As the old saying first stated by Henry Ford the best car you can buy is a new one. The situation is similar to smartphones. If you can afford it, get yourself a new one. That way is safer. But, many of us can’t afford a brand new phone each year. That’s just the way things are. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a good phone, especially if you’re opting for an iPhone. Apple is famous for manufacturing high-end quality smartphones. They’re one of the leading companies in this domain.
What this means is that if you’re looking to buy a used iPhone you can strike a really good deal nonetheless. If the previous owner took good care of it, and there’s no visible physical damage you’re as good as buying a brand new phone from a lesser manufacturer. We can openly state that even a used iPhone is better than half of the new phones you’ll find on the market. They take big pride in their quality. The design and the performances are all there, but there are details you need to know about any phone before you opt to buy one.
We are here to tell you what to look for when buying a used iPhone. If this is your first time getting your hands on a used phone, you have come to the right place. There are many things you can notice on a used phone which can signal you if it’s a good one or a bad one. It’s all in small traits that you’ll know more about if you continue reading. So, let’s start with the basics.
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IMEI Number
Have you heard about this number? If not, it stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is used to identify the phone you’re about to purchase. The easiest way to find this number is to look into the phone “About” which can be found on the path of “Settings” under the column “General.”
If this is not possible by using this approach you can always type in *#06#. If you dial this combination you are going to get the IMEI number. The number listed on the proof of purchase must match the one that the phone gave away. If you want to discover more info from this number you can use the help of websites such as imei24.com, which excel in this domain. In any case, the IMEI number is vital when you’re buying a used iPhone.
Check The Power
Yes, this sounds like basic knowledge but many people go deep into details before they cover the basic steps. The first thing you need to do is to check if the iPhone is working. You need to power it up and wait till the phone greets you. Some sellers might try to sell you a phone with a dead battery.
This is why you need to boot it first. The next thing to do is to check out if it’s able to power up the battery. Some phones while booted are no longer capable to maintain their battery life. So, it’s vital to see if it recharges. Furthermore, always ask for a charger and even a wall adapter as if these are missing there is a chance that your phone might be a stolen item.
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Check if The Phone is Carrier Locked
This is something that can easily fly over your head. When you find the perfect phone you probably won’t be thinking about the fact that it’s carrier-locked. But, this could be an issue later so it’s better to resolve it in advance. The easiest way to do this is through the IMEI number.
Once you know this number as we have shown you in the first step, you can call your carrier and tell them the number. Once you do this the company will tell you if the phone is compatible. If it isn’t, the original owner will have to remove the locks imposed by calling their carrier. But, when buying a used phone you don’t need to be buying it from the first owner.
Serial Number
When it comes to iPhone everything about the numbers is important. Another vital number is the serial one. Every Apple product comes with a serial number which is later used for the various resolutions of warranty issues. The serial number is checked the same way as the IMEI one is through “settings,” “general,” and “about” options.
The serial number enables you to check out things such as the date of manufacture, and the country of origin. It can also give you valuable info on your iPhone directly through Apple’s official website.
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Seek Visible Damage
After doing a thorough internal inspection you need to switch to the eye test. After all, the eyes never lie as Tony Montana would say in Scarface. Most people tend to take good care of their phones. But even if you took care of it as if it were your pet there ought to be some scars and scratches. Some people believe that keeping it in a case keeps it fully safe. That’s why they’ll try to sell a phone in a case they’ve been holding it in.
But, you need to remove the case and see the phone naked to put it that way. The most visible damage can be spotted on the display, especially on the edges. These scratches and scars are something you can live with if it’s not over the top. The issues might be deeper if the chassis has some dents. This would mean that the phone dropped to the ground. If this is a repeatable offense it could suggest that even the software was damaged.
Check Ports
These days our phones have many ports. Back in the day they only had one for the charger. Today, we have multiple ports all of which can be clogged by water, dust, and various other debris.
Newer models pay more attention to protecting these holes, but earlier ones were more prone to injuries in this department similar to one Death Star in Star Wars. This is why it’s vital to check all the ports especially if you plan on using headphones.
