Samsung has begun taking pre-orders for the Re-Newed Galaxy S21 series, but is it worth purchasing over the more recent Galaxy S22 series? Several phone manufacturers have a trade-in program that allows buyers to trade in their old phones and get a monetary credit toward purchasing a new one. In some cases, the buyer still pays the full price for the new phone but gets credited the equivalent of the old phone’s value afterward. So what happens to the old phones?

These old devices are usually recycled into parts for new devices or refurbished to be resold. Samsung’s Certified Re-Newed program is its refurbishment program, and it differs from that of third parties in several ways. First, the phone is equipped with a brand new battery, and missing or damaged components are replaced with original parts. Second, Samsung also wipes the phones and assigns them a new IMEI (and SIM card if applicable). Finally, it updates the software to the latest version and puts the phone in a brand new box with a label that clearly states it is a renewed device. Re-Newed devices are also covered with a one-year warranty.

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The Galaxy S21 and its siblings are the latest devices to join the Certified Re-Newed Program, but Samsung is only taking pre-orders for now. Like its other phones, buyers can choose to make a one-time payment for a renewed phone or opt for a monthly/bi-weekly payment plan. There is also the option to trade in an older phone. All purchases also include an instant $100 credit towards purchasing accessories. Unfortunately, the refurbished Galaxy S21 series will only be available in one configuration—128GB—and one color variation—Phantom Gray for the Galaxy S21 and Phantom Black for Galaxy S21 Plus and Galaxy S21 Ultra. Starting at $675, the Re-Newed Galaxy S21 is cheaper than the $799 launch price of 2021, but is it worth the money?

Newer Is Better

Samsung Galaxy S22

It turns out that the Re-Newed Galaxy S21 series isn’t a good deal at its current pricing as the new Galaxy s22 series offers much more for slightly more money. Samsung has been selling the Galaxy S22 series for a few months now, and while it has a starting price of $799 on its website, users can get it for a lower price on Amazon. The official Samsung store on Amazon has the 128GB Galaxy S22 for $700, which is just $25 more than what Samsung is charging for the refurbished Galaxy S21.

As for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Plus and Galaxy S22 Ultra, they are priced at $899 and $1099, respectively. In contrast, the Re-Newed Galaxy S21 Plus has an $850 price tag, while the renewed Galaxy S21 Ultra has a $1000 price tag. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is also the better choice for those considering the ultra model because it comes with a built-in stylus, unlike the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Moreover, Amazon is also offering buyers who purchase a Galaxy S22 model $100 off the Galaxy Buds 2.