Internet Speed Test On Refurbished Phone: Airtel vs Jio vs VI

Is your internet really slow, or is your phone secretly the problem? Many users blame their telecom operator when speeds drop, but the real culprit isn’t always the network.

You can easily notice slow internet during online gaming, high ping spikes, YouTube buffering, laggy video calls, slow downloads, or interrupted live streaming. These everyday issues often raise one simple question: Am I getting the speed I paid for?

In reality, two major factors affect your mobile internet performance. The first is your phone’s hardware, including the modem, antenna quality, and processor. The second is network availability in your area. While tower coverage is beyond your control, the device you use plays a critical role in real-world speeds.

There is also a common myth that refurbished phones deliver weaker internet performance over time. But is that actually true?

To find out, I conducted a real-time Internet speed test on a refurbished phone and on newly launched devices. I also tested across major Indian networks, VI, Jio, and Airtel, to evaluate which operator performs best.

Let’s dive into the results.

Also Read: Jio Prepaid Recharge Plan 2026: New Offers, Benefits And More

Why People Think That Refurbished May Have Low Internet Speed?

One of my friend have a Google Pixel 6a and accidentally dropped it. After this, the carrier network, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity were completely disconnected. An interesting thing is that there is no effect in the body or display, but the display touch is not working, and she is using it via OTG with a mouse.

Now, the question is: can a phone retain its original network speed after repair? A similar question can come to mind: do refurbished devices have full-fledged internet speeds? To tackle these questions, I compared Internet Speed Test results on a refurbished phone and new devices, as shown in the detailed infographic below.

Test Methodology

Before taking the test, you should know how I will test and which app I will use. Just making this clear at the start: in this test, I used an Apple iPhone 15 Pro as the high-end phone and a Motorola Moto Edge 60 Pro as the low-end phone, both in refurbished condition. Furthermore, I used both the newly launched Vivo V70 and Tecno Pova Curve 2 5G as high-end and low-end devices, respectively.

One important note: I used a 5G network on all three SIM cards during the internet speed test. Additionally, each network carrier showed full signal strength throughout the testing.

There are multiple apps on the Play Store and App Store claiming to offer an accurate Internet Speed test, but I selected two platforms: Speed Tests by Ookla and Fast.com. Why I chose them:

Speed Tests by Ookla

Speed Tests by Ookla has the highest rating at the App Store with 5.7K downloads, 10Cr+ on the Play Store. This app is known for offering the most reliable, consistant and accurate way to determine your Internet Speed. It offers a variety of tests, including normal download and upload speed tests. You can also do a special speed test for videos. This test checks whether your internet supports 4K video streaming.

Fast.com

Fast.com is powered by the famous OTT platform Netflix. This app is very easy to test speed, with a clean UI and no ads. But there is no variation and has no comprehensive testings. This speed test only checks how well your internet works for streaming. If you enjoy watching your favourite shows and movies online, this test can be very helpful for you.

Also Read: All Airtel Prepaid Data Plans 

Airtel vs Jio vs VI Speed Results

Vi Internet Speed Comparison

Refurbished Devices

New Devices

Jio Internet Speed Comparison

Refurbished Devices

New Devices

Airtel Internet Speed Comparison

Refurbished Devices

New Devices

Key Findings

• Across all tested devices, Jio provided the fastest and most consistent performance, with download speeds consistently crossing 300+ and 500+ Mpbs.
• Airtel provided mixed performance. While the Vivo V70 performed well, other devices, specifically the refurbished ones, saw significantly lower upload speeds. This indicates some network stability and/or congestion.
• In almost all tested scenarios, VI performed the worst. With the exception of the Moto Edge 60 Pro, VI speeds are consistently lower than Jio and Airtel.
• Device hardware continues to be a factor. The performance gap, even on the same network, can be attributed to a device’s modem, antenna, and other optimisations.
• Differences between FAST and speedtests were expected. FAST.com typically reports lower speeds because it focuses on streaming performance, and peak throughput gets measured with Ookla.
• The gap between refurbished and new devices was not consistent. Some refurbished devices performed nearly identically to new ones, suggesting that the condition of the device matters more than the “refurbished” label.

Also Read: All Vi (Vodafone-Idea) Prepaid And Postpaid Recharge Plans

Myth Busting: Do Refurbished Phones Have Slow Internet?

Short answer: Not necessarily.

It is a common misconception that refurbished devices provide weaker network performance and speed degradation. I observed that speed degradation depends on specific repairs and the way the repairs were executed.

For example:

The refurbished Motorola Edge 60 Pro also performed well across different networks.

The refurbished iPhone 15 Pro has shown that a restored flagship device can reach full performance, achieving high speeds on Jio (522 Mbps).

Devices also drop performance due to device optimisation rather than being refurbished.

Well, I know sometimes refurbished devices do have performance limitations because:

• Device suffered previous damage to the antenna module
• Mobile engineer used low-quality parts
• Motherboard repairs were conducted, but as standard
• If network bands are limited in that model

Important insight: The refurbished status itself does not reduce internet speed. Poor repair quality does.

Cashify Devices Policy

Cashify has a strict policy on the repair process. The brand always uses original parts for repair, like for Google Pixels; otherwise, they use OEM parts (if you’re confused between OEM parts vs. Compatible parts, check out our detailed article) during repair. We also offer a six-month warranty on repair service. Moreover, if you have used our screen repair service, we also offer a one-month warranty.

Apart from repair services, you can buy refurbished mobile phones from our store, including Apple iPhone, Oppo, Vivo, Samsung, and more. We offer these smartphones at just half the price of new ones. Our team clears every refurbished device through 32 quality checks and provides up to a 12-month warranty. If you are not satisfied after the purchase, you can claim a refund within 30 days.

Also Read: All Airtel Prepaid And Postpaid Recharge Plans

Final Verdict

Your phone being refurbished or brand new does not significantly impact everyday internet speed because your telecom network matters much more. In my testing, Jio delivered the fastest and most consistent speeds. Airtel showed strong peak speeds but experienced noticeable drops. VI, however, lagged behind in overall consistency.

Many people believe refurbished phones are slower and cannot reach high internet speeds. That is mostly a myth. Modern refurbished devices support the same network bands as new phones. Real-world performance depends more on the phone’s modem quality, antenna design, and the quality of refurbishment.

If you buy a refurbished phone from a trusted platform like Cashify, you can expect fast internet speeds with little to no compromise in daily use.

If you’ve just bought a new phone and don’t know what to do with your old phone, then here’s your answer. So, Sell old mobile to Cashify and get the best price for it. If you are planning to buy a new phone, check out Cashify’s refurbished mobile phones. You can also get your favourite phone at almost half price with a six-month warranty, 15-day refund, and free delivery.