Phonebot

Phonebot is an Australian retailer of refurbished and brand-new smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops and accessories, founded in 2012 and based at 289-291 Broadway, Reservoir in Melbourne's north. It stocks Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel, iPad, Apple Watch, MacBook and Microsoft Surface devices, with refurbished stock graded as Like New, Grade A, Grade B or Open Box. Phonebot says every device is tested at 70 or more points and backed with up to 12 months warranty. Shop through the ShopBack Phonebot page to earn Cashback at the current published rate.

Phonebot sells refurbished devices under four condition labels: Like New, Grade A, Grade B and Open Box. The grades step down in cosmetic condition, with Like New at the top and Grade B showing more visible wear, while Open Box covers devices whose packaging has been opened. All four grades are covered by Phonebot's 30-day change of mind policy and the up to 12 months warranty Phonebot advertises on refurbished stock. Phonebot does not publish a line-by-line definition of each grade, so read the condition notes on the product listing, then click through from ShopBack so the purchase tracks for Cashback.

Refurbished pricing moves with supply, so the biggest price drops on a model usually land in the weeks after its successor launches, when trade-ins flood in. For 2026 that means the window after the iPhone 18 launch in September and after Samsung's Galaxy S26 launch earlier in the year. The retail sale calendar still applies: Click Frenzy in November, Black Friday on 27 November 2026, Cyber Monday on 30 November 2026, Boxing Day and EOFY in June. ShopBack sometimes lists upsized Cashback on the Phonebot page during those windows, so check both before you buy.

Phonebot advertises up to 12 months warranty on refurbished devices and a 24-month warranty on brand-new devices, with the exact period shown on each product listing. Change of mind returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery on Open Box, Like New, Grade A and Grade B products, provided the device comes back in the condition it was received with all original accessories and packaging. Phonebot can apply a restocking fee or decline the return if items are missing or the device is damaged, and an assessment fee can apply if a reported fault turns out to be a network coverage issue rather than a device fault. Australian Consumer Law guarantees also apply.

Apple's own refurbished store sells only Apple products, typically recent models, with a new battery and outer shell and Apple's standard warranty. Phonebot carries a wider spread of brands (Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft) and older generations, graded by cosmetic condition with up to 12 months warranty and a 30-day change of mind window. If you want a specific older iPhone or a Samsung or Pixel at a lower price point, Phonebot has the range. If you want a near-new current-generation Apple device with Apple handling the warranty, Apple refurbished is the simpler route. Phonebot purchases can earn ShopBack Cashback when you click through from the ShopBack Phonebot page.

JB Hi-Fi sells new, current-generation phones at retail price with in-store pickup across its national store network. Phonebot sells brand-new devices with a 24-month warranty alongside refurbished stock, ships free within Australia with 1 to 2 day dispatch, and has a single physical store in Reservoir, Victoria. For a brand-new flagship on launch week, JB Hi-Fi's stock depth and store network usually win. For a one or two generation old device at a lower price, Phonebot is the one to check. Both are on ShopBack, so compare the current published Cashback on each merchant page.

Phonebot states that its refurbished devices are network unlocked, so they work with Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and the MVNOs that run on those networks. Phonebot's returns policy notes that if a reported fault cannot be reproduced and testing points to carrier coverage rather than the device, a 50 dollar assessment fee can apply, so test your SIM in the first few days. Buying through ShopBack does not change any of these terms.

Yes. Phonebot runs a Sell Your Device service. You submit the device details, Phonebot checks whether it needs that model in stock, inspects it and makes an offer, and if you accept it collects ID details and completes the transaction. Trade-in value is paid separately from your purchase. ShopBack Cashback applies only to what you buy on phonebot.com.au after clicking through from the ShopBack Phonebot page, not to the money Phonebot pays you for an old device.

Go through ShopBack before you pay and the Cashback tracks to your ShopBack account. Open phonebot.com.au from the Phonebot page on ShopBack. On your phone, open Phonebot from the ShopBack app and finish the order there. The Phonebot page on ShopBack shows which purchases earn Cashback and the live rate.

Phonebot offers a 30-day change of mind return. Cashback is based on what you keep: if you return or cancel part of an order, the Cashback adjusts to match. Cashback typically shows as pending within a few days of ordering and confirms once the sale is validated.