What you need to know
- Samsung has added the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 to its Certified Re-Nude program, but the existing math is broken.
- In a bizarre pricing twist, a brand new base Z Fold 7 or Flip 7 currently costs $40-$100 less than their refurbished counterparts.
- The re-nudge program only makes financial sense if you’re looking for a higher capacity model like the 1TB Fold 7.
Samsung’s program for refurbished phones looks promising: These are handsets that have been taken back, given new batteries, repaired and tested by the Korean tech giant. You generally get the same warranty as a new phone, not a brand new experience.
However, the refurbished base model currently costs $100 more than the new devices, as noted 9to5Google.
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Refurbished costs more than new
Let’s break it down. a renewed The Galaxy Z Fold 7 with 256GB of storage is priced at $1,699 through the repurchase program. That’s $300 less than the original $1,999 price. Sounds good at first, but there’s more to the story.
Currently, Samsung’s own store is offering a brand new, sealed Z Fold 7 (256GB) for $1,599. This is not a mistake. You actually pay less for new equipment than for refurbished equipment.
Android Central’s Tech
Samsung’s efforts to promote circular economy and reduce electronic waste are commendable. However, charging more for a refurbished device than a new device does not equate to true sustainability. That’s just slapping a “certified” label on a bad deal and hoping people don’t compare prices.
The same happens with the Flip 7: The refurbished base model is $939, while a new one Up to $899 off.
However, if you need a lot of storage, the numbers change. The 1TB refurbished Fold 7 is priced at $1,879. Compared to the current new price of $2,099, the refurbished option really saves you money. For those who need enough space for videos and offline maps, the Re-Nude deal makes sense.
However, for most people, this cost doesn’t add up. Samsung probably created this program for buyers who don’t compare prices. If you’re a careful shopper, you’ll notice the new phone’s lower price and choose that one instead.
