Updated October 12, 2026 · GizmoCue Editorial Team
Orchard Labs vs Plug
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Orchard Labs |  Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | CA$199 | $99 |
| Warranty | 3 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Return window | 14 to 90 daysHigher | 30 days |
| Markets | CA | US |
| Minimum battery health | Not confirmed | 80% |
Same on both: Trade-in (Yes), Unlocked phones (Yes).
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Key differences
- Plug scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Warranty is higher at Plug: 12 months vs 3 months.
- Return window is higher at Orchard Labs: 14 to 90 days vs 30 days.
- Support channels: only Orchard Labs offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Plug offers Chat.
- Products: only Orchard Labs offers New phones.
- Products: only Plug offers Refurbished laptops.
- Condition grades: only Orchard Labs offers Like new.
- Condition grades: only Plug offers Excellent.
- Markets: only Orchard Labs offers CA.
Our verdict on each
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.
Plug
Plug sells refurbished phones, laptops and tablets to US shoppers who want a graded device with a known battery floor and a return window. Its range starts at $99 and each device carries 1 year of warranty, so the outlay is a single payment rather than a commitment.
Score breakdown
| Area | Orchard Labs | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9HigherEntry prices from CAD 199 sit mid-field at 19 of 29 on starting price. | 8.8Refurbished devices start at $99 and carry 1 year of warranty, so the outlay is a single payment. |
| Offer | 8.8Unlocked handsets, trade in and a 14 to 90 days returns window, offset by a 3 months warranty. | 9.0HigherTrade in is accepted, phones are unlocked, and condition grades run excellent, very good and good. |
| Trust | 8.6A named legal entity, trading since 2013 and support on email, phone and help centre sit behind each order. | Not confirmed |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Orchard Labs | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Canada | United States |
Additional countries for Orchard Labs: 1. Additional countries for Plug: 1.
A third option
Fossibot has warranty at 24 months, against 3 months for Orchard Labs and 12 months for Plug.
Fossibot reviewWhere these facts come from
Orchard Labs
- getorchard.com: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Plug
- plug.tech: 13 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Orchard Labs | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Refurbished phones | 4 of 44 | 35 of 44 |
| Refurbished laptops and tablets | 4 of 45 | 37 of 45 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Orchard Labs | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Products | New phones, Refurbished phones, Refurbished tablets | Refurbished phones, Refurbished laptops, Refurbished tablets |
| Condition grades | Like new, Very good, Good | Excellent, Very good, Good |
| Operating systems | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Legal entity | Orchard Labs Inc. | Plug |
| Headquarters | Canada | United States |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Computers
| Fact | Orchard Labs | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Build to order | Not confirmed | No |
| Warranty | Not confirmed | 1 year |
| Most memory (GB) | Not confirmed | 32 |
| Graphics | Not confirmed | Apple, Intel |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Orchard Labs | Plug | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warranty | 3 monthslowest quarter | 12 monthsat the median | 12 months |
| Return window | 14 to 90 dayshighest quarter | 30 daysat the median | 30 |
| Minimum battery health | Not confirmed | 80%at the median | 80% |
Median across 45 listed brands.
Pros and cons
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.
Plug
Pros
- A return window of 30 days, ranked 3 of 80 brands on returns.
- Delivery is free once a basket passes $50.
- Condition is graded as excellent, very good and good and battery health starts at 80%.
Cons
- Phone is not among its support channels (email, chat and help centre), while 53.9% of the stores compared do offer it.
- Build to order is no, so laptop configurations arrive as stocked rather than chosen to a specification.
- Categories are computers, phones and audio, narrower than Akkuk.hu at computers, phones and audio and Banggood at computers, phones and audio.
Who each suits
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.
Plug
Who it suits
- US shoppers who want a refurbished phone, laptop or tablet graded before it arrives, with 30 days to change their mind.
- Anyone trading in an outgoing device, since trade in is accepted, and who wants a phone that is not tied to one carrier.
- Buyers who compare on wear: excellent, very good and good grades and battery health of at least 80%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Shoppers who want a wide catalogue, since Akkuk.hu and Banggood list more store categories than computers, phones and audio.
- Audio buyers who only need sound, since JBL is built around audio, gaming and refurbished.
- People who want to talk a fault through by phone, since support runs on email, chat and help centre.
Country by country
| Country | Orchard Labs | Plug |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Plug
How much does a refurbished device from Plug cost?+
The range starts at $99, paid as a single sum rather than a subscription. Delivery is free once a basket passes $50, so a cheaper device on its own can still pick up a shipping charge while a laptop or phone with a case clears it.
What condition will a refurbished Plug device be in?+
Every device is graded as excellent, very good and good, so you choose a band instead of accepting an unknown. Read the grade next to the battery figure, since battery health of at least 80% is the part of a used phone or laptop most likely to move over time.