Back Market is a real online marketplace for refurbished electronics. It does not refurbish devices itself. Independent sellers list refurbished phones, laptops and other devices, and Back Market sets the rules they must follow.
So the useful question is not only "is Back Market legit?" but "what do I get, and from whom?" This guide explains how the marketplace works, using Back Market's own help pages. Then it compares a marketplace with an official brand refurbished program.
The short answer
- Back Market is a marketplace. Back Market says: "We don't refurbish anything ourselves." The sellers are refurbishers that sell on the site.
- Every device has a grade. The grade describes how the device looks. Back Market says every device is fully functional, whatever the grade.
- A 1-year limited warranty comes from the seller. It runs for 12 months from delivery.
- You can return a device within 30 days. Back Market says an undamaged item returned within 30 days of receiving it gets a full refund or an exchange.
How Back Market works
Back Market describes itself as a marketplace, not a seller or distributor. It works with refurbishers who offer devices for sale on the site. Back Market says it works with over 1,500 vetted sellers and operates in 17 countries.
Back Market describes how it checks sellers:
- Sellers must comply with Back Market's Quality Charter.
- Back Market says only 1 out of 3 sellers that apply make the cut.
- After that, it says it assesses sellers with mystery shopping, onsite visits and customer reviews.
Returns go back to the seller.
How Back Market grades work
Back Market grades describe the appearance of a device. For smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and smartwatches there are four grades. Other devices have two grades, Excellent and Good. Here is a summary of Back Market's definitions:
- Premium: almost no signs of use on screen and body. Only genuine manufacturer parts and batteries. The battery has a minimum capacity of 90%.
- Excellent: almost no signs of wear. The body may have very light micro-scratches that you cannot see from 8 inches or more. The screen has no scratches.
- Good: light signs of wear. The body may have light micro-scratches that you cannot see from 20 inches or more. The screen has no scratches.
- Fair: signs of wear. The body may have a few visible scratches and dents. A screen may have light scratches that are slightly visible when the device is on. There might be some engraving.
Some facts apply to all grades:
- Battery: Back Market says all batteries come with a guaranteed minimum of 80% of their original capacity.
- Parts: sellers use compatible or genuine parts. Back Market says "Original parts aren't guaranteed." Only the Premium grade states genuine manufacturer parts.
- Data: sellers reset devices to factory settings and erase previous personal data.
- Photos: Back Market does not show photos of the actual device. If the device does not match the grade, you can open a help request with the seller.
The Back Market warranty
Back Market says the 1-year limited warranty is "offered by the seller" and applies to all devices bought on Back Market. It runs for 12 months from delivery and covers defects in hardware and software. The seller repairs or replaces a defective device. If the seller cannot do either, you can get a refund.
The warranty does not cover a device that is:
- lost, dropped or broken
- damaged by liquids (oxidation)
- opened for repair or diagnosis by you or by a third party the seller did not authorize
Back Market also notes that the original waterproofing is rarely kept on refurbished devices, because devices are opened for tests. It sells an optional Protection Plan for accidental damage.
The Back Market return policy
Back Market says you have 30 days from delivery to return a device to the seller if you are not satisfied. The item must be undamaged. You start the return from your Back Market account under "Orders" and "Get help", then ship the item to the seller.
Marketplace vs official brand refurbished program
A marketplace and a brand program can both sell good refurbished devices. The difference is who does the work and who stands behind it.
- Who refurbishes: on Back Market, an independent seller. In an official program, the brand itself. Samsung says its Certified Re-Newed phones are refurbished by Samsung, in a Samsung facility.
- Who gives the warranty: on Back Market, the seller gives a 1-year limited warranty. Apple gives its standard one-year limited warranty on Apple Certified Refurbished products, and you can add AppleCare.
- Battery: Back Market guarantees at least 80% of the original capacity, or 90% for Premium. Apple says refurbished iPhones and other iOS devices come with a new battery and a new outer shell. Samsung says each Certified Re-Newed phone gets a certified new battery.
- Parts: Back Market says original parts are not guaranteed. Only the Premium grade states genuine manufacturer parts. Apple says it uses genuine Apple replacement parts as needed.
See the official programs on our brand pages: Apple, Samsung, Dell and Lenovo. Dell and Lenovo run outlet stores that mix conditions, so read the condition line on each product. For the labels themselves, read What Does Refurbished Mean?
What about Back Market reviews?
Review scores change over time and differ between review sites. This guide does not quote them. If you read reviews, check the date, and look at reviews of the specific seller of your listing, not only of the marketplace. On Back Market, the seller handles the device, the warranty and the return.
Checklist for buying on any marketplace
- Find the seller name. Who refurbished the device, and how do they rate?
- Read the warranty. How long, from when, and does the seller or the platform give it?
- Check the return window. How many days, and from delivery or from purchase? Who pays return shipping?
- Read the grade definition. Grades have no shared standard. Read what this marketplace means by each grade.
- Check the battery. Look for a stated minimum capacity or a new battery.
- Check the parts. Does the listing say original or compatible parts?
- Check what is in the box. Look for the charger and the cable.
- Compare with the brand's own store. Our brand directory lists the official refurbished store of each brand.
Bottom line
Back Market is a legitimate marketplace with published rules for grades, warranty and returns. It is not the manufacturer, and it does not refurbish devices itself. The seller of each listing refurbishes the device and gives the warranty. If you want the brand's own testing, a new battery and the brand's warranty, compare with an official program such as Apple or Samsung.
Sources
- Back Market, Does Back Market refurbish devices?, checked 2026-10-08.
- Back Market, Is Back Market legit?, checked 2026-10-08.
- Back Market, What condition will my device be in?, checked 2026-10-08.
- Back Market, How does the 1-year limited warranty work?, checked 2026-10-08.
- Back Market, How do I return an item I bought on Back Market?, checked 2026-10-08.
- Apple, About Apple Certified Refurbished, checked 2026-10-08.
- Samsung, Certified Re-Newed Phones, checked 2026-10-08.
- Dell, Dell Outlet, checked 2026-10-08.
- Lenovo, Outlet Laptops, checked 2026-10-08.