The price of a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max shifts with storage size, cosmetic grade, and battery health. E-TECH61 in the UK prices visibly on these criteria so you see what you are paying for.
The refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max market is absolutely thriving right now because this phone—even though it came out back in 2020—still absolutely slaps when it comes to performance, camera quality, and that gorgeous massive screen.
Right now you're looking at prices between £400 and £700 depending on where you shop and what condition you're after. Compare that to the original launch prices of £1,099 to £1,399 and you can see why so many people are going refurbished instead of buying new models that cost even more.
Current Market Prices Breakdown
Storage makes a massive difference to what you'll actually pay. The 128GB refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max models usually go for around £400-£500, the 256GB versions sit somewhere between £550-£650, and if you want the full 512GB you're looking at £650-£700 from decent sellers who aren't trying to rip you off.
Condition matters just as much as storage though. A pristine Grade A model will cost you £100-£150 more than a Grade C phone that's got some visible battle scars, even though both should work exactly the same if they've been refurbished properly.
What Affects the Price?
Battery health is probably the biggest factor after storage and condition. A refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max with 90% battery health or a completely new battery will cost more because you're not staring down a £70-£100 battery replacement in six months, whereas phones with knackered batteries under 85% should be cheaper to make up for that upcoming expense.
Whether it's unlocked or tied to a specific carrier changes the price too—unlocked phones work with anyone and cost more because they're more flexible, while carrier-locked versions knock £50-£100 off because you're stuck with one network. Things like whether it comes with the box, what accessories are included, warranty length, even the bloody color all shift prices around a bit.
Why Buy Refurbished Instead of New?
The money you save is frankly ridiculous. New iPhone 15 Pro Max? Over £1,200 mate. A refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max? A third of that, maybe even less, and you're getting basically the same experience for what most people actually use their phones for—texting, social media, taking photos, watching videos.
Plus there's the whole environmental angle if you're into that. Manufacturing new phones uses tons of resources and energy, so buying a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max instead means you're keeping a perfectly good phone out of a landfill while avoiding all that manufacturing impact.
Grade A vs Grade B vs Grade C: What You're Actually Getting
Grade A is basically like-new condition. Your refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max will look almost perfect—maybe one tiny scratch if you really hunt for it under the right light, but nothing you'd notice during normal use.
Grade B shows some use—light scratches you can see but nothing that bothers you day-to-day. Grade C has proper wear—scratches you definitely notice, maybe some dents, possibly discoloration around the charging port from cables being plugged in hundreds of times, but everything still works fine and you're saving the most cash.
Battery Replacement Considerations
Battery health will make or break how happy you are with your purchase. Anything below 80% is officially considered degraded by Apple, so you want at least 85% minimum, ideally 90%+, or best case scenario a brand new battery that's been fitted during refurbishment.
Getting the battery replaced costs £60-£100 depending on whether you use genuine Apple parts or quality third-party ones. If you're eyeing up a cheap refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max with terrible battery health, add that replacement cost to the purchase price when you're comparing deals—sometimes paying more upfront for good battery health actually saves you money overall.
Where to Find the Best Deals
E-TECH61 is a proper UK-based operation that specializes in refurbished iPhones and genuine replacement parts for every iPhone series out there. They stock quality refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max devices with actual warranties and customer service that doesn't ghost you the second they've got your money.
Being UK-based matters more than you'd think—faster shipping, easier returns if something's wrong, and they're bound by UK consumer protection laws that actually protect you instead of some vague international seller who vanishes into thin air when problems crop up. Apple's own refurbished store is obviously safe too but more expensive, major carriers do certified pre-owned programs, and big electronics retailers with proper refurbishment divisions are generally fine.
Checking Specifications Before You Buy
Storage, color, and whether it's locked to a carrier all need checking before you hand over cash. Make sure the refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max you're buying has enough storage for how you actually use your phone—128GB gets cramped if you're big on photos and videos, 256GB works for most people, 512GB is probably overkill unless you've got massive game installs or tons of 4K video.
Always confirm it's unlocked unless you're deliberately buying a locked one cheaper because you're definitely staying with that carrier. Color doesn't affect functionality obviously, but Pacific Blue and Gold were the special colors that some people really want, while Graphite and Silver are more low-key.
Warranty and Return Policies Matter
Don't even consider buying a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max without a proper warranty. Ninety days absolute minimum, but six months to a year is what you want from sellers who actually stand behind their work.
Return policies aren't negotiable either—you need at least two weeks, ideally a month, to properly test everything. Cameras, Face ID, speakers, microphone, charging, buttons, screen, network connectivity—all of it needs checking, and you need time to do that properly before you're locked into keeping it.
Testing Your Refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max
Soon as that package arrives, check everything straight away. Look at the exterior condition—does it match what they described or are there surprise scratches and dents they conveniently forgot to mention?
Power it on and go through every single feature methodically. Both cameras in photo and video mode, speaker volume and clarity, microphone recording quality, charging port working properly, Face ID unlocking reliably, every button responding correctly, screen touch working across the whole display, WiFi connecting properly, Bluetooth pairing, mobile signal strength. Check Settings > Battery > Battery Health to verify the percentage matches what the seller claimed about your refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Common Issues to Watch For
Screen burn-in happens sometimes with OLED displays. Pull up a solid white or gray image fullscreen and look carefully—any shadows, persistent marks, or uneven coloring that stays visible means screen problems that should've been disclosed upfront.
Camera problems show up in refurbished devices when previous owners dropped them or got moisture inside. Test all three rear cameras separately—check for focus issues, blurry spots that won't clear, weird color tints, error messages popping up. Any camera malfunction is a deal-breaker unless you're specifically buying a faulty refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max dirt cheap for parts harvesting.
When Buying for Parts Makes Sense
Sometimes buying a complete refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max to strip for parts actually costs less than buying individual components separately. If you need multiple expensive bits like the screen, camera modules, and battery, grabbing a damaged device and pulling the parts you need can save you a proper chunk of change.
E-TECH61 sells genuine replacement parts for all iPhone models including the 12 Pro Max, so you can either buy a whole refurbished phone or just source specific components for repairs. That flexibility is brilliant if you're fixing your own phone or you're comfortable doing repairs yourself with quality parts.
DIY Repairs vs Professional Refurbishment
Doing repairs yourself saves money if you've got steady hands and the right tools. The iPhone 12 Pro Max isn't the easiest to work on though—that massive screen is fragile and expensive to replace if you cock it up, plus you need specialized screwdrivers, spudgers, suction cups, and preferably a heat source to soften the adhesive.
Professional refurbishment makes more sense for most people. Companies like E-TECH61 have the expertise, proper tools, and genuine parts to do it right without the risk of you accidentally tearing a ribbon cable or cracking something. They warranty their work too, which you obviously don't get when you're attempting DIY repairs in your kitchen.
Genuine Parts vs Aftermarket Components
Part quality makes a world of difference. Genuine Apple parts keep your refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max performing exactly like Apple intended—screens with proper color accuracy and responsiveness, batteries that actually hold their rated capacity, cameras that capture the quality this phone is known for.
Cheap knockoff parts might seem fine initially but degrade fast—screens with awful viewing angles or dodgy touch response, batteries that don't hold charge properly or worse yet start swelling, cameras that produce noticeably crap image quality. E-TECH61's focus on genuine parts means you're getting actual quality components instead of penny-pinching rubbish.
Storage Options and Pricing
The 128GB refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max is the entry point and works fine if you're not storing tons of photos, videos, and apps. You'll need to manage storage a bit, maybe use iCloud, can't go mental downloading huge games, but for loads of people it's perfectly adequate and saves £100-£150 compared to bigger storage.
256GB is honestly the sweet spot—enough room for a good photo library, decent number of apps, some offline music and videos, without paying extra for 512GB that most people never fill. The 512GB refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max makes sense if you shoot loads of 4K video or have huge app collections or just hate thinking about storage.
Color Choices and Availability
What colors are available depends on what sellers have in stock at any given time. Pacific Blue was the standout color that year and people still hunt for it specifically—if you find a Pacific Blue refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max at a decent price, it tends to hold value slightly better when you eventually sell it on.
Graphite and Silver are your classic neutral options that work for people who prefer understated phones or stick cases on anyway. Gold has its fans but isn't as popular in the refurbished market, which sometimes means Gold models go for marginally less if you don't care about color.
Insurance and Protection
Even though you've saved money going refurbished, protecting what you've bought makes sense. Phone insurance runs £5-£15 monthly depending on coverage—worth thinking about given the iPhone 12 Pro Max still represents several hundred quid you'd hate to lose to theft or dropping it down the stairs.
Cases and screen protectors aren't optional as far as I'm concerned. Your refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max has already been through previous ownership, so keeping it protected preserves both functionality and resale value down the line. Decent case costs £10-£30, tempered glass protector is under a tenner, and both together massively reduce chances of damage requiring expensive repairs.
Resale Value Considerations
The iPhone 12 Pro Max holds its value way better than Android flagships from the same period. Buy a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max now, use it for a year or two, decide to upgrade, you'll probably get back 50-65% of what you paid assuming you've looked after it—that's excellent for electronics that usually tank in value.
Keeping battery health decent, maintaining the exterior in reasonable condition, hanging onto original packaging if it came with any, keeping proof of purchase and warranty docs—all this helps maximize what you get when you sell it. The 12 Pro Max will stay capable and desirable for several more years yet, so buying refurbished now isn't a dead-end device—it's got plenty of life and resale potential left in it.
E-TECH61: Your UK Source for Quality
E-TECH61 has built up a solid reputation as a reliable UK source for refurbished iPhones and genuine parts. Being UK-based means you're dealing with proper UK consumer protection laws, shipping's faster than ordering from abroad, returns are straightforward if something's not right, and you're supporting a UK business instead of some random overseas operation.
Beyond complete refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max phones, E-TECH61 stocks individual components—screens, batteries, cameras, charging ports, buttons, speakers, basically everything you'd need to repair or restore an iPhone 12 Pro Max yourself or through a local repair shop. This parts availability makes them valuable whether you're buying a complete phone or sourcing components for repair work.
Making Your Decision
Buying a refurbished iPhone 12 Pro Max in 2025 is genuinely brilliant value if you want flagship features without flagship pricing. You're getting what was Apple's top phone when it launched, and it still handles everything smoothly—photography, gaming, productivity, whatever you throw at it—while saving hundreds compared to newer models that honestly don't offer massively more for what most people actually need.
Do your homework on sellers, verify condition and specs carefully, test everything thoroughly when it arrives, buy from reputable places like E-TECH61 that offer proper warranties and support. Get those basics right and you'll have a fantastic phone that'll serve you well for years while keeping serious money in your pocket instead of watching it evaporate through depreciation on a brand new device.
Share:
How to Buy Refurbished iPhone Safely: Avoid Scams & Fakes
How to Choose the Best iPhone 16 Pro Max Case: A Complete Buyer's Guide