Sony Smartphones used and refurbished
Sony has done phones its own way for years: with a headphone jack, a microSD card slot and a camera built on its own Exmor sensors. The Xperia line is still going – the Xperia 1 VIII reached Europe in 2026 – but on the second-hand market you're more likely to come across older, compact models.
In this category you'll find used and refurbished Sony phones from the Xperia family, currently mainly the Xperia X and Xperia XA1. It's a small range that changes as new stock comes in. Before going back on sale, every handset goes through a technical check with SWOPiFY partners and, if needed, a repair too.
Which Sony phones will you find in this category?
The Xperia X is a 2016 model with a 5-inch Full HD screen, a Snapdragon 650 chip and a 23 MP camera. The European version has a fingerprint reader built into the power button. It sits in your hand in a way few smartphones do today.
The Xperia XA1 is a slightly cheaper option from 2017 – also with a 5-inch screen and a 23 MP camera, plus 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage that you can expand with a microSD card. It doesn't have a fingerprint reader, though, so you unlock it with a PIN or pattern. Both phones have Sony's typically clean, simple design. They'll suit someone looking for a small spare phone or wanting an Xperia for their collection.
Why consider a refurbished Sony?
A refurbished Sony phone costs a fraction of the price of a new phone. With these models it's more about a low entry cost than saving on a flagship – for a small amount you get a checked, compact phone for the basics.
The second argument is about hardware that already exists. A phone from a few years ago often works perfectly well, yet still ends up in a drawer or on the scrap heap. Giving it a new owner doesn't make the purchase fully green, but it's more sensible than throwing away a working device.
What should you check before buying?
The Xperia X and XA1 reached the end of their update path with Android 8.0 Oreo and haven't had patches for a long time. Some new apps, including banking apps, may not work on such an old system version, so if this is going to be your main phone, check first that the apps you need support it. For calls, texts and music from a memory card, they'll still do the job.
In this category you can filter Sony phones by:
- storage – 32 GB in the current range;
- RAM – 3 GB in the current range;
- colour;
- price range;
- condition.
32 GB isn't much, so with both models it's worth budgeting for a microSD card for photos and music right away. If you want a fingerprint reader, choose the Xperia X.
What does the technical check involve?
Every phone goes through a 44-point checklist before it's listed. We check, among other things:
- the screen – touch, brightness and the condition of the glass;
- the battery – health and physical condition, which matters especially with older models;
- the rear and front cameras;
- the fingerprint reader, if the model has one;
- connectivity – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and NFC;
- SIM card detection and the microSD card reader;
- speaker and microphone;
- the charging port and headphone jack.
The checks are carried out by SWOPiFY partners – electronics refurbishment specialists chosen through a multi-stage process. If a handset needs repairing, it goes for repair first.
Can you trust refurbished Sony phones?
The refurbished Sony phones in this category are used devices, not new ones – and we never suggest otherwise. Each handset is given a condition grade: Premium, Very good, Good or Fair, so you know what the body and screen look like before you buy.
Every purchase comes with a warranty. That's real protection you don't get when you buy a second-hand phone from a private seller.
Got an old phone you no longer use?
You can trade it in through our buyback programme and pay less for your next phone. No ads to post, and the device goes back into use.
Browse the available Sony Xperia models and pick the one that fits how you really use your phone.