I'm breaking the Back Market promise: iPhone 16 Pro Max put to the test

A new iPhone always costs a fortune. That’s why I’m a big fan of refurbished tech in my private life. Back Market has a huge selection and makes 100 quality promises. I had an iPhone 16 Pro Max sent to me and spent four weeks checking whether this promise can be broken: battery, visual condition, performance and contact with support.

Week 1: Unboxing and visual condition

The package arrived faster than expected. The iPhone was well packed, but not in the original box, rather in packaging from Back Market. In my experience, that’s common with refurbished tech. It came with a USB cable and nothing else. The original Apple packaging doesn’t contain much more anyway.

The device looked clean, and the charging port, speaker and camera module were free of dirt. The frame didn’t look like anyone had wiped it properly, though. On the other hand, there were no signs of wear at all, no scratches, dents or dings. Depending on the condition category you choose, that can vary.

What irritated me was a screen protector that had already been applied, presumably still from the previous owner. That’s convenient, but you get the feeling the device had already been in use. I was torn. Because I suspect a robber behind every bush, I took the glass off to check whether it was hiding scratches. All clear: the display underneath was flawless, not even micro-scratches. So being skeptical doesn’t always pay off.

Back Market promises professional refurbishment by verified specialist companies. The iPhone could be set up as usual, was reset and unlocked. I also checked the serial number on the official Apple check page. It was recognized and valid.

Verdict, week 1: Apart from the mixed feeling about the screen protector, nothing to complain about.

Week 2: Daily-use test

For a week, I lived with the iPhone like with my daily driver: made calls, navigated, listened to music, shot videos, used social media.

• Software: Current iOS version, no preinstalled third-party apps, no strange certificates, no sign of tampering.
• Reception and Bluetooth: No problems, stable connection to the car and headphones without dropouts.
• Microphone and speakers: Voice messages and videos sound great, no crackling, no hiss, no distortion at full volume.
• GPS: Accurate location with Google Maps, route recognized immediately.

Verdict, week 2: Unspectacular, because everything runs flawlessly.

Week 3: Camera and support

The iPhone 16 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom. I took photos indoors, outdoors, in low light and with zoom. The image quality was flawless, with no dust in the sensor and no deviation in colors. The lenses were clean and unscratched.

Then the support test: through the website, I pretended to have a problem with the order. Back Market promises a 30-day return right and customer service that is reachable, fast and friendly. Back Market was voted Customer Service of the Year 2024 in an independent competition with 225 test scenarios. They announced a reply within 24 hours. In fact, after two and a half hours I had an email with instructions on how to replace the device or return it completely. That was quick and uncomplicated. So you take no risk, even if the device doesn’t meet your expectations.

Verdict, week 3: No camera defect, support quick and uncomplicated.

Week 4: Battery

Bad batteries are the biggest trust problem with refurbished devices. That’s why Back Market promises at least 85% of the original battery capacity. If that isn’t the case, the battery is replaced or you return the device. In the premium category, it should be at least 90%.

My device came in the “very good” condition category, so I expected at least 85%. In Settings under Battery, Battery Health, it said: 99% battery capacity after 206 charge cycles. I find that remarkable, because the device is already a year and a half old. I charged it fully several times and drained it with streaming, camera and navigation. The battery stayed stable and lasted above-average long, as is usual with the Pro Max models, without crashes or sudden jumps in percentage.

Verdict

I couldn’t check all 100 promises, but the most important ones. In the end, what counts is whether you get what you ordered and whether the service is good when something is wrong. I can answer yes to both. If you don’t want to buy a smartphone like the iPhone 16 Pro Max at the full new price, Back Market is a real option. Choose one of the higher condition categories and consistently use the 30-day return right if you’re not happy with something. The promise exists, and in my test it holds.