Do refurbished iPhones sold come with SIM cards?
The refurbished iPhones listed on RefurbMe don't come with a SIM card unless stated otherwise on the merchant's website.
What to expect in the box
Refurbished phones are sold independently from phone plans and contracts. Professional refurbishers work on hardware only, meaning you receive:
- The iPhone itself
- A charging cable (and sometimes a power adapter)
- No SIM card and no carrier contract
Some sellers may occasionally bundle a SIM card, so always read the product listing carefully. But in the vast majority of cases, you will need to supply your own SIM.
eSIM as an alternative
If your refurbished iPhone supports eSIM, you may not need a physical SIM card at all. Starting with iPhone XS and later, iPhones support eSIM. iPhone 14 and later (US models) are eSIM-only with no physical SIM tray, and all iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air are eSIM-only worldwide.
With eSIM you can activate a carrier plan digitally, without waiting for a physical card to arrive. Learn more in our guide on using eSIM on a refurbished iPhone.
Choosing the right SIM for your refurbished iPhone
If you already have a SIM card and a phone plan, make sure you buy a phone that is either compatible with your carrier or unlocked. Here are a few tips:
- Check the SIM size. Most modern iPhones (iPhone 5 and later) use a Nano-SIM.
- Verify carrier compatibility. If the phone is locked to a specific carrier, it will only work with that carrier's SIM.
- Consider unlocked phones. An unlocked iPhone works with any carrier, giving you the most flexibility.
If you are buying a refurbished iPhone before having a phone plan, choosing an unlocked model is the safest option.
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