiety. Third-party refurbishers are acceptable if they are certified and their products are highly rated by users. That said, buying a refurbished console still carries some level of risk (it’s just not as bad as buying used). Plus, you get a warranty, although it won’t be the same length as a new unit in most scenarios. Still, it’s better than something you bought on Facebook Marketplace.

Besides shorter warranties, other drawbacks you need to worry about are cosmetic imperfections, missing accessories, the condition of its high-wear components, and battery degradation (handheld consoles only). This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy a refurbished console. Knowing the downsides can actually help you ask the right questions before you make the purchase, so you don’t end up with a dud.

When you purchase the refurbished console from the original manufacturer (OEM), you can expect it to come with all the standard accessories. In addition, they will be original. If it’s a third-party refurbisher, you can expect some accessories, such as HDMI and charging cables, to be generic replacements. However, there have been cases where people have acquired controllers that look legitimate to the untrained eye, but turn out to be very convincing copies.

In some cases, you may not even get any accessories at all. Third-party refurbishers can do this to reduce the price of the console, meaning you’ll have to spend extra to buy them yourself. So don’t think that just because a renovator is certified that they will include all the essentials. All you are guaranteed is a safe and functional console. At a minimum, you should get a controller, an HDMI cable, and a power cable or charger. So if you’re not sure, look for the “What’s in the Box” section on the seller’s website or send them a message to inquire. Policies vary depending on where you get the console and you should be sure of what you’re getting.

Although the goal of refurbishing a console is to return it to its original condition, both in terms of appearance and functionality, visible signs of wear and tear may not completely disappear. Even if it’s just cosmetic wear, you might think everything is fine since the hardware inside works perfectly. Indeed, this is generally the case since the renovators will have carried out the necessary diagnostics and resistance tests to ensure that everything is fine. However, these cosmetic imperfections tell a story about its use. The more worn it is, the more worrying it can be. However, it is purely psychological.

Where this becomes a real problem is when you have to sell the console. The potential buyer will see physical imperfections, such as scratches, dents, and worn ports, and will try to negotiate a lower price, even if you haven’t used the console in that long. Additionally, if your other devices are in excellent condition, an aesthetically imperfect console may stand out in your setup or collection, disrupting the visual flow. At least reputable sellers will grade refurbished products based on their cosmetic condition. Common categories include “Fair,” “Good,” and “Excellent.” These range from visible signs of use to almost no signs at all. This disadvantage will therefore mainly apply to lower quality options.

When you buy a new console from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo, or from a reputable seller like Amazon or Best Buy, you typically get a one-year warranty. If you experience any factory defects or the console doesn’t work as expected during the warranty period, they will repair it for you free of charge. If you’ve experienced major console defects like the Xbox 360’s red ring of death or the PS3’s yellow light of death, you know how much relief a warranty can provide. If they can’t fix it, they will send you a new unit or offer you a refund.

When purchasing a refurbished product, it is essential to always have a warranty. Some sellers don’t include one, and you should definitely stay away from them. If there is a warranty, especially from the manufacturer or a certified renovator like Best Buy, you will get a shorter warranty period of 90 days in many cases. This is not always the case, however. Nintendo and some sellers like Back Market offer a year of warranty (some even more), a sign of confidence in their work restoring the console to meet specific performance standards.

Even if you choose a restored console in excellent condition, that doesn’t erase the years of use (or abuse). When you think about it a little more, the restoration process can sometimes hide true wear and tear. The renovator can simply replace what is explicitly broken or worn, leaving the rest of the heavily used components as is. This doesn’t mean the console is in danger of imminent failure; it just means you might get fewer miles out of it.

One of the biggest concerns is console elements with moving parts, as these are the components most vulnerable to wear and tear. Most sellers will not provide you with a usage or repair history. This means you don’t know if you’re getting a console that’s only been used for less than a year or more.

For example, optical drives may be in a more degraded state if you get the disc version of the PS5 or Xbox Series X, even if they passed the tests the refurbisher put them through. If it’s a PS4 or Xbox One, you also need to worry about the condition of the hard drive since you’re technically buying a used drive. For something like the Nintendo Switch, especially the Switch Lite, you’re looking at issues like Joy-Con drift and worn buttons, triggers, ports, slot covers, and Joy-Con rails.

Handheld consoles typically use lithium-ion batteries, which degrade over time. No one can do anything about it since that is their nature, as they are accused and released over the years. You can expect the battery of a handheld console like a Nintendo Switch to last around 800 charges before its capacity drops below 80%. So if you’re buying something like a refurbished original Nintendo Switch, you should expect the battery to have suffered some level of degradation, since these consoles are almost a decade since their release – you might not get the estimated 2.5 to 6.5 hours of use on a full charge.

The degradation of lithium-ion batteries is irreversible. If the battery is too worn, the renovator will replace it. If the OEM, like Nintendo or Valve (the makers of the Steam Deck), is replacing it, they will use an original battery. Third-party renovators may use a compatible battery. If you are lucky, you may even get a new battery, but what the seller can guarantee is that the battery capacity will not be less than 80%.

You will have to test the battery yourself to make sure it doesn’t die within 30 minutes. For handheld consoles like the Steam Deck, there are system tools that allow you to check the battery status so you can confirm if the refurbisher didn’t give you a worn battery. Handhelds like the Switch don’t have this and you have to take the seller’s word for it.