3pm
Same-day dispatch
Order by 3pm, Monday to Friday, and it leaves Manchester the same day. Free UK delivery over £50.
Why buy from The Tech Gadgets
85%+ Battery Health
Minimum 85% battery health guaranteed on every grade.
12-Month Warranty
Our own warranty for twelve months. You deal with us directly.
Phonecheck Tested
Professionally tested with Phonecheck diagnostics in Manchester.
What's in the box
- Your Samsung Galaxy S21 5G – Unlocked – Refurbished (UK)
- Charging cable Free
- SIM ejector pin Free
- Protective packaging
Overview
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G – Unlocked – Refurbished (UK)
This refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is Samsung's 6.2-inch 2021 flagship, unlocked for every UK network. It is pre-owned, tested and graded Like New, Excellent or Very Good, from £190 for 128GB (Like New). Samsung no longer sends it security updates. It comes with a 12-month warranty and same-day dispatch on weekday orders by 3pm.
Specs checked 30 Sep 2026 against Samsung's published specifications (via GSMArena). Updated 30 Sep 2026
6.2-inch
Display6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz12MP wide
Rear cameras12MP ultra wide, 64MP telephoto (3x hybrid zoom)4
Battery (when new)000mAh, 25W wiredFrom £190
Price(128GB, Like New, 30 Sep 2026)Specifications
Key facts
- Condition
- Refurbished (pre-owned): grades Like New, Excellent, Very Good
- Price
- From £190 (128GB, Like New, 30 Sep 2026)
- Storage and RAM
- 128GB or 256GB, 8GB RAM
- Colours
- Phantom Gray, Phantom White, Phantom Violet, Phantom Pink
- Network and SIM
- Unlocked, 5G; nano-SIM and eSIM
- Display
- 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, up to 120Hz
- Processor
- Exynos 2100 (UK and Europe)
- Rear cameras
- 12MP wide, 12MP ultra wide, 64MP telephoto (3x hybrid zoom)
- Battery (when new)
- 4,000mAh, 25W wired
- Software support
- Samsung security updates have ended (final: Android 15 / One UI 7)
- Battery health
- 85% or higher on every grade
- What's in the box
- Phone, free USB-C cable, free SIM ejector pin, protective packaging
- Warranty
- 12 months, provided by The Tech Gadgets
- Dispatch
- Same day Mon–Fri if ordered by 3pm UK time, from Manchester
- Returns
- 30 days on unused items, plus 14-day right to cancel
Features
Every detail, verified.
01Network and SIM
It works on EE, O2, Vodafone, Three, giffgaff and every other UK network, with 5G where available. GSMArena lists nano-SIM and eSIM support for the European model (SM-G991B). SIM support depends on the model supplied, so message us to confirm before you order if you need eSIM.
02Display
It has a flat 6.2-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen at up to 120Hz, with Gorilla Glass Victus on the front. The back is plastic, which keeps the weight down to about 169g but feels less premium than the glass-backed S21+.
03Performance and storage
UK S21s use Samsung's Exynos 2100 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB or 256GB of storage. Everyday apps run smoothly; demanding games are playable but newer chips are clearly faster. There is no microSD slot.
04Cameras
GSMArena lists a 12MP main camera, a 12MP ultra wide and a 64MP telephoto that gives 3x hybrid zoom (not true optical 3x), with a 10MP selfie camera. Daylight photos are good; the S22's 50MP main sensor is better in low light.
05Battery and charging
The battery is 4,000mAh when new, with 25W wired and 15W wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging for earbuds. As the phone is several years old, check the minimum battery health for your grade in Key facts.
06Software updates
Samsung's updates for the S21 have ended. Android 15 (One UI 7) was its final major upgrade, SamMobile reports the last security patch arrived in November 2025, and it was not on Samsung's security update list when we checked on 30 Sep 2026.
Condition
Pre-owned. Tested. Honestly graded.
A second hand Samsung S21 from us is pre-owned. We test it, clean it, factory reset it and remove Google (FRP) and Samsung accounts, then grade its cosmetic condition. Grades describe wear, not function. Like New: no visible marks on the screen or body. Excellent: light signs of use, hard to spot at arm's length. Very Good: visible marks on the body; the screen is in good shape. Every grade is fully working, tested and cleaned, with at least 85% battery health. See how we test and grade. Refurbished by The Tech Gadgets, not Samsung.
Like New
No visible marks
Excellent
Light signs of use, hard to spot at arm's length
Very Good
Visible marks on the body; screen in good shape
Fully tested
Cleaned
Factory reset
Previous accounts removed
Battery health checked
Compare
How it compares
vs Galaxy S21 FE: the FE has a 6.4-inch screen, a 4,500mAh battery, a 32MP selfie camera and true 3x optical zoom, and still gets updates. vs Galaxy S21+: the Galaxy S21+ (from £210) adds a 6.7-inch screen, a glass back and 4,800mAh. vs Galaxy S22: 50MP main camera and updates to around February 2027.
Our view
Is a refurbished Samsung Galaxy S21 worth buying in 2026?
Only for light use where security updates are not a priority. Samsung no longer patches it, so some banking and payment apps may stop supporting it over time. For £10 less, the still-supported Galaxy S21 FE is the more sensible choice.
Who it's for
It suits a child's first phone, a spare or a work handset for calls and messaging. If you use banking apps, choose the Galaxy S21 FE (from £180) or the Galaxy S22 (from £210), which still get security updates.
Delivery, warranty and returns
Handled start to finish by our team in Manchester.
12 months
Warranty with us
Our own warranty, handled directly by us. Your Consumer Rights Act protection still applies.
30 days
Easy returns
Send back any unused item within 30 days. We refund you within 14 days of it reaching us.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Talk to a person in ManchesterQuestions about grades, stock or delivery? We reply fast on WhatsApp.
Chat on WhatsApp
Is the Galaxy S21 unlocked?
Yes. Every Galaxy S21 128GB and 256GB unit we sell works on all UK networks. It supports 5G, a nano-SIM and an eSIM.
Does the Galaxy S21 still get updates?
No. Samsung has ended updates for the S21; its last major upgrade was Android 15 (One UI 7). It keeps working, but without new security patches.
Is a refurbished Galaxy S21 worth it in 2026?
Only for light use. A used Galaxy S21 without security updates is best as a spare or basic phone; the S21 FE costs less and is still supported.
Galaxy S21 vs S21 FE: which should I buy?
Buy the S21 FE. It costs less here, has a bigger battery and screen, and still gets Samsung security updates.
What battery health will I get?
At least 85% on every grade, checked before dispatch. You can see the figure in Settings › Battery › Battery Health.
What's in the box?
Your Samsung Galaxy S21 5G – Unlocked – Refurbished (UK), a charging cable and a SIM ejector pin, all in protective packaging. The cable and SIM pin are included free.
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