Back Market Archives - COOLCURATION

May 4, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Why Retro Gaming Is Booming in the UK in 2026

Last updated: 4 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Retro gaming in the UK is having a moment. Actually, it is having much more than a moment. The global retro gaming console market hit $3.8 billion in 2025 and is on track to reach over $4 billion this year. Old cartridges are selling for serious money on eBay. Companies like Analogue are building premium FPGA consoles that sell out in minutes. And a growing number of us are dusting off our childhood game collections rather than queuing up for the latest blockbuster release. So what is actually going on? And if you want in, what is the best way to play retro games in the UK right now?

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Published by Stiv in Arts & Culture, Kids and big kids, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: Analogue 3D, Analogue Pocket, Back Market, FPGA, Game Boy, gaming, N64, nostalgia, refurbished tech, retro gaming, retro gaming UK

May 2, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Refurbished MacBooks UK 2026: Models, Prices, Tips

Last updated: 2 May 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

A new MacBook Air starts at over £1,000. A refurbished M2 Air with the same performance costs under £700. Same laptop, same build quality, same Apple silicon. The only difference is that someone opened the box before you. Here is our hands-on guide to the best refurbished MacBooks UK buyers can actually trust in 2026, which models are worth your money, and where to get the best deal.

Some links in this guide are affiliate or referral links. This costs you nothing extra and helps support the site.

Published by Stiv in Buying Guides, Consumer Tech, Technology lover

Tags: Apple Refurbished Store, Back Market, MacBook Air, MacBook M1, MacBook M2, MacBook M3, MacBook Pro, refurbished laptops UK, refurbished MacBooks, refurbished tech uk

April 21, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Refurbished Laptops UK 2026: Top Picks and Where to Buy

Last updated: 21 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

A brand new MacBook Air costs over £1,000. A refurbished laptop with the same specs, a 12-month warranty, and a 30-day returns policy costs under £750. Same laptop. Same performance. Just without the new-box smell. If you have been wondering whether refurbished laptops UK buyers can actually rely on are any good, the answer is yes. We know because we buy them. Here is how to buy refurbished laptops in the UK without getting burned.

Two of us are typing this on refurbished MacBooks right now. One came from Back Market, the other from the Apple Refurbished Store. Both arrived looking and performing like new. The Back Market one was about 30% cheaper than buying new.

This post contains referral links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the site. As always, our recommendations are based on genuine experience, not commissions.

Published by Stiv in Money saving, Services, Smart Home, Sustainable Living, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: Back Market, laptop buying guide, MacBook Air, refurbished laptops, refurbished MacBook, refurbished tech, sustainable tech, ThinkPad

April 11, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Refurbished Phones UK 2026 – iPhones, Androids and Top Deals

Last updated: 11 April 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

There are two types of people at CoolCuration: those who would sell a kidney for the latest iPhone, and those who would rather eat their own SIM card than leave Android. The office group chat is basically a rolling debate about widgets versus AirDrop. However, there is one thing we all agree on: buying refurbished is the smartest phone move you can make in 2026. This guide rounds up the best refurbished phones UK buyers can get right now, covering flagships, budget gems and sustainable picks from both sides of the divide.

Here is a number that should stop you in your tracks. A refurbished iPhone 15 Pro on Back Market right now starts at around £400. That is roughly what you would pay for a brand new iPhone 16e. One gives you the same chip as an iPhone 15, a single camera and no ProMotion display. The other gives you a titanium flagship with a 48MP triple camera system, ProMotion, and full Apple Intelligence support. Let that sink in.

Published by Stiv in Buying Guides, Carbon conscious, Comparison, Comparisons, Money saving, Technology lover

Tags: Amazon Renewed, Apple Intelligence, Back Market, iPhone 15 Pro, Pixel 8 Pro, refurbished Android, refurbished iPhones, refurbished phones, refurbished phones uk, Samsung Galaxy, SIM only deals, sustainable tech

March 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

iPhone 17e UK: What You Actually Get for £599

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

The iPhone 17e UK launch lands on 11 March 2026 at £599 — the same price Apple charged for the 16e last year — but this time you're getting double the storage, MagSafe, and a faster chip. It's not a revolution. It was never meant to be. Here's our honest take on what Apple's cheapest iPhone actually delivers and where it quietly cuts corners.

Published by Stiv in Apple, Reviews, Tech News, Technology lover

Tags: A19 chip, apple, Apple UK, Back Market, budget iPhone, iPhone 16e vs 17e, iPhone 17e, iPhone 17e review, iPhone 17e UK, iPhone 2026, MagSafe, refurbished iPhone, smartphone