what to look for when buying used iphone
Used iPhones are always in hot demand, and they're a good choice if you're looking to save some coin on an Apple smartphone. Similar any 2nd-hand purchase, at that place are some things you should check before you hand over your money.
The Basics of Buying a Used iPhone
Well-nigh of the tips below are aimed at buyers who can audit the iPhone in person, like when buying directly from someone using a resources like Facebook Marketplace.
For online sales, this isn't possible then you'll accept to practise your due diligence online instead. Reputable sellers will include enough of photos detailing any scratches and other damage, including detailed descriptions of the item they are selling. A seller's feedback is a good indicator of item quality, but not anybody who sells their old iPhone will accept accrued a lot of feedback.
If y'all're buying over an auction website like eBay, paying with PayPal volition provide buyer protection and so you tin asking a refund if the detail isn't as described. You should never purchase items over local classified services like Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree unless you are inspecting them in person since you lot have no protection against the many scams that masquerade equally genuine listings.
When purchasing an item in person, you should consider your personal safety above all else. Meet in a public place similar a buffet or shopping center, and consider taking someone with you lot. Avoid conveying around large amounts of cash, consider paying using a peer-to-peer service like Cash App or Venmo instead. If the seller insists on cash, inspect the item showtime then make a withdrawal (solitary) at an ATM instead.
Avoid meeting at nighttime, or in isolated places similar car parks where possible. Hold on terms (like a method of payment and being able to inspect the item fully) before agreeing to encounter the seller, since this will assistance deter whatsoever would-be scammers.
If the price is as well adept to be truthful, it's probably a scam. If the seller won't let you inspect the item beforehand, at that place's mayhap something wrong with it (or yous're buying an empty box). If the seller insists on y'all bringing the cash with you before fifty-fifty having seen the particular, don't put yourself at gamble.
Genuine sellers volition sympathize your insistence on being safe and smart. If they have zilch to hide, they'll be happy for you lot to inspect the item. It'southward within their interest to come across in well-lit, public places where they are also probable to feel rubber likewise.
RELATED: How to Run across What Something Is Worth Using eBay
ane. Does the iPhone Turn On?
Perhaps the most important affair to check is whether or non the iPhone powers up. This seems obvious, merely some sellers may try and pass off an iPhone that won't boot as having a expressionless bombardment. Don't fall for this, and brand certain the iPhone boots to the lock screen or "Hello" prompt.
Furthermore, yous might want to insist that the iPhone includes a charger and wall adapter too. An iPhone without these items is more likely to be stolen (though the seller may but have decided to keep them instead). If possible, bank check that the iPhone charges normally too; consider carrying a portable battery and Lightning cablevision if y'all take them.
2. Is Activation Lock Still Enabled?
In one case the iPhone boots, you should promise to see a lock screen that invites the owner to enter a passcode. If you encounter a bulletin about entering a password to activate the iPhone, the iPhone is maybe stolen. Fifty-fifty if information technology hasn't been stolen, you tin can't brand employ of it in this state so yous're best walking away.
Insist that the seller activates the iPhone past entering their countersign. Activation Lock can exist removed from an iPhone by disabling "Find My iPhone" under Settings > [Possessor's Proper name] > Find My.
3. If the iPhone Has Already Been Erased
When meeting a seller, the iPhone may have already been erased, gear up for sale. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it stops you from beingness able to exam the device fully. You might observe a "Hello" or "Swipe to Brainstorm" message if this is the example.
For yous to adequately test the iPhone, you lot should ask the seller to sign in with their ain information so that the phone is in a functional state. This may require that they insert their SIM card to actuate the device. You lot tin then perform some of the checks listed beneath before deciding that you want to purchase the device.
Once you're happy with the iPhone, insist that the seller remove Activation Lock and erase the iPhone using "Erase All Content and Settings" nether Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. This requires that the seller enter their Apple tree ID password to disable Activation Lock, so you know yous'll exist able to utilise the telephone once you have ownership of it.
4. Is In that location Any Visible Damage?
Well-nigh used iPhones are going to accept scuffs and scratches, even if they were kept in a case for their entire lives. If the iPhone is handed to you in a instance, always remove it to get a better expect. Fully inspect the device for whatsoever signs of visible damage, including scratches and small cracks around the edge of the display.
Dents in the chassis are a piddling more than apropos since this could propose damage to internal components similar the bombardment. Cheque to see if the iPhone sits flat on a surface confront down, since this will indicate if any force has caused the chassis to bend. Inspect the camera associates to see if the lenses are damaged or scratched.
Don't worry too much about superficial damage, simply accept it into business relationship when information technology comes to the price of the item. A mint condition iPhone that's had a screen protector and tough example on from day 1 volition be worth more than a scratched-upward iPhone, so y'all can employ this to aid sympathize whether the seller is asking a fair price.
v. How's the Bombardment Health?
Lithium-ion batteries dethrone over time, and any used iPhone is leap to accept a bombardment that isn't going to concord 100% of its original capacity. You can head to Settings > Bombardment > Bombardment Health to bank check two of import metrics: maximum capacity and performance capability.
Maximum capacity will requite you a rough idea of how much charge the battery now holds. Anything to a higher place xc% is good, simply the lower the number the less time you lot'll be able to go between recharges. What's more important is the battery's operation capability.
When bombardment health declines significantly, the iPhone may brainstorm to slow downwards as it attempts to balance performance with longevity. If annihilation other than "Summit Functioning Capability" is being reported, information technology's time to replace the battery since yous aren't getting the most out of the device.
6. Take Whatever Parts Been Replaced, and Is It Refurbished?
You can check whether your iPhone is a refurbished model past heading to Settings > General > Most and looking at the "Model Number" entry. If this number starts with an F, information technology's been refurbished by Apple or a carrier. That'due south non necessarily a bad thing, only you may want to know. Unfortunately, there'south no manner to tell if a device was refurbished by a third party.
If the seller advertises that the battery has been replaced recently, you can bank check the parts and service history to verify whether or not a genuine Apple part was used. Head to Settings > General > About and wait for the relevant section below the "Model Number" field.
If nothing is listed, either the iPhone isn't running iOS 15.2 or afterwards or nothing has been replaced. On iPhones that are running iOS 15.2 or later, parts that accept been replaced will exist listed as a "Genuine Apple Part" or an "Unkown Function" if replaced by anyone other than Apple.
Genuine parts are generally regarded as being of higher quality than many third-party parts that are cheaper to produce. There'south no fashion of telling for certain, just a genuine battery replacement (for example) may provide more peace of listen than something of unknown origin.
RELATED: Call up Twice Before Getting Your iPhone Fixed past a Third-Party (and Dorsum it Upward if Yous Practise)
seven. What's the Performance Like?
Use the iPhone a flake and see how it performs. Take the age of the device into consideration, and be aware that older devices volition be more than sluggish than newer ones. Yous're looking for obvious signs of slowdown that might suggest something is wrong with an internal component.
A few unproblematic tests you can perform include browsing a responsive website like apple tree.com, searching for an app using Spotlight, launching and perusing the App Store, zooming and scrolling effectually the in-built Maps app, accessing Notification Center and Control Heart, and swiping between widgets and app icons on your home screen.
8. How's the Brandish Condition?
If the iPhone has a traditional edge-lit LCD (similar in the iPhone XR, SE, and 11), cheque that all of the lights are working. If the iPhone has an OLED display (known as Super Retina XDR as seen in the iPhone X, 12, and xiii) so you should bank check for burn-in (permanent image retention) too. Neither of these will necessarily impact how the device functions, and may non be visible under normal usage, but you should know nearly a trouble earlier you buy.
You can check for both of these issues against a solid background, using various color shades. Use a YouTube video like this one in full-screen and pause on the various shades to check for issues. It's easier to observe LCD backlighting problems on a solid white slide, while burn-in may but present on specific colors due to the way sub-pixels wearable with use.
nine. Do the Speakers and Microphones Work?
You lot can hands test the microphone by recording something using Apple tree's built-in Voice Memos app. Test the speaker by playing back the recording, previewing a ringtone under Settings > Sounds & Haptics.
It's likewise a adept idea to check the earpiece volume, and the but mode of doing so is past making a phone telephone call. It can exist really hard to use your iPhone if this speaker becomes damaged since the person on the other end of the phone may exist too quiet or muffled. If you lot don't have a SIM card in the iPhone for this, consider connecting to public Wi-Fi or a personal hotspot and using FaceTime instead.
ten. Check the Other Buttons Too
Check to brand sure the mute switch works correctly, located on the left side of the iPhone. Below this, you'll find volume rockers. These buttons are useful for turning up call volume and taking photos, plus you'll need to apply them if e'er you lot want to force restart your iPhone.
The side button on the right side of the iPhone is used to wake and slumber your iPhone, invoke Siri, force restart, and access Apple Pay and other Wallet functions. Make sure everything works as expected, and feels good to press. A "mushy" button may exist on the style out.
11. Do All the Cameras Work as Advertised?
Finally, check all of the cameras and lenses. Open the Camera app and switch to the forepart-facing camera, then use all of the cameras on the rear of the device (including ultra-wide and telephoto if you lot have them).
In adept calorie-free, the prototype should exist relatively articulate and not grainy. The image should update smoothly (not like a slide testify), and tapping the screen should focus on that particular area.
Other Options for Saving Money on an iPhone
Y'all don't necessarily have to buy a used iPhone to relieve money. In that location are quite a few ways you can save money and yet get a new or "as new" device. One of the best ways to do this is to buy a refurbished iPhone direct from Apple tree.
Thinking of buying a used Mac too? Hither's a list of Mac-specific things you should check earlier you lot purchase.
Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/774408/what-to-check-when-buying-a-used-iphone/
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