Theres no denying the allure of shiny new tech (I mean, have you seen the smartphone images Engadgets Sam Rutherford takes?). But the latest model isnt always necessary for every purchase you make. Buying refurbished is obviously easier on your wallet sometimes saving you hundreds of dollars over buying new. Its also far easier on the environment, since the majority of a devices environmental impact happens in the manufacturing process. Plus, buying refurbished is more efficient than recycling electronics and keeps a device out of the e-waste stream for a little longer.Theres no regulation for what constitutes refurbished tech, but its often a level or two above used items youd buy off a guy on the street. Refurbished usually means the device has undergone some combination of testing, cleaning and repair often all three and it should perform as if it were new, with only minor scuffs to indicate its past life. But some outlets arent as trustworthy as others when it comes to refurbished options. We have a few recommendations for places to find refurbished tech that all have documented processes for how they handle the process. We also point out what to look for when youre shopping for such tech, so you get something as close to new as possible. What to consider when buying refurbished devices Refurbished vs used Refurbished is not the same as used. Used items tend to be sold as-is,'' which means youre simply inheriting whatever mileage and quirks a device had when the previous owner said goodbye to it. Its true that most refurbished items were previously owned, and many are a result of the growing trend of trading in your old device when you upgrade. But others were hardly used at all and are one of the millions of returns generated each year. Either way, a properly refurbished item has undergone testing to verify that it works, along with cleaning, repairs and parts replacement as needed. Since there are no government regulations for renewed items, its up to the sellers to define what steps they take to ready a device for sale. And its up to the buyer to find out what those steps are before taking the plunge. The processes for refurbishing devices from Apple, Bose, Microsoft, Google Pixels and Samsung, for example, include cleaning, inspection, parts replacement as needed and shipment in a new box with the originally supplied accessories. They also all provide a one-year warranty. Warranties and returns A refurbished device should perform as well as its new counterpart, but the only way to guarantee thats the case is to make sure it comes with a warranty. All of the sites we recommend below include a warranty with the products they sell. If you see something labeled as refurbished, but doesnt include some sort of guarantee as to its reliability shop elsewhere. Also, a good return policy will let you send the item back (preferably with the same free shipping a new item gets) for any reason including that you just changed your mind. That way if a refurbished product doesnt look as good as you thought it would, you can send it back without having to prove theres something wrong with it. Sanitation Most refurbished tech was used before it made its way back on the market. And while renewed items are cleaned, youll still need to consider your comfort with sanitation issues when buying things like headphones and earbuds. Polina Lebed via Getty Images Where to buy refurbished tech We recommend going directly to the manufacturer whenever possible, especially for more technical items like smartphones and laptops. If you need a new MacBook, check out Apples refurbished stock first; if you want a new Galaxy phone, hit up Samsung before anyone else. Repairs will be handled using genuine parts and youre far more likely to get items that were properly unpaired from the original owner and all data wiped. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy are decent options if youre on a tighter budget or if youre looking for gadgets from a manufacturer that may not have its own refurbished outlet. Refurbished marketplaces like BackMarket can be useful if youre looking for older, more specific items, or if price is the number one factor for your purchase. Other retailers Some smaller manufacturers like Dyson, Vitamix, Nintendo and JBL offer their own refurbished products, but for many other brands, you may need to head to a retailer. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/where-to-buy-refurbished-tech-140028700.html?src=rss