Refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max Buying Guide

A refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max is a used phone that a seller has tested and resold, and what "refurbished" means depends entirely on that seller's own condition words, warranty and return terms. Apple introduced this model in 2021, so the battery and parts have had years to age. This guide walks through what to confirm on the listing and on the phone itself before you commit.

Variant and storage

Apple lists the US model number as "A2484 (United States)" and gives the year introduced as 2021 on its model identification page. The storage options Apple lists are "128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB" on the same page.

The 13 Pro Max shares a name family with the iPhone 13 Mini, the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro. Listings sometimes blur these, so match the model number on the unit, not just the title. A model name in a listing is not proof of the device model number printed on the phone.

Apple notes that "The IMEI is etched on the SIM tray" for this model, per the model identification page. That gives you a physical identifier to cross-check against the box, the listing and Settings once the phone is in hand.

Storage is the one spec you cannot change later. The listing should state it plainly, and you should confirm the actual capacity on the phone when it arrives.

Battery aging

Apple says batteries in "iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to retain 80 percent of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions," per its battery page. That is a design rating. It is not a measurement of the particular refurbished phone you are looking at.

Battery health on a refurbished 13 Pro Max varies by unit, and listings do not always state it. Treat any battery figure as something to confirm on the phone, not something to assume from the condition word.

To check it yourself, Apple directs owners of iPhone 11 through 14 models to Battery > Battery Health & Charging in Settings, where you can see maximum capacity and performance information, per the same page. Do this within your return window so you still have the option to send it back.

If a seller promises a minimum battery health, that promise lives in their listing or warranty terms, not in anything Rebuya can confirm. Read the exact wording before you buy.

Screen, camera and parts checks

Apple describes the rear camera setup as "three 12 MP cameras on the back: Ultra Wide, Wide, and Telephoto" on the model identification page. When the phone arrives, open the Camera app and switch between all three lenses. Each should focus and shoot without haze or dark spots.

For repairs, Apple says "If your iPhone has been repaired, you can check Parts and Service History." On iOS 15.2 or later you find it under Settings > General > About, and the fields shown depend on the model and its repair history, per Apple's parts and service page. A replaced screen, battery or camera will show up here if the phone records it.

A repair is not automatically a problem. Compare the listing's condition description with the phone's own service history.

For a longer hands-on checklist that works on any model, see our guide to Apple's preowned iPhone checklist.

Condition and warranty

Every seller uses its own condition words, and the same word can mean different things at different stores. Rebuya shows each seller's own description side by side so you can read them as the seller wrote them. It does not inspect or grade phones itself. Our guide to refurbished grades explains how to read those words without assuming they line up.

Carrier lock matters as much as cosmetic condition. Apple says an unlocked phone shows "No SIM Restrictions" next to Carrier Lock in Settings, per its carrier lock page. Apple's model page confirms this phone has a physical nano-SIM tray, but a SIM tray on its own does not prove the unit is unlocked, per the model identification page. Test activation on your carrier with the actual unit.

Activation Lock status, carrier compatibility and item-specific warranty or return exclusions vary by listing. None of these were verified for this guide, so read the seller's terms and confirm them on the phone you receive.

Warranty length and return windows are the seller's promise, not Rebuya's. The link to a seller's policy page is a starting point. Confirm the terms at checkout, because the fine print there is what binds the sale.

Current iPhone 13 Pro Max offers

The table below uses Rebuya's current records for this exact model. Stock and seller terms can change.

What to check before you buy

• The model number on the listing says A2484 for a US unit, and the IMEI on the SIM tray matches the box and Settings.
• The storage capacity is stated in the listing and matches what the phone reports.
• Battery Health & Charging shows a maximum capacity you are comfortable with, checked inside the return window.
• Parts and Service History under Settings > General > About agrees with the seller's condition description.
• Carrier Lock shows "No SIM Restrictions" if you were sold an unlocked phone, and your SIM activates.
• All three rear cameras focus and shoot cleanly.
• The seller's warranty length, return window and any exclusions are written out on the listing or checkout page.
• The total at checkout, including tax and shipping, is what you expected.

FAQ

How old is the iPhone 13 Pro Max? Apple lists the year introduced as 2021 on its model identification page. Apple's current software-support end date for this model was not established for this guide, so check Apple's site for the latest.

What storage sizes did the iPhone 13 Pro Max come in? Apple lists "128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB" on its model identification page. Confirm the capacity on the phone itself, since listings can be wrong.

How do I know a refurbished iPhone 13 Pro Max is unlocked? Apple says an unlocked phone shows "No SIM Restrictions" next to Carrier Lock in Settings, per its carrier lock page. Put your own SIM in and confirm it activates before the return window closes.

What battery health should I expect on a refurbished unit? It varies by phone. Apple's design rating is 80 percent of original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions, per its battery page, but that is not a measurement of your unit. Check Battery > Battery Health & Charging yourself.

Can I tell if parts were replaced? On iOS 15.2 or later, Apple says you can check Parts and Service History under Settings > General > About, per its parts and service page. The fields shown depend on the model and its repair history.

Does Rebuya sell the phone or inspect it? No. Rebuya shows each seller's own condition words, prices, warranty and returns side by side and links out to the seller. The seller handles the sale, the warranty and any return.

See current listings and seller terms on the Rebuya iPhone 13 Pro Max page.