iPhones have such a huge fan base among the people that they even tend to buy second-handed ones if they are unable to afford the brand new models. Used iPhone prices are generally much lower compared to the new one having the same model. In 2021, Apple shipped 6 million units of iPhones in India, holding the share of 3.75% of the total units of smartphones shipped in the country.
The refurbished recent models of iPhone, for instance, iPhone 11, iPhone XR, and iPhone xs Max are popular among the public. The price of such an iPhone is not definite. If a customer wants to buy a second hand iPhone 12, it is recommended to them to check second hand iPhone price pf any model.
Buying a used iPhone may include checking of certain specifications covering both hardware and software.
Look for the below-mentioned things while buying a refurbished iPhone
- Physical damage
The buyer must look for the scratches present on the device by removing its case if present. Dents and scratches present on the chassis may signal damage to the internal components. Look for major dents on the camera lens and screen. Further, ensure that the Touch ID is working properly.
Take out the SIM tray and look whether the device encountered some liquid by examining the moisture sensor. Check whether all the buttons function properly. Also, checking the charging port and the speakers is important while buying a used iPhone.
- Storage capacity
The second-hand iPhones may not be the newest models and tend to have less storage capacity, therefore having much lower prices than the latest ones. The highest storage offered in the iPhone is 512 GB. The models having much lower values have a storage capacity of 16 GB. It creates a major difference.
For the people who generally store all their data in the cloud, storage size doesn’t matter. Still, it is advisable not to go for a model offering a storage size below 64GB.
- Inspecting the software
While purchasing a second-hand iPhone, one has to make sure that the device is being operated with the genuine operating system. A reliable method to check is connecting the device with iTunes installed in a PC or Mac. This technique would make all the details about the device visible.
To verify whether the iPhone has a real purchasing record, you can check its serial number online using the website provided by Apple to do so.
- Working of the battery
The battery health is a major aspect to be determined while opting to buy a used iPhone. The iPhone offers an inbuilt mechanism to check battery health. For that, the buyer must visit Settings>Battery>Battery health. The newly bought iPhones have battery health of 100% as they have never been used before.
Battery health depicts the rate of battery drainage of the device along with the time. Battery health of 90% or above is considered good while purchasing a used iPhone.
Apple usually replaces the batteries in the iPhones at reasonable prices. If the user is not able to get any reliable information, they can visit Apple.com to check the price of replacing the batteries.
- Make a second-hand iPhone Price check in comparison to the features
The majority of the pre-owned iPhones lack the advanced features found in the latest models. The buyers should be aware of the functions do not present in a particular model so that they do not end up paying a price that is not worth buying the device.
The users can easily check the price of used iphone at any mobile valuation tool then decide whether the price of the device they are asked to pay is fair or not.
- Network compatibility
The newer models of the iPhone are designed in such a way that they get along with every network. But in some models, the model has great importance while determining the efficiency of the current network in it.
Some companies use an extra LTE signal in their networks while others don’t and it creates a fuss with the model number. The user is advised to contact the seller and enquire whether the network they use can go along the model they have purchased.
- Ensuring that the phone is not a stolen one
To verify if the smartphone you are going to buy is a stolen one or not, the user has to check whether the cloud settings are getting unlocked or not. Stolen iPhones do not respond to another SIM card and have their cloud settings locked as soon as ‘Find My iPhone’ gets activated.
Stolen Phone Checkers are available online that use the IMEI/MEID number of the iPhone to confirm if they are stolen. To get IMEI/MEID number, visit Settings>General>About and a 15-digit number would be found after scrolling down.
The Conclusion
Purchasing a pre-owned iPhone may save many bucks for the user, but the verification process to confirm that the device is genuine is a must. Ensure a fair price while buying the devices and get a warranty card, if possible.