Updated October 12, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
ALTERNATE vs Orchard Labs
Where ALTERNATE and Orchard Labs differ
| Compare |  ALTERNATE |  Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €1,226 | CA$199 |
| Warranty | 12 monthsHigher | 3 months |
| Return window | 14 days | 14 to 90 daysHigher |
| Markets | DE, AT, BE, DK, ES, FR, IT, LU, NL, CH | CA |
| Trade-in | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Unlocked phones (Yes).
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Key differences
- Orchard Labs scores higher overall: 8.8 vs 8.7.
- Warranty is higher at ALTERNATE: 12 months vs 3 months.
- Return window is higher at Orchard Labs: 14 to 90 days vs 14 days.
- Founded is lower at ALTERNATE: 1992 vs 2013.
- ALTERNATE is available in 9 more countries.
- Products: only ALTERNATE offers Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc.
- Products: only Orchard Labs offers New phones, Refurbished phones, Refurbished tablets.
- Condition grades: only ALTERNATE offers Excellent.
- Operating systems: only ALTERNATE offers Windows.
- Operating systems: only Orchard Labs offers iOS, Android.
Our verdict on each
ALTERNATE
ALTERNATE suits shoppers across Europe who want a single store for computers, phones, audio, gaming gear and refurbished kit, and who put the return window and support reach above the cheapest sticker price. It scores 8.7 overall, with 14 days to change your mind after delivery.
Orchard Labs
Orchard Labs is a Canadian store for shoppers who want a low upfront price and a long returns window rather than long cover, and its CAD 199 starting price suits buyers on a budget. The trade-off is the 3 months warranty, the thinnest part of the deal.
Score breakdown
| Area | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 8.9Entry prices from CAD 199 sit mid-field at 19 of 29 on starting price. |
| Offer | 8.5Entry pricing is the weaker side: €1,226 opens the PC range, with 12 months on refurbished kit softening it. | 8.8HigherUnlocked handsets, trade in and a 14 to 90 days returns window, offset by a 3 months warranty. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher14 days returns place ALTERNATE 58 of 80 brands compared, and email, phone and help centre back it up. | 8.6A named legal entity, trading since 2013 and support on email, phone and help centre sit behind each order. |
By the numbers
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 12 months | 3 months |
| Return window | 14 days | 14 to 90 days |
If neither fits
Grandado has return window at 100 days, against 14 days for ALTERNATE and 14 to 90 days for Orchard Labs.
Grandado reviewWhere these facts come from
ALTERNATE
- alternate.es: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Orchard Labs
- getorchard.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone brands | 70 of 92 | 11 of 92 |
| Refurbished phones | 38 of 44 | 4 of 44 |
| Refurbished laptops and tablets | 40 of 45 | 4 of 45 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Laptop, Desktop, Gaming pc, Mini pc, Tablet | New phones, Refurbished phones, Refurbished tablets |
| Condition grades | Like new, Excellent, Very good, GoodCovers more | Like new, Very good, Good |
| Operating systems | Windows | iOS, Android |
| Legal entity | ALTERNATE GmbH | Orchard Labs Inc. |
| Headquarters | Germany | Canada |
| Founded | 1992Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Computers
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Build to order | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Graphics | Nvidia | Not confirmed |
3D printers and laser cutters
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Largest build size (mm) | 300 | Not confirmed |
| Multi-colour printing | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Top print speed (mm/s) | 600 | Not confirmed |
| Enclosed models | Yes | Not confirmed |
Gaming gear
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Pc, Playstation, Xbox, Switch, Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Wireless peripherals | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Battery life | 70 hours | Not confirmed |
Monitors and peripherals
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Highest refresh rate (Hz) | 500 | Not confirmed |
| Panel types | Oled | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 12 monthsat the median | 3 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Return window | 14 daysbelow the median | 14 to 90 dayshighest quarter | 30 days |
Median across 45 listed brands.
Pros and cons
ALTERNATE
Pros
- Returns run for 14 days, which places ALTERNATE at 58 of 80 brands compared on return days.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with a help centre listed on 96.7% of the group's stores.
- Refurbished stock is graded like new, excellent and very good and carries 12 months of cover, so used kit arrives with a stated condition.
Cons
- Click and collect is not offered, so collection is out of reach while 65.2% of the group hands goods over in person.
- Chat is missing from email, phone and help centre, and only 34.9% of the group lists it.
- Graphics cards listed are nvidia, while 67.6% of the group covers AMD builds as well.
Orchard Labs
Pros
- Returns run 14 to 90 days, so a refurbished handset can be charged, set up and lived with before a decision is made.
- Every phone is unlocked, so changing carrier does not mean buying the handset again.
- Trade in is accepted, so an older handset has a route to becoming part of the purchase.
Cons
- Warranty runs 3 months and ranks 30 of 33, the weakest part of the deal.
- Delivery covers the single market listed under CA, so shoppers outside Canada are not served.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat in the list.
Who each suits
ALTERNATE
Who it suits
- Shoppers in the store's European markets who want computers, phones, audio, gaming gear and refurbished kit in one basket.
- Refurbished buyers who want a stated grade from like new, excellent and very good and 12 months of cover behind it.
- Players shopping across pc, playstation and xbox, where wireless is offered rather than wired only.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone shopping mainly for televisions: Banggood lists computers, phones and audio, which adds tv to ALTERNATE's computers, phones and audio.
- Buyers whose list includes cameras: Akkuk.hu covers computers, phones and audio, a spread ALTERNATE does not carry.
Orchard Labs
Who it suits
- Canadian shoppers who want a low upfront price and a generous returns window on a refurbished handset.
- People planning to change carrier who would rather not buy a handset tied to one network.
- Owners with an older phone to hand, since trade in is accepted.
Who should look elsewhere
- Rugged phone buyers, since Oukitel lists new phones and rugged phones and the range here is new phones, refurbished phones and refurbished tablets.
- Foldable buyers, because new phones, refurbished phones and refurbished tablets leaves that category to Mozillion and its new phones, refurbished phones and foldables.
- Shoppers who want new handsets only, as Nothing lists new phones and no refurbished grades to weigh.
Country by country
| Country | ALTERNATE | Orchard Labs |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| Canada | No | Yes |
| Denmark | Yes | No |
| France | Yes | No |
| Germany | Yes | No |
| Italy | Yes | No |
| Luxembourg | Yes | No |
8 of 11 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
ALTERNATE
How long do I have to change my mind after delivery?+
ALTERNATE gives you 14 days to return an order, and that window applies across the store rather than category by category. In the ranking of brands on return days, the store places 58 of 80 compared brands, so it sits in the middle of the group. If you tend to deliberate longer than that, check the terms on the product page before you order.
Can I order online and pick the product up in person?+
Click and collect is not offered, so every order goes out for delivery instead of being handed over at a counter, small items such as a refurbished phone included. Across the wider group, 65.2% of listings sit with stores that do offer collection, so buyers who want to inspect a laptop before paying will need a different route.
Orchard Labs
How much does Orchard Labs cost to start?+
Prices begin at CAD 199. That entry figure applies across the range listed under new phones, refurbished phones and refurbished tablets, so a shopper on a tight budget can start with a new handset or a refurbished one without moving to a different seller. Prices are quoted in the Canadian store.
How long is the warranty?+
The warranty runs 3 months. That is short, and it ranks 30 of 33 in our data, so it reads as cover for early faults rather than long term protection. Anyone keeping a handset for years should plan for repairs outside the warranty.