What to Look for When Buying a Used iPhone

TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 10:36
Last edited 26/07/2023 - 05:47

Edit: Thanks to everyone who responded. My first time ever looking to buy a used/refurb phone. Thats why I asked the question. Went with the advice of the more experienced folks and have ordered a refurb.

Edit 2: got the phone. Looks good. An easy 8.5/10 for the exterior. Very minor scratches on the screen which you can only see under a light. Came with a charger and a cable. Not an apple cable and I’m not too sure about the charger if it’s apple or not. Seems to be a slow charger anyways.

Title says it all.

Looking to buy a used iPhone off marketplace. Will be picking up in person.

So far my list of things to check is

-check the imei of the device and the box matches
-check battery health %age
-check call quality
-check the internet works

What else should be added.

First phone for. 12 year old.

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

Comments

  • SBOB on 22/07/2023 - 10:41
    +37

    Why wouldn't you just buy one of the refurbs from a well reviewed place and save the hassle?

    Eg refurb, new battery, low $200s with eBay plus discounts
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/175479886617

      • sumyungguy on 22/07/2023 - 11:45
        +21

        The caveat with private sales is no warranty, something that reputable resellers of secondhand or refurbushed goods will offer. But if you're prepared to roll the dice that's certainly your choice.

      • SBOB on 22/07/2023 - 13:15

        Moreover, I’m getting it 100 bucks cheaper than the discounted refurbs.

        For a 12 year old, I'd be impressed if you're getting something like an se with new battery for like $150.
        But it's your time/money.

      • blitz on 22/07/2023 - 14:41
        +2

        you know exactly what you’re getting rather than it being a surprise.

        But the whole point of your post is that you don't know what you're getting and it will be a surprise. If you bought it from an established seller, it would not be surprise.

      • brendanm on 22/07/2023 - 14:44

        $100 is worth the risk of getting scammed with no recourse?

        • capslock janitor on 24/07/2023 - 08:58

          100 bucks is decent warranty insurance for used

    • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/07/2023 - 11:32
      +8

      Best advice, would hate to have another ‘I got scammed’ on Facebook saga threads here this week.

      I guess we could make a game of it though - so how many we can get one week and try to beat it the next week

      • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 12:01

        Keeps the forum going hey. Lol

        • silverrat23 on 22/07/2023 - 12:03

          Sure does, especially if it doesn't happen to them.

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 22/07/2023 - 12:10
          +1

          Yeah kind of quiet these days without slavoz, levity and the others

        • ThithLord on 24/07/2023 - 08:13

          Keeps the forum going hey

          Nah mate, there's still plenty of people getting around with only 3rd Party insurance!

    • Brianqpr on 23/07/2023 - 11:59
      +1

      Also a warranty with refurbs. Remember buying a refurb iphone 6 for my son a few years back. After a little while it started playing up and became pretty much unuseable. Was able to send it back and get a full refund and also, as luck would have it, there was a deal on here at the time that allowed me to replace it with a brand new one for about the same price.

    • javab0y on 25/07/2023 - 12:52

      BTW I bought one of these based on your new battery comment and it arrived today…. the battery is "degraded" according to the message on the phone and at 81%.
      Looking at that listing, it does not mention New battery anywhere… which I had not checked.

      Will hit them up and see what they say.
      Phone is in perfect condition otherwise.

      • SBOB on 25/07/2023 - 18:50

        The title of their listing is 'new battery'

        It's on my watchlist in eBay purely for that and potentially buying one for an older kid also.

        I'd be annoyed if it turned up with less than 100% battery health, so curious what their response is.

        • javab0y on 25/07/2023 - 19:09

          Haha missed that myself!

          Yeah I have already contacted them… and had a few messages (they were very responsive)… last message from them stated "We have a rigorous testing procedure in place to ensure each device passed for sale has a battery capacity that meets with manufacturer specifications. We make sure it has 80% or more battery health.
          "

          • SBOB on 25/07/2023 - 20:13

            @javab0y: item not as described if its a 'new battery' unit

            • javab0y on 26/07/2023 - 05:13
              +1

              @SBOB: Mystery solved. I bought the wrong listing to what you had. They had multiple listings but this one had the new battery. I hadn’t noticed that! Mystery solved. My bad.
              They have been superb with their support via messages. Anyway will just return

  • websterp on 22/07/2023 - 10:45
    +7

    Check if touch Id is working. If they have replaced the screen with some cheap third party unit, chances are touch Id won't work.

    Also login and activate the phone with your apple account in front of seller and don't leave (or let them leave) till this is done successfully and you are able to make and receive a phone call with your own sim

    • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 11:31

      iPhone 12 with Face ID.

      • sumyungguy on 22/07/2023 - 11:51
        +1

        Check out the Garage Sale listings at Phonebot, lots of used phones with no Face ID: https://www.phonebot.com.au/used-phones

      • silverrat23 on 22/07/2023 - 12:04
        +2

        Do note that any replacement screen will render Face ID useless.

        • websterp on 22/07/2023 - 12:31
          +7

          ^This.

          Face ID or touch ID would be useless once the screen is replaced by a non-apple approved repairer. Most sellers would hide the fact the screen had been replaced and would advertise that the screen is in pristine condition, no scratches, cracks etc..For the untrained eye this would be the case but when you setup the phone if either of these security measures keeps failing after multiple retries it is a dead giveaway the screen had been replaced with something inferior, also voiding any warranty they may claim as remaining. So regardless to what they say, just activate the phone at their presence and see if it goes smoothly and most importantly put it under your account so you don't have to worry about iCloud locks, FMIP, carrier blacklisting, etc later

          Source: Personal buying experience

  • 87percent on 22/07/2023 - 10:56
    +13

    Make sure it’s been removed from iCloud!!!

    • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 11:29

      So will just erasing an resetting a phone not remove it from iCloud?

      • 87percent on 22/07/2023 - 11:29
        +5

        No, the owner has to remove it from icloud

        • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 11:32
          +1

          Cool. Will make sure it’s done. Cheers.

          • Kangal on 22/07/2023 - 20:17
            +8

            @TubeLight: One thing you should do, if figure out the exact model you want and the storage space.
            Then when you go for buying/inspection, make sure the model number matches.
            For example:

            • if Small, go for iPhone 13 Mini (or better), don't bother with other models
            • if Medium, go for iPhone 12 Pro (or better), don't bother with lesser models
            • if Large, go for iPhone 11 Max (or better), don't bother with lesser models
            • if you want the best, don't get any 14-series or lesser, there's a huge upgrade coming with the iPhone 15 as it establishes the next family series (A17-Bionic).

            • if you want TouchID you can choose between the iPhone 8 Plus or the iPhone Se22

            • check how much storage you would need. Remember there is no microSD slot, or a USB data expansion. Some of it could be alleviated by iCloud but I wouldn't rely on it. If you NEED to have 256GB but only have 128GB, you will regret it later. However, if you only need 256GB there's very little reason to pay top-dollar to get one with 1TB storage. BUT again, if somehow you see a 1TB unit which is cheap, it would be worth it, just be careful you don't get scammed.

  • Muzeeb on 22/07/2023 - 11:01
    +5

    Take some pictures and a video. If the camera lens has been replaced the image qualit may be compromised.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 22/07/2023 - 12:01
      +1

      Yeah gotta make sure that 12 year old can take crisp photos right

      • Muzeeb on 22/07/2023 - 12:03
        +8

        Blurry tik tok videos are frowned upon amongst tweenie peers.

  • WookieMonster on 22/07/2023 - 11:29
    +8

    Check that the IMEI has not been blacklisted in Australia. If that has been blacklisted, it means the iPhone cannot connect to any mobile network in Australia.

    You can check if it is blacklisted here.

    • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 11:32
      +1

      That is exactly the kind of info I was after. Thanks heaps mate.

      • Muzeeb on 22/07/2023 - 11:47
        +9

        If this is new information to you then I highly suggest you buy a new device from a store.

        • Ridiculous Panda on 23/07/2023 - 11:09
          +12

          Mate, I am sure every piece of information is new to everyone when they first learn it!
          At least the guy is asking for help before committing not after like most other people. He should be alright buying used if that is what he wants to do as long as he uses the help he is getting here.

      • hasher22 on 22/07/2023 - 16:17
        +4

        Buy new or refurb from a reputable retailer. You got more risks buying used.

        If you buy new/refurb - you have warranty and no risks of the IMEI being blocked.

        Save yourself the stress and headache, spend a little more and get peace of mind.

  • CyberMurning on 22/07/2023 - 11:36
    +1

    To look?
    How about to smell…
    Make sure no weird smells

    • Nugs on 22/07/2023 - 11:43
      +3

      or taste, give it a lick
      .

      • 87percent on 22/07/2023 - 12:18

        Make sure op goes to an Apple Store first to get the taste of them, and then they can compare

        • Transient on 22/07/2023 - 12:42
          +7

          If it tastes like a pear then not genuine Apple

        • Kangal on 22/07/2023 - 19:58

          What if the Apple tastes like Granny?

          • 87percent on 26/07/2023 - 13:41

            @Kangal: well, granny smith IS an apple, so i think it would be genuine

  • 7ekn00 on 22/07/2023 - 11:42
    +1

    Drop it a couple times to make sure it bounces, this certifies it is real :P

  • coffeeinmyveins on 22/07/2023 - 12:00
    +3

    Why does a 12 year old need an iPhone

    • kerfuffle on 22/07/2023 - 12:19
      +4

      I get your point, but probably so kids don’t tease/bully them for having some $29 prepaid special (assuming they’re in high school)

      • coffeeinmyveins on 22/07/2023 - 13:52

        True…

      • brendanm on 22/07/2023 - 14:41
        +13

        My son had a pos android nokia and survived fine, buying kids things to try to impress others is not a good idea, sets them up with that mindset for adulthood.

        • kerfuffle on 22/07/2023 - 15:46
          +5

          Yeah I know that, but unfortunately kids don't.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2023 - 10:08

          From what I've seen, it tends to be learned behaviour from the parents. They must have the latest shiny new thing to impress others & keep up with the Joneses.

          • Minimum chips on 23/07/2023 - 11:36
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: By 12 years old their world is much more dictated by peers and media than parents.

            • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2023 - 11:42

              @Minimum chips: “Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.”
              ― Aristotle, The Philosophy of Aristotle

            • brendanm on 23/07/2023 - 13:04

              @Minimum chips: Parents are able to dictate the media they consume. You can also talk to your kids and explain things, I tell my daughter that ads etc are there to trick you into buying things. Never too early to have discussions about these things.

        • spacemannn on 23/07/2023 - 15:40

          Funnily enough the mindset they have in high school will carry them through to adulthood, if they're treated like a pariah it'll damage their self confidence and can affect other aspects of their life.

      • bargaino on 22/07/2023 - 16:31

        Does that actually happen? Where? It might be a red flag for schools/kids to avoid.

        My kids swear they've not seen that sort of thing.

    • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 23:15

      Here’s the thinking.

      Both parents are on iOS now.
      Don’t have a hand me down phone at the moment. Previous ones went to our parents.
      iPhone SE 2022’s battery life is t the best.
      Cheapest new iphone with 128gb is 759 iPhone 11 which is 4 years old.
      A used/refurb 12 seemed like the best option.

      I know my logic will not be good enough.

      Had nothing to do with the kid wanting a particular phone to fit in.

      • Meho2026 on 23/07/2023 - 09:39
        +2

        You can get a refurbished iPhone SE 2020 for $269 from Boost
        It looks identical to the SE 2022
        You’re just asking for trouble buying off Marketplace

        • TubeLight on 23/07/2023 - 09:53

          Bought a refurb mate. Thank you :)

    • Brianqpr on 23/07/2023 - 12:02

      I get it because I asked myself the same question with my kids, but almost everybody else at school has them so I didn't want them to be the odd ones out. Hand me downs from us or refurbs of older models helped manage the cost (and the risk of loss/breakage). The particular model didn't seem to matter that much as long as it had an apple on the back.

    • OzzyOzbourne on 23/07/2023 - 21:49
      +2

      These days it's more like…what 12 year old would accept a second hand iPhone 🙄

  • zonra on 22/07/2023 - 12:25
    +6

    If the switch phone isn’t charged when you rock up, don’t take it unless seller pinky promise that it’s all good.

  • apple2016 on 22/07/2023 - 12:25
    +1

    check the imei of the device and the box matches

    Whats this supposed to prove?
    I would check for basic operations like battery, wifi, call quality (speakers & microphone), and most importantly FMIP is off

    • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 23:03

      A stolen phone will not have the same imei number on the box I think?

  • AustriaBargain on 22/07/2023 - 12:53

    Check how much a new battery is for whatever model you are looking at https://support.apple.com/en-au/iphone/repair/battery-replac… A lot of these prices are pretty reasonable imo for an official battery installed by Apple imo.

    Though a 12 year old might be happy with a new SE instead of a used regular phone.

    • jwh on 23/07/2023 - 12:24

      A$114.90 for a ~1600mAh replacement battery? I don’t think it’s reasonable, and it can make it uneconomical to revive an older device that is otherwise fine.

      I miss the days of user replaceable batteries, and thankfully the EU will require this in the near future.

      • AustriaBargain on 23/07/2023 - 13:06

        It's reasonable when you could otherwise go to your mall and get Dodgy Phones Co. do it for $60, and put in a non genuine battery, lose a screw, and put the screen back on upside down.

  • Hybroid on 22/07/2023 - 14:13
    +2

    Not worth the risk of getting scammed, being defective, having non-original parts swapped out, getting reported as stolen and blocked weeks later or have something else go wrong.

    iPhones are common items to mess people around with. Do not buy used off marketplace.

  • oscargamer on 22/07/2023 - 14:49
    +2

    So you check the phone

    It appears to work perfectly

    You pay and take it home

    The following day, the seller reports it lost or stolen….

    You have an unhappy 12 year old and an emptier wallet than you had before

    • AustriaBargain on 22/07/2023 - 15:22
      +1

      Why would they do that though, if it's for insurance then you take the phone to the police and they get done for insurance fraud. More likely the seller stole it, sells it, the original owner reports it as stolen.

  • hasher22 on 22/07/2023 - 16:13
    +1

    As someone who worked in telco retail…..

    I always tell people NOT to buy used phones as the original owner can IMEI block it and make an insurance claim.

    As another member stated, you can check the IMEI number if it's blocked or not pre-purchase but you can't do anything if they IMEI block it after you purchase it.

    Do yourself a favour and buy new (previous model) or refurb from an actual retailer if you're on a budget.

    The amount of people that came into my store with IMEI blocked used phones were high and there's nothing we can do about it unless the original own unblocks it for you and even then, that's not gonna happen.

    • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 23:00
      +1

      Thanks for this insight mate. It was mainly your comment that made me lean towards a refurb.

  • TubeLight on 22/07/2023 - 22:57
    +4

    So my original idea to buy a used one over a refurbished phone was to be able to physically see the phone and get an idea of what I was getting in to. I must say I’ve never bought a used or refurb phone before. But all the arguments seemed to be in favour of the refurb phone over the used ones.

    So that’s what I went with. I’ve just ordered a refurb phone from green gadgets.

    I’m sure there will now be people who will say I made the wrong choice or that they ordered form the same seller and got scammed.

    • hasher22 on 22/07/2023 - 23:16
      +4

      I am so happy you decided to go with refurb, there is nothing wrong with refurb - it comes with warranty and the company goes through checks the phone is in sellable quality. I have a few refurb items and they're perfectly fine to use, never had any real problems.

      But the amount of customers I got when they purchased on eBay, gumtree or marketplace and all of a sudden their phone stopped working (blocked IMEI) is crazy, all to save a few dollars. Now they have to go fork out another few hundreds of dollars to buy a new phone, when all that money could have been spent on literally a brand new, current model.

      A used phone will never be on my list to buy, it's just not worth it. Always buy new or refurb from a retailer. But on the other end, I will never buy a new car lol.

    • lilbudgie on 23/07/2023 - 08:49
      +1

      I have bought iphones from greengadgets for myself and family and have been impressed. They have been going strong for over a year now and I fully intend to use them again in the future.

    • Brianqpr on 23/07/2023 - 12:04
      +1

      The good refurb sellers will be clear on the physical condition etc and are pretty reliable.

      • TubeLight on 23/07/2023 - 12:09

        That is indeed reassuring. :)

  • bluyu2 on 23/07/2023 - 08:57
    +2

    I'd use Reebelo. They have been great.

    • aidenh37 on 24/07/2023 - 13:57

      Counterpoint - Reebelo is just another marketplace, and their sellers are the same shoddy businesses found on Kogan, Catch and myDeal. Do your research on the seller, and consider buying direct.

  • iamnotintheuk on 23/07/2023 - 10:54
    +1

    All the iPhone I have owned are used and bought off gumtree/FB marketplace. Ask for screenshot of battery and clear photo beforehand.
    There are good websites with checklists to go through. Take time to test all the features important to you.
    Definitely make sure no iCloud and I make sure network is ok with my own simcard.
    CASH only, meet in public area.

    I didn't realise the owner can do IMEI block and never actually test charging at inspection before but good points.

    The last iPhone I bought was for a relative, it was online refurb. More scratches than I would have like but could claim TRS so it works out.

    • TubeLight on 23/07/2023 - 11:37

      Can you claim TRS on a refurb?

      • iamnotintheuk on 23/07/2023 - 12:01
        +1

        yes, if you have a tax invoice with GST

        • TubeLight on 23/07/2023 - 12:02

          Good to know… May be useful next time :)

          Cheers

  • kaleidoscope on 23/07/2023 - 14:09

    Check if find my iPhone is disabled. Else you will not be able to set it up for a new apple account

  • ilikeverycheapstuff on 23/07/2023 - 15:57

    Lol.. just don’t. iPhone SE for the budget conscious

  • hawkshead on 23/07/2023 - 19:17

    if you get them a nokia brik phone they will not be able to destroy it and can use it as self defense weapon

  • skywards on 23/07/2023 - 19:29

    I haven’t read all the comments but for a first phone for a 12YO, there are plenty of phones out there for under $200 new!

  • OzzyOzbourne on 23/07/2023 - 21:50

    Check it can make calls

  • ribze1 on 24/07/2023 - 10:53
    +1

    Free advice - don't buy an iphone.

  • Hangryuman on 24/07/2023 - 11:54

    in 2016 milady got a new 128GB iPhone 6s+ for $1330

    in 2018 I got a 2yo used same spec model for $450

    turned out the used one NFC chip didn't work so I couldn't use ApplePay

    and BlueTooth didn't work so I couldn't use wireless headphones.

    by 2023 milady had handed me down the first phone which I'm still using every day with no problems - have replaced the battery for like $70 from a local 30 min fixit stall.

    and I gave away the used iPhone as the replacement battery for that one was dying, and the screen was starting to develop black spots of failed pixels. To a friend's family's 11yo daughter who didn't look like she cared for it - 'maybe as a spare' - she much preferred borrowing her mother's latest iPhone to watch kids' videos.

    So chances are a used one has been abused or is failing in some aspect which they will be careful not to tell you about.

    I suspect a 12yo might prefer a shiny new $150 phone over a used (ooh - dirty) iPhone.

    Newer phones are more likely to have faster wifi chips (?) as they will want to watch YouTube/Instagram videos

    dunno about the camera specs of cheaper phones - that's where as a lifetime photographer (just today got my Master Photographer badge from Google) I'm happy with the iPhone 6s+ as just fine for my daily snaps - even 4K video, slow-mo, time-lapse, and macro/zoom to fill a landscape screen with about 17mm wide close-up field of view - great for close-ups of bees, etc.

  • Cluster on 24/07/2023 - 12:47
    1. Battery life
    2. Damage/scratches
    3. Screen burn in
  • aidenh37 on 24/07/2023 - 14:00
    +1

    Green Gadgets/Alegre has generally been excellent, however I have had occasions where I've had to send back devices twice before getting a good unit. Entertainment Exchange (CeX) are actually not bad to deal with online, but do compare pricing carefully.

    Some refurbished devices may have non-OEM batteries, which is fine - but if you go to sell the device back, expect a drop in value. For example, I've found Mobile Federation are good to deal with but do not use OEM batteries.

    • TubeLight on 24/07/2023 - 15:16

      Who pays the shipping if the device has to be sent back?

      • aidenh37 on 25/07/2023 - 08:32
        +1

        With Green Gadgets, they provide an Australia Post return label for RMAs. I think the exception is if you change your mind within the 30-day return window.

        CeX will also provide Australia Post return labels.

  • hopper on 24/07/2023 - 16:04

    check if it turns on

  • pogichinoy on 24/07/2023 - 19:37
    +2

    Check if the gps module is working correctly. I've seen them fail and using your iPhone as navigation, even with CarPlay, will not work.

  • BusMan247 on 25/07/2023 - 00:51
    +1

    Definitely check if the Face ID is working. You have to replace the module at high cost if it isn’t. Much more expensive than the battery for example.

  • nimnomnimy on 25/07/2023 - 10:02
    +1

    make sure they have de-registered it and logged out of icloud.
    always check find my iphone is turned off.

    Go to Settings and tap General > Transfer or Reset [device] > Erase All Content and Settings. If you turned on Find My [device], you may need to enter your Apple ID and password.

    If your device uses eSIM, choose the option to erase your device and the eSIM profile when asked.
    If asked for your device passcode or Restrictions passcode, enter it. Then tap Erase [device].

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