Updated October 1, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
AfB vs Blair Technology Group
AfB vs Blair Technology Group: the differences
| Compare |  AfB |  Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €59 | $179.99 |
| Warranty | 12 months | 1 to 12 months |
| Return window | 14 days | 30 daysHigher |
| Markets | AT, DE | US |
| Trade-in | No | Not confirmed |
| Unlocked phones | Yes | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- AfB scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Return window is higher at Blair Technology Group: 30 days vs 14 days.
- Support channels: only Blair Technology Group offers Chat.
- Founded is lower at AfB: 2004 vs 2005.
- AfB is available in 1 more country.
- Products: only AfB offers Refurbished phones, Refurbished tablets.
- Condition grades: only AfB offers Good.
- Condition grades: only Blair Technology Group offers Excellent.
- Markets: only AfB offers AT, DE.
- Markets: only Blair Technology Group offers US.
Our verdict on each
AfB
AfB suits a buyer in Austria or Germany who wants graded refurbished hardware with 12 months of cover behind it. Phones arrive unlocked, and returns run 14 days, which carries most of the risk that normally comes with buying a used device.
Blair Technology Group
Blair Technology Group suits US buyers who want a low entry price on a refurbished laptop with a warranty and a return window behind it. Entry pricing starts at $179.99, and delivery reaches the contiguous US with Alaska and Hawaii excluded, which limits who can order.
Score breakdown
| Area | AfB | Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherEntry pricing starts at €59, and 14 days of returns eases the risk on a used device. | 8.7Entry pricing starts at $179.99, with warranty cover of 1 to 12 months included rather than sold separately. |
| Offer | 8.6Graded stock in very good, good and fair lets you pay for the condition you want, and handsets arrive unlocked. | 9.5HigherGraded condition excellent, very good and fair plus a return window of 30 days lets you choose your level of wear. |
| Trust | 9.6HigherA charitable company founded 2004 in Austria, selling refurbished hardware with 12 months of cover. | 9.4Trading since 2005 and based in the United States, with warranty terms of 1 to 12 months published in writing. |
Licences and countries
| Country | AfB | Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Austria | United States |
Additional countries for AfB: 2. Additional countries for Blair Technology Group: 1.
The numbers side by side
| Fact | AfB | Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 12 months | 1 to 12 months |
| Return window | 14 days | 30 days |
A third option
Newegg has return window at 30 to 90 days, against 14 days for AfB and 30 days for Blair Technology Group.
Newegg reviewHow they place
| Ranking | AfB | Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Refurbished laptops and tablets | 29 of 45 | 31 of 45 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AfB | Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Refurbished phones, Refurbished laptops, Refurbished tabletsCovers more | Refurbished laptops |
| Condition grades | Very good, Good, Fair | Excellent, Very good, Fair |
| Operating systems | iOS, Android | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AfB mildtaetige und gemeinnuetzige Gesellschaft zur Schaffung von Arbeitsplaetzen fuer behinderte Menschen mbH | Blair Technology Group |
| Headquarters | Austria | United States |
| Founded | 2004Lower | 2005 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AfB | Blair Technology Group | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 12 monthsat the median | 1 to 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
| Return window | 14 daysbelow the median | 30 daysat the median | 30 days |
Median across 45 listed brands.
Pros and cons
AfB
Pros
- Every handset AfB sells is unlocked, so the phone is not tied to one network and you can move to a different provider later.
- Stock is sorted by condition before it is listed, so you choose how much wear you accept rather than taking whatever turns up.
- You have 14 days to send a device back, which does most of the risk work when you cannot test refurbished hardware in person.
Cons
- Cover runs 12 months on refurbished hardware, so read that as the whole term rather than the start of a longer one.
- A 14 days window is short when the decision in front of you is a larger-ticket portable computer.
- The €59 entry figure belongs to one listed handset, so budget on its own listing for anything bigger in the range.
Blair Technology Group
Pros
- Entry pricing of $179.99 puts a refurbished laptop within reach on a tight budget.
- Warranty cover of 1 to 12 months is included with the refurbished PCs, so protection is not something you add separately.
- A return window of 30 days from the initial delivery gives you time to open and check what arrives.
Cons
- Ships to the United States, which leaves Alaska, Hawaii and buyers outside the US without a delivery option.
- Warranty cover runs 1 to 12 months, so a scratch and dent laptop sits at the shorter end of that term.
- The entry price of $179.99 comes from a scratch and dent laptop, so the cheapest listing is not a graded unit.
Who each suits
AfB
Who it suits
- A buyer in Austria or Germany who wants refurbished hardware from a company that has been working since 2004.
- Someone who reads the condition grade before paying and would rather pick the wear they accept than take a surprise.
- A household or small office ordering several refurbished devices at once, with 14 days to send a wrong one back.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone planning to trade in an old device for credit, since AfB does not take part payments.
- A buyer outside Austria and Germany, where delivery is not listed.
- A shopper who wants cover beyond 12 months on a refurbished device.
Blair Technology Group
Who it suits
- Budget buyers inside the contiguous US, where entry pricing starts at $179.99 and delivery reaches them.
- Anyone who wants a return window of 30 days before committing to a refurbished laptop.
- Shoppers who would rather choose how worn a laptop should be, from excellent down to fair, than buy new.
Who should look elsewhere
- Buyers based outside the contiguous US.
- Shoppers set on new hardware rather than a graded refurbishment range.
- Anyone needing the longest warranty term, since cover runs 1 to 12 months and the grade decides how long a laptop is covered.
Country by country
| Country | AfB | Blair Technology Group |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
AfB
How much do the devices cost?+
AfB lists a handset at €59 to start, and that figure belongs to one listed model rather than to the whole range. Larger devices carry their own prices on their own listings. If the price you paid does not suit your situation, 14 days to send the device back still applies.
What condition will the device be in?+
Devices are sorted into condition grades before they are listed, so a listing tells you the state of the unit before you pay. For refurbished hardware the grade matters more than the model year, because two handsets of the same age can sit in different bands. You have 14 days to send it back if the grade is not what you wanted.
Blair Technology Group
How much does a laptop cost to start with?+
The catalogue is sorted by price, and the entry figure of $179.99 comes from a scratch and dent laptop rather than a graded unit. Prices climb from there according to grade and specification, so the lowest listing works as a floor for what a refurbished laptop can start at.
What does the warranty cover?+
Warranty cover runs 1 to 12 months. Standard renewed and refurbished PCs sit at the longer end of that term, while scratch and dent units carry a separate, shorter warranty. The grade you pick decides how long you are protected, so it is worth reading the terms before choosing the cheapest listing.