Samsung Galaxy Z Series used and refurbished
The first foldable Galaxy Fold went on sale in September 2019, and the Galaxy Z Flip joined it at the start of 2020. Since then Samsung has unveiled a new pair every year: the Fold, which opens up into a small tablet, and the Flip, which folds down to fit in the smallest pocket. The choice comes down to one question: a bigger screen or a smaller phone?
In this category you'll find used and refurbished Samsung Galaxy Z smartphones – foldable Fold and Flip models from successive generations, from the original Galaxy Fold and Z Flip to the Z Fold8 and Z Flip8. Currently available are, among others, the Z Fold5, Z Fold6, Z Fold7 and the Z Flip3, Z Flip4 and Z Flip7. Each of them goes through a technical check by SWOPiFY partners and, where needed, a repair too.
Fold or Flip – how do the Z series models differ?
The Z Fold has two screens: an outer one for quick tasks and a large inner one that's comfortable for reading documents, watching films and running two apps side by side. Models from the Z Fold3 to the Z Fold6 support the S Pen Fold Edition, sold separately. The Z Fold7 is noticeably thinner, but it lost that support, as did the Z Fold8.
The Z Flip folds widthways, like the old flip phones. Open, it's a regular smartphone; closed, it's a small square. On the Z Flip3 and Z Flip4, the cover screen is 1.9 inches and mainly shows notifications and the time. From the Z Flip5 onwards it's much bigger, so you can use some apps without opening the phone.
The Fold can replace a phone and a small tablet. The Flip is for those who care about compact size.
Why consider a refurbished Samsung foldable?
A refurbished Galaxy Z costs a lot less than a new unit of the same generation. With foldables that difference really hurts, because new Folds are among the most expensive phones in the shops. A refurbished Z Fold that's a generation or two old is an affordable way to find out whether a folding screen suits you.
A foldable smartphone has more inside than a regular one: two screens, a hinge, a battery split into two cells. When a unit like that goes back into use, all that manufacturing doesn't go to waste, and one less device ends up as e-waste. That doesn't make the purchase fully green, but it extends the life of hardware that already exists.
What should you look out for with a foldable phone?
The hinge and the inner screen do the hardest work here. Where the inner screen folds, you'll usually see a faint crease – that's part of the design, not a fault. From the factory, this screen has a protective film applied, which Samsung advises against removing yourself. If it starts peeling, have it replaced by a service centre.
Durability depends on the generation. The original Galaxy Fold, the first Z Flips and the Z Fold2 have no water resistance certification. The Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 were the first to get IPX8, which means protection against water but not dust. The Z Fold6, Z Flip6 and later generations are rated IP48, where the "4" means protection against solid objects larger than 1 mm, not dust-tightness. Sand and dust are a real threat to a foldable.
It's a similar story with updates. The original Fold, the Z Fold2 and the first Z Flips no longer get them, and the Z Fold3 and Z Flip3 reached end of support in 2026. The Z Fold4 and Z Flip4 won't get new OS versions, but receive quarterly security patches until 2027. The Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 were promised four major One UI updates and five years of patches, and from the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 onwards Samsung promises seven years of OS updates.
How do you choose a Z series model?
In this category you can filter smartphones by:
- storage – from 128 GB to 1 TB;
- RAM – usually 8 GB or 12 GB;
- colour;
- price range;
- condition.
If you're counting on long support, go for the Z Fold6 and Z Flip6 or newer. The Z Flip3 and Z Flip4 are the cheapest way into foldables, but bear in mind that their updates have already ended or are coming to an end. With every unit, read the condition description – on a foldable, the state of the inner screen tells you more than scratches on the casing.
Can you trust refurbished Galaxy Z phones?
Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Z smartphones are used devices. We don't present them as new, and we never suggest it anywhere. SWOPiFY partners check them against a 44-point checklist and repair them if needed. The condition of each unit is described by one of these grades: Premium, Very good, Good or Fair.
Your purchase includes a warranty. With a phone that has a moving hinge, that's real protection – the kind you don't get from a deal with a random seller from a classified ad.
Want to get rid of your old phone?
The buyback programme lets you hand in your current phone and lower the cost of your next purchase. No posting ads and no meeting buyers, and the device goes back into circulation instead of waiting in a drawer.
Browse the available Samsung Galaxy Z models and decide whether you're more of a Fold or a Flip person.