What you should check before you buy a used iPhone
Not everyone is able to afford a new iPhone, so buying a used one can be much better pricing deal. In our article you can find the most important tips related to the purchase of second hand iPhone. This will help you to protect yourself from scams and avoid headache with your purchase.
Here are the main things you should verify:
2. Check iPhone model, color and memory size
3. Check iPhone warranty
4. Verify new iPhone - check activation status
5. Check Activation lock (iCloud lock)
6. Purchase date check
7. Make sure the phone has not been reportes as lost/stolen
8. Check if the iPhone is unlocked or can be used with your carrier
Now let's look at these points in more detail.
1. IMEI number consistency
First of all you should start from IMEI number, because it can tell you everything about the phone. Iphone IMEI check is your main tool against frauds. So you need to find all places where the IMEI number must be printed. This will help you to identify real Apple device and avoid fake.
Here are all possible places where you can locate IMEI number:
1 - Settings menu - tap Settings > General > About
2 - Dial *#06# to see the IMEI number on the screen
3 - Barcode label on the original Apple packaging
4 - Engraved IMEI on the back case - only iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus
5 - Sim tray - iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 6s, 6s Plus
After you verify IMEI number consistency, use our iPhone IMEI checker in order to make sure that the purchase won't cause problems.
2. Verify iPhone model, color and memory size
If you are not an iPhone expert, iPhone model check is what you need. Some scammers try to sell iPhone 6 as iPhone 6s or iPhone 5 as iPhone 5s, so now you are protected from this type of fraud.
In addition pay attention to color and memory check results. If iPhone color is not the same as our checker shows, it seems that the seller is trying to sell you a refurbished iPhone.
3. iPhone warranty
Our IMEI checker shows if the iPhone is covered for eligible hardware repairs and service.
Warranty expiration date is available as well.
4. iPhone activation status check
Activation status is also useful information. In fact all used iPhones have ever been activated. This means that if the seller has claimed the phone as new and never used, but our iPhone IMEI checker shows "Activation status: Activated", be careful.
Activated device can not be never used and new.
5. Find my iPhone (Activation lock status)
Activation or iCloud lock helps to keep Apple device secure and protect it from stealing. So if you buy an iPhone with turned on Activation lock, you will get not working phone and won't be able to do anything with it.
That's why this point is extremely important, thence read this attentively.
The feature called Activation lock is enabled automatically when Find My iPhone is turned on. Thus and so you should just verify that Find my iPhone is OFF. And if our IMEI checker shows "Find my iPhone status: ON", DO NOT BUY this iPhone.
Remember, ONLY turned OFF Find my iPhone.
6. Check purchase date via our IMEI checker
We are sure you would like to know how long the iPhone has been used before. And we hasten to please you, our iPhone IMEI checker shows the purchase date as well.
Also we do not recommend you to buy a phone with long usage period. Iphone battery has a limited number of recharge cycles, so very old phones can have problems with the capacity of the battery.
7. Make sure the phone is not blacklisted
Before purchasing a second hand iPhone, make sure it has not been reported as LOST or STOLEN. In case the phone has been blacklisted and added to international black list, it won't work with most mobile operators.
Currently we have free international blacklist check service.
8. Make sure the iPhone will work on your mobile operator
Initially the iPhone can be locked to a specific carrier. For example it can be AT&T or Sprint network. That's why you should verify that the phone can be used in your country and with your operator. The easiest way is buying factory unlocked iPhone, which can be used with any carrier.
If you are not sure, that the phone is factory unlocked, check simlock status with our free or paid checker and find out the locked to carrier.