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Uswitch has added refurbished devices from Back Market to its mobile comparison platform, becoming the first UK comparison site to partner with the refurbished electronics marketplace.
Back Market joins Reboxed on the platform, giving shoppers access to two refurbished phone retailers in one place. Uswitch has also introduced a single A, B, C grading system across both sellers to make condition comparisons more consistent.
The arrangement comes as UK phone prices are expected to rise by as much as 8% this year, according to figures cited by Uswitch. Some recent flagship Samsung models already cost up to £100 more than the previous generation, it said.
Refurbished handsets are gaining traction as consumers respond to those increases. Market data cited by Uswitch shows refurbished phone sales rose 4% year on year in the first quarter of 2026.
Common grading
A key issue in the refurbished market has been the lack of standard condition labels across retailers. Terms such as Pristine, Like New and Excellent can vary from one seller to another, making it harder for buyers to compare offers directly.
Uswitch said its three-tier grading framework is designed to address that problem. Under the system, Grade A phones should look and work like new, Grade B phones show some signs of use, and Grade C phones remain fully functional but have more visible cosmetic wear.
Devices sold through either retailer are checked to confirm they work properly, have been wiped and reset, are not reported lost or stolen, and have had their battery and cosmetic condition assessed, according to Uswitch. Both retailers also offer a 30-day returns window and a one-year warranty.
Price gap
Uswitch highlighted the widening gap between new and refurbished prices for premium devices. A Grade A 256GB refurbished iPhone 17 listed through Back Market on its platform costs £631.99, compared with Apple's usual price of £799 for the same model, a difference of up to £167, it said.
On Samsung devices, the gap is larger. A Grade A 256GB refurbished Galaxy S26 is listed at £604.99 through the platform, £274 below Samsung's usual retail price of £879, according to Uswitch.
Back Market has more than 18 million customers worldwide and operates across 17 markets, according to figures cited by Uswitch. Its addition expands the range of refurbished stock available through the comparison service as demand grows for lower-cost alternatives to new phones.
Simrat Sharma, mobiles expert at Uswitch, said: "Refurbished phones are one of the smartest ways to save money on a device. But with different retailers using different condition labels, it hasn't always been easy for shoppers to compare deals side by side.
"By bringing Back Market, one of the biggest names in refurbished tech, onto our platform alongside Reboxed, and applying one simple grading system across both, we're making that comparison effortless. Every device is rigorously tested and checked, so shoppers get more choice with total confidence.
"With a new iPhone around the corner and the cost of flagship phones continuing to rise, a fully tested refurbished device is an increasingly smart choice. We'd encourage anyone thinking about their next upgrade to compare refurbished options before they buy new."