Like New vs Excellent Refurbished Phones UK: What’s the Difference?

September 4, 2026

Like New vs Excellent Refurbished Phones UK: What’s the Difference?

If you are shopping for a refurbished phone in the UK, you will often see cosmetic condition labels such as Like New and Excellent. Both can represent a high-quality refurbished device, but the labels are designed to help you understand the phone’s cosmetic appearance before you buy.

At Forge Deals, our refurbished phones are selected and quality-checked with practical buying factors in mind: condition, functionality, battery health, network compatibility, warranty and value. This guide explains what Like New and Excellent mean, what you should compare, and how to choose the right grade for your budget.

What does Like New mean on a refurbished phone?

Like New is the higher cosmetic condition grade. A Like New phone is intended for customers who want a device that looks and feels as close to new as reasonably possible without paying the full price of a new handset.

Under normal viewing conditions, the screen and body should have no obvious signs of previous use. The focus is on a very clean overall appearance while the device remains a genuine refurbished product rather than a brand-new handset.

Like New is particularly suitable if appearance matters to you, you are buying a phone as a gift, or you simply want the closest possible visual experience to a new phone at a lower price.

What does Excellent mean on a refurbished phone?

Excellent is also a high cosmetic grade, but it allows for minor, light signs of previous use. These may be small marks or very subtle cosmetic signs that do not affect normal functionality.

An Excellent phone can therefore offer strong value for money. If you care more about performance, reliability and price than having an almost-new cosmetic appearance, Excellent can be the smarter choice.

Like New vs Excellent: the simple difference

The easiest way to understand the two grades is to think about cosmetics rather than performance.

Like New: closest to a new-looking appearance, with no obvious visible signs of previous use under normal viewing conditions.
Excellent: very clean overall condition, with only minor, light signs of previous use.

The grade should not be treated as a guarantee that one phone is faster, has a better camera or has a healthier battery than the other. Cosmetic grade describes appearance. The exact battery health, testing and warranty terms should be checked separately.

Does Like New mean the phone is brand new?

No. Like New is a cosmetic condition grade for a refurbished phone. It does not mean the handset has never been owned or used.

A refurbished phone can be professionally inspected, tested, cleaned and prepared for resale while still being different from a brand-new retail device. This distinction matters because customers should compare the actual warranty, battery guarantee, testing process, returns policy and unlocked status rather than relying on the words “Like New” alone.

Does Excellent mean there are scratches?

Excellent allows minor, light signs of use, so a customer should expect the possibility of subtle cosmetic marks. The important point is that these signs are cosmetic and should not affect normal functionality.

If you want the cleanest possible appearance, choose Like New. If you are comfortable with very minor signs of previous use in exchange for better value, Excellent is worth considering.

Does the cosmetic grade affect battery health?

Not necessarily. Cosmetic condition and battery health are separate considerations.

For Forge Deals refurbished phones, the advertised standard is 85%+ battery health for eligible devices. That means you should not assume that a Like New phone automatically has a higher battery percentage than an Excellent phone. Always check the battery guarantee and the specific product information before ordering.

For a deeper explanation of battery health, read our guide to refurbished iPhone battery health and what 85%+ means.

Are Like New and Excellent phones fully tested?

Cosmetic grade and functional testing are different parts of the buying decision. Forge Deals positions eligible refurbished phones around a 90-point testing process, helping customers evaluate a device on functionality as well as appearance.

When comparing two phones, look beyond the cosmetic label. Check whether the listing clearly explains testing, battery health, warranty, network compatibility and returns. These details provide much more useful information than a condition label on its own.

Do Like New and Excellent phones come unlocked?

Eligible Forge Deals refurbished phones are marketed as factory unlocked, making them suitable for customers who want to use a compatible UK network without being tied to a particular carrier.

If you are unsure why unlocked status matters, read our guide to choosing an unlocked phone in the UK.

Which grade should you choose?

Choose Like New if your priority is cosmetic appearance. It is a good fit when you want a very clean-looking phone and are prepared to pay more for the higher cosmetic grade when a price difference exists.

Choose Excellent if you want a strong balance between appearance and value. Minor signs of previous use are acceptable to you, and you would rather keep more of your budget available for storage, model upgrades or accessories.

For many buyers, Excellent is the value-focused choice, while Like New is the appearance-focused choice.

Like New vs Excellent for iPhones

For refurbished iPhones, the same principle applies. A Like New iPhone is aimed at customers who want a very clean exterior, while an Excellent iPhone can show minor signs of previous use.

When comparing models such as the iPhone 13, iPhone 14 or iPhone 15, do not choose solely by condition. Compare the model generation, storage, camera system, battery health, price, warranty and expected years of software support as well.

Browse our refurbished iPhones UK collection to compare available Apple models and conditions.

Like New vs Excellent for Samsung Galaxy phones

The same buying logic applies to refurbished Samsung Galaxy phones. If you want a cleaner cosmetic finish, Like New is the better match. If you are happy with subtle signs of previous use, Excellent can deliver better value.

Compare the Galaxy model, storage, display, camera features, battery health, warranty and price before deciding. You can browse our refurbished Samsung Galaxy phones UK collection for available devices.

Like New vs Excellent for Google Pixel phones

Google Pixel buyers should use the same framework: condition first for appearance, then battery health, testing, warranty, unlocked status and price for the overall purchase decision.

Our refurbished Google Pixel phones UK collection gives you a dedicated place to compare Pixel options.

Is Like New worth paying more for?

It can be, but it depends on your priorities. If the difference between Like New and Excellent is relatively small and you care strongly about appearance, Like New may be worth the premium.

If the price gap is meaningful, Excellent can be the better-value purchase because both grades can still provide a fully functional refurbished device with the relevant testing, battery and warranty standards.

Think of the extra money as paying primarily for cosmetic condition, not automatically for better performance.

What should you check before buying any refurbished phone?

Before ordering, use this checklist:

Condition: confirm whether the phone is Like New or Excellent and understand what that means.
Battery health: check the stated battery guarantee, especially if battery life is important to you.
Testing: look for a clear testing or inspection standard.
Warranty: confirm how long the seller covers the device.
Unlocked status: check that the phone is compatible with your intended network.
Returns: read the seller’s current returns policy before buying.
Model and storage: confirm the exact generation, capacity and configuration.
Price: compare the total value against a new handset and other reputable refurbished sellers.

Our refurbished phone quality guide covers additional signs of a high-quality refurbished device and red flags to watch for.

How does the price compare with buying new?

The main attraction of buying refurbished is value. A refurbished phone can give you access to a previous-generation premium device at a lower price than buying a comparable new handset.

The important comparison is not simply “refurbished versus new.” Compare the exact model, storage, condition, battery guarantee, warranty, returns and seller reputation. A low price is not automatically a good deal if the seller provides weak protection or unclear device information.

Our guide Refurbished iPhone vs New iPhone UK 2026 explains how to make that comparison in more detail.

Where can I shop refurbished phones in the UK?

Forge Deals offers refurbished mobile phones for UK customers across popular Apple, Samsung and Google Pixel models. Eligible devices are presented with condition information, 90-point testing, 85%+ battery health and a 13-month warranty.

Start with our refurbished mobile phones UK collection if you want to compare brands and models in one place. If your budget is under £200, you can also browse our refurbished phones under £200 UK range.

Final verdict: Like New or Excellent?

There is no universal winner. Like New is best when cosmetic appearance is your top priority. Excellent is best when you want a very clean phone while prioritising value.

The most important lesson is that condition grade is only one part of a refurbished-phone purchase. Battery health, functional testing, warranty, returns, unlocked status, model, storage and price all matter.

If you are still deciding, start by choosing the phone model that fits your needs, then compare the available Like New and Excellent options. That approach helps you spend your budget where it matters most.