15 Things You Need to Know When Buying a refurbished iPhone

An iPhone is a prestige symbol and that is why everyone wants to own one. However, the exorbitant prices mean that very few people can afford an iPhone. The good news is that you do not have to kill your dreams of owning an iPhone. You can buy refurbished iPhone for a pocket-friendly price.

However, before you decide to invest in a refurbished iPhone, here are a few things that you need to know.

1. Ensure that the Seller is Good and Reliable

You will find many sellers claiming to be excellent and trustworthy. However, you need to do your due diligence and ensure the seller you choose is not just good but also reliable. That way, you will have peace of mind when you pay for the iPhone online and you have to wait for the phone to arrive by courier.

A dependable seller will ensure free shipping, warranty for the refurbished iPhone, customer-friendly return policy and rigorously test the phones before putting them up for sale. If a seller fulfils these criteria, you can go ahead and purchase your refurbished iPhone from them.

2. Get the Right Phone for Your Phone Company

Right from iPhone 5, all iPhone models are compatible with all mobile phone networks. However, you still need to ensure that the model you are buying is right for your phone company. It is as simple as asking the seller before you make the purchase. If the seller is reliable, they will answer your question honestly and not evade it. If the seller refuses to answer, it is best to find another seller online.

3. Make Sure the iPhone Will Work With Your Carrier

Since it is a refurbished phone, it may have been used with another carrier. Hence, it could be locked and you may not be able to use it if your mobile phone carrier is different from the original one. That is why you need to get in touch with the seller to find out if the iPhone is unlocked. Such an iPhone can be used with any carrier; all you have to do is insert the SIM and the phone will be operational. If a seller hesitates to let you know about the unlocked status of the phone, move on. It is a red flag and you should refrain from buying from such a seller.

4. Safe Payment

Ensure that when you are buying the cheap refurbished iPhone, the seller offers you a safe mode of payment. PayPal is one of the most secure methods of payment as if the seller cheats or tries to palm off a substandard iPhone, you can file a complaint with PayPal and get your money back.

5. Activation Lock to Make Sure the iPhone is Not Stolen

When you buy refurbished iPhone, one of the major worries is the phone could be stolen and put up for sale. Apple uses Activation Lock to prevent stolen iPhones from being activated and hence, a buyer cannot use it. If you buy an iPhone that comes with Activation Lock, there is not much you can do about it. That is why you must figure this out before you purchase the phone.

What you need is the IMEI number of the phone. Ask the seller to provide it. Once you have this 15-digit number, you can get onto websites that allow you to find out if the phone is Activation Locked. In case the seller hesitates to provide you with the IMEI number, move on and find another seller.

6. Check if the IMEI is Blocked

As stated earlier, several websites allow you to check whether the IMEI of a refurbished iPhone is blocked or not. Apple Support is the best way you can check. Once you enter the IMEI number and click submit, the report will either green, which means that the phone is not stolen and the IMEI is not blocked. On the other hand, if the report is red, it means that the phone is stolen and the IMEI is blocked.

7. Test the Battery

You cannot replace the battery of an iPhone. Hence, when you receive the refurbished iPhone, check the battery right away. Here is how you can test the battery health:

Go to Setting
Tap on Battery
Select Battery Health
Check the Maximum Capacity section to find out how good the battery is

In case the battery health is not what you expected, you can take the iPhone to an Apple store and get the battery replaced.

8. Check for Other Hardware Damage

Since you are purchasing a refurbished iPhone, it is best to check whether the phone has sustained any hardware damage. So, on getting the phone, check the phone carefully. Start with the Touch ID or 3D Touch sensor. It should be working properly. Then move on to other hardware, like the screen, camera lens, and ports, to inspect them carefully.

9. Check for Water Damage

You can check the water damage sensor to figure out if the phone got wet previously. iPhones that have got wet suffer from the water-in syndrome. You can determine this by turning on the volume to the highest possible level and listening to music. If the sound is clear, the iPhone has not sustained water damage. Usually, the sound of water damaged iPhones is indistinct, with a crackling noise.

10. Check the Headphone and Charging Ports

Use the headphone to see whether it is working properly. If you cannot hear or there is a disturbance, the headphone has a problem. Also, use the charging ports to charge the phone. If it does not charge or the charging is slow, the charging ports has a problem.

11. Check the Camera by Taking Pictures and Making Videos

Turn on the camera and take pictures and make videos. If the camera lens is broken, damaged, or has scratches, it will turn up in the pictures and videos. Otherwise, you will get clear pictures as iPhones are renowned for their high-quality images.

12. Test the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS

Use the Wi-Fi to ensure that it is working properly. The same also holds true for Bluetooth and GPS. Switch on the Bluetooth and try and connect to nearby devices to check if it works. Usually, reputable sellers of refurbished iPhones ensure that the different elements and features of the phones are in optimum working condition.

13. Call a Friend to Check the Quality of the Call

You want to ensure that you can make calls without a problem. So, call a friend to determine the quality of the call. There should be no crackling noises or disturbances during the call.

14. Check the Warranty

You get a manufacturer’s warranty when you buy a brand new phone. So, it is perfectly okay to expect a warranty when you purchase a refurbished iPhone. All reputable sellers of refurbished Apple iPhones provide warranty so that buyers have peace of mind.

15. Look at the Seller’s Return Policy

If you do find a problem with the iPhone, you should have the assurance that the seller’s return policy allows you to send back the phone and get a replacement or your money back. Reputable sellers, like CellPhoneAge, provide a 14-day return policy.

These are the 15 things you need to know when you are looking to buy a cheap refurbished iPhone.