Xbox Series X UK restock: How to get a cheap refurbished console
Get a console without paying MSRP.
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With the supply of the Xbox Series X restocks beginning to stabilize, we’re beginning to see retailers getting more stock than ever before. But, like any other console, some people just aren’t going to jive with it and return the console if they don’t want it, or if something goes wrong with one of the units. You just need to take a look at one of the various Xbox repair videos on YouTube to see that the console has its fair share of issues, but none of them is quite as widespread as the infamous Red Ring of Death that plagued the Xbox 360 15 years ago. Regardless, you can grab yourself a refurbished Xbox Series X right now in the UK directly from the Microsoft Store.
A refurbished console may be customer returns and faulty units get sent back to Microsoft, polished up back to fully-working order and then resold. With the Xbox Series X fast approaching two years old, Microsoft finally has enough of a stockpile of the consoles to begin to sell them separately, meaning that you will be able to get your hands on a console for slightly below MSRP, while still getting everything that you need to get gaming with the latest hardware, with a guarantee from Microsoft that the console works, to boot.
Other companies might also sell refurbished consoles, but you should really only trust the consoles that are sold from the Microsoft Store Directly. Samuel Bateman, Marketing Lead at Xbox had this to say about the initiative, which highlights everything that you’ll be able to get yourself with this latest Xbox Series X UK restock.
Is a refurbished Xbox Series X in good condition?
Microsoft ensures on their website that the console will operate within normal specifications for ‘electrical performance’, meaning that you’ll be able to get the full speed of the console, and it’ll be able to retain all of its features including 120FPS performance in some titles, in addition to coming with all of the accessories that the console would usually come with as usual.
However, one thing to note is that if you purchase a refurbished console, you might get one that has some cosmetic imperfections on the console itself or the controllers. This can be anything from light to heavy scratches, or general wear and tear on the console as if it has previously been used.
Additionally, by default, you’re only going to be getting a 90-day warranty when purchasing from the Microsoft Store, which may be disadvantageous, but at least you know that the console has passed all checks ahead of purchase and does indeed work and is within spec to ensure that it works straight out of the factory. If you want to purchase an additional warranty, it’ll come at a cost, and end up becoming just as expensive as a brand-new model, too.
Should I buy a refurbished Xbox?
You should only consider purchasing a refurbished console if it’s significantly discounted, comes from a reputable seller, and additionally comes with some form of warranty in case anything goes wrong. As it stands, the current discount that you can get on the Xbox Series X from Microsoft allows for a slight discount, and should only be considered if you’re looking to save some cash, and care about the limited warranty period that they offer.
Technically, this is the cheapest Xbox Series X that you can purchase right now, which means that this is a good way to get the cheapest possible price on the console right now until the console gets a slight price cut, which is probably not going to happen any time soon. One benefit of this is that you’re going to be able to get a console for below MSRP, but that comes at the true price of being only limited to the 90-day warranty.
Is Xbox Series X stock getting better?
Xbox Series X stock is beginning to get better as more consoles get manufactured, and demand begins to meet supply. As stock begins to stabilise, you may want to hold off and get yourself a new console instead, all signs are pointing to more stock reaching western shores, and that means that it’s not only the Xbox Series X that’s getting regular restocks but also Playstation 5’s, graphics cards and more. Hopefully, this results in better deals appearing for customers, so you’re not going to have to wait months to see a restock drop, and then scramble to secure a console.
The mere existence of a refurbished SKU of the Xbox Series X coming from Microsoft means that the console has sold well enough, and now that consoles are in seemingly ample supply, you can expect more of where this came from. This is due to foundries and factories now catching up to their backlogs, in addition to pallet shipment costs reducing globally. In general, it’s a bright outlook for those looking to get their hands on a new console, as now the products are mature enough to have an ample supply of software like Halo Infinite, Forza and Elden Ring, you can expect to play some killer games, as well as being able to get your hands on a console in a method that isn’t going to require you to sign up to dozens of Discord notifications which will alarm you at 3 AM, only to have your hopes dashed by bots who managed to get to the consoles before you.
If we take a look at the scalper market for the Xbox Series X on sites such as eBay, you can also see that the reselling price has depreciated to a point where it’s simply not profitable for scalpers to make a dent, even if they were to use bots to hoover up any stock, they just won’t be able to make any money from it any more, which is great news for the average punter who just wants a brand-new games console.
