Buying a used iPhone second-hand is not as bad an idea as it might seem at first glance. Used iPhones cost significantly less than the most obvious alternative from the store - “refurbished” devices (Refurbished): the discount on “like new” iPhones upon purchase does not exceed 3 thousand rubles, while used gadgets can be found and for half the price of a new device. The external condition of a used iPhone depends on the user: if the previous owner of the device is a neat housewife, then it will be impossible to visually distinguish a used gadget from a new one.
Buying a used smartphone is associated with a high risk - the buyer may be offered a stolen or lost device. Therefore, you need to not only carefully check the gadget itself, but also pay attention to the behavior of the seller.
Arguments against"
You need to immediately understand why you shouldn’t buy a used iPhone. Firstly, there is a serious risk of encountering scammers. Since this smartphone is one of the most expensive on the market now, attackers are trying to make money on the brand and deceive inexperienced users.
Secondly, a used device always has some drawbacks. The battery may have lost its original charge due to wear and tear. There may be minor scratches on the case and screen.
Thirdly, for the cost of a used device you can buy a new one, no worse than the same iPhone, but, for example, from a Chinese manufacturer.
Conclusion: is it worth buying second hand?
Buying an iPhone secondhand is a great opportunity to save money and get the model you’ve been dreaming of for a long time. However, when choosing a pre-owned device, it is important to keep a few things in mind.
- Don't buy a suspiciously cheap iPhone. Most often, the price is reduced on faulty or stolen devices, as well as on drowned people.
- Check your iPhone thoroughly and test features. This is the key to trouble-free operation in the future.
- Always ask the seller to unlink the iPhone from your account. This way you will be sure that they are not trying to deceive you and lure you out of additional money.
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Arguments for"
Is it worth buying a used iPhone? Of course, sometimes such a purchase can be profitable. Especially if you purchase the device from a friend and know for sure that no troubles will happen.
Typically, a used iPhone can cost 30-40% less than the original cost, and it can be in like-new condition. Nowadays, many Apple fans change their devices every year and purchase the latest iPhones. Therefore, last year’s model does not have time to wear out, especially if the owner handled it with care.
You can also buy a smartphone if you understand what pitfalls can be expected during the purchase. What should everyone pay attention to when deciding to purchase a used iPhone?
Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 smartwatches
Today I wear the Apple Watch Series 5 smartwatch on my left wrist. I've tried a huge variety of wearable gadgets from different brands, but the only thing better than the old Apple Watch for iPhone is the new Apple Watch. By the way, before this I wore an Apple Watch Series 2. They were once a very, very decent device. However, at the time of release in 2016, they were just an advanced fitness bracelet, and with the release of new versions of watchOS, Apple tried to turn them into a real wrist computer. It turned out well, but, in the case of this particular gadget, it was very slow.
There is no point in writing about the original Apple Watch (popularly called Series 0) - it’s time for them to retire long ago. The Series 1 and Series 2 models, which came out at the same time, are both powered by the Apple S2 processor. A couple of years ago he felt very good, but today he copes extremely poorly with the tasks that you can assign to him. It can handle one dial with basic information, but controlling music and even just navigating through the watch menu is still a “pleasure.” They are only suitable as a cute accessory with interchangeable straps.
To the point:
- How to speed up Apple Watch Series 1 and 2: 10 tips.
- Which Apple Watch to buy for 2022.
Today, you can only take the Apple Watch Series 3, which Apple still sells quite successfully, as well as any of the company’s newer smartwatches. Particularly interesting may be the Apple Watch Series 4, which is not inferior to the Apple Watch Series 5 in operating speed. They will definitely please you - and for more than one year.
Prepare before purchasing
Is it worth buying a used iPhone? It's worth it, but you need to prepare and bring some tools with you:
- laptop;
- working SIM card;
- paper clip for opening the tray;
- headset
The package contents of an old smartphone are not always complete, so you need to take everything you need with you to check the functionality of the device.
So, what is a laptop for? If iTunes is installed on it, then it will be possible to connect the iPhone to it and check the originality of the device, as well as its parameters.
Buying an iPhone with your own hands. 20 top ways to buy and not screw it up
Checklist for the buyer.
New iPhones are expensive. To save money, many people decide to buy a smartphone. Buying from a friend or acquaintance is relatively safe: he is unlikely to offer a faulty device. But on social networks or on sites like Avito you can fall for scammers. Today we’ll tell you how to check an iPhone before buying and not pay money for a “brick.”
Checking iPhone for originality
How to buy an iPhone from someone else? You need to check the serial number on the packaging sticker, in the device menu and on a special resource. In your smartphone you need to find the settings section, and then “Basic” - “About device”. In the phone information you need to find the line “Serial number”.
The code must match that indicated on the packaging for the device. Next, you need to go to the site to check your eligibility for Apple service and support. Enter the code in the required line and click on “Continue”.
After this, information about the device will appear. If it is original, then the device model will be displayed, as well as warranty information. If you have a copy in your hands, the site will not be able to find information about the device.
You can also use third-party sites to check. Some of them collect more detailed information.
Conclusions:
1. The official Russian iPhone will have the letters RS or RU in its model.
2. Check by serial number whether the iPhone is covered by warranty.
3. There is a rush - there is no deal.
4. Battery is dead - no deal.
5. It’s better to wait a couple of days than to get involved in a dubious deal.
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Checking smartphone unlocking
The next problem that a buyer may encounter is a locked device. Many smartphones come to the CIS countries linked to a foreign mobile operator. All this leads to the fact that not a single SIM card will work until the contract with the already connected operator expires.
As a result, it is possible to use the device, but not as a telephone. To determine that you have a locked iPhone in your hands, you need to install your SIM card. If the phone picks up a signal, then everything is fine. You can also try calling any number.
There may be nuances with the iPhone firmware. The device may be unlocked by software, but it will not work fully. The catch is that it will be impossible to update iOS without a paid upgrade of the installed chip.
How to check the possibility of program changes? Just open the SIM card tray to see the Gevey-SIM chip. This element is the reason to refuse the purchase.
To swim or not to swim
Every iPhone has a special liquid contact indicator When exposed to moisture, it turns red. It is better not to buy a drowned man under any circumstances.
Checking the indicator
Inspecting the liquid contact indicator is a very important inspection step. In the latest iPhone models, it is located inside the SIM card slot. If the smartphone has been under water, the indicator will turn red. We do not recommend buying such a device at any cost.
Contact with water is the worst thing that can happen to a smartphone. Moisture causes electrochemical corrosion, destroying the contacts and traces of the boards. Either individual functions stop working, or the entire iPhone turns into a “brick.” Breakdown of the device is inevitable, but the drowned person is able to work normally for several more days and even weeks. This is what dishonest sellers take advantage of.
Ports and connectors
Looking at the color of the liquid contact indicator is not enough. Take a close look at the Lightning and headphone connectors (if any). There should be no signs of corrosion or damaged contacts. Try connecting the cable and see if charging starts immediately. Damaged pins may cause connection problems.
Ports on a handheld smartphone that are too clean are also a cause for concern. Perhaps the seller replaced them to hide traces of contact with water. Use common sense - no one will repair what is not broken.
Button and Touch ID test
After swimming, the iPhone's Home button starts to glitch - tested from personal experience. At first it does not always respond to pressure, and then it stops working altogether. Following the button, the fingerprint scanner falls off. If, when examining your smartphone, you notice that the button is pressed somehow incorrectly, look for another option.
Test call
Another non-obvious sign of a drowned person is communication breakdowns. Insert your SIM card and try making a few test calls. There should be no problems with the device in normal working order. An iPhone that has been underwater will experience incoming and outgoing calls being dropped every few seconds. This is also a story from personal experience.
Function performance
You can check the appearance, firmware of the iPhone and its settings. Although to say that it is possible to identify all defects in a few minutes of use would be stupid.
First you have to visually inspect the phone:
- check the case, examine all scratches and obvious damage;
- check the screws on the bottom edge, which should have a star shape;
- it is better to get rid of the film, under which defects may be hidden;
- check the Home key, if there is one, as well as the volume and on/off buttons;
- there should be no defects or even dust under the glass of the camera lens;
- There should be no dead pixels or cracks on the screen.
Next, you can move on to checking the basic functions. To do this, you need to go to the iPhone settings and first check the Wi-Fi operation. All you need to do is connect to your existing network.
It is also worth testing the correctness of geolocation determination. To do this, simply open any online map and determine your location. By opening “Camera”, you can check all possible functions, as well as the quality of the pictures.
Visual inspection
First, you should carefully examine the iPhone you are about to purchase. Pay attention to the presence of damage to the case (chips, dents) and the correct geometry along the plane of the case. If the body of the device looks like a cowboy that has been in a tough scrape, or there are traces of deformation and bending of the body, further inspection of such an iPhone should be approached with the utmost attention.
In addition, it is imperative to check:
- The presence of lower fixing screws
- Condition of the speaker and microphone grids
- Integrity of the display module (carefully inspect the entire perimeter of the screen for gaps between the glass and the plastic frame of the display module)
- Correct operation of the SIM card tray pusher mechanism (the tray should not get stuck, but should be pulled out without any effort after pressing the SIM pusher hole with a paper clip).
Device Settings
In the iPhone settings, you can also check the brightness and automatic mode. Checking the phone lock is no less important. All iPhone owners know that you can control the device remotely if you use an iCloud account.
The Find My iPhone feature allows scammers to lock your phone and then demand a ransom to unlock it. To avoid falling for this hook, you need to go to the settings of your smartphone.
The iCloud, iTunes Store and App Store lines should not include any accounts. It is also better to reset the settings immediately. In “General” there is a line “Reset”. Thanks to it, you can erase all data from your phone.
Checking a recessed smartphone
This phone is also popular in secondary sales. If the iPhone was drowned, it could be recovered. But system renewal cannot guarantee hardware functionality. Therefore, it is important to avoid such defects.
Firstly, you can detect rust in the smartphone connectors. It appears only in case of prolonged contact of the device with water. Secondly, the developers took care of bright indicators that can notify the buyer about a drowned person.
Depending on the device model, this indicator may be located in different places. It is usually located either in the charger connector or in the SIM card tray.
Last check
It is important to pay attention to the battery. Over time, it loses its charge. This is not surprising, since even Apple claims that the battery lasts 500 full cycles.
You can check the charge status using the iTools program. For this you will also need a laptop and the appropriate utility. The program will detect your phone, you will need to click on the battery icon.
Information will be provided in English. There will be a lot of data in the table, but it is important to look at:
- FullCycle;
- Actual Capacity;
- Design Capacity.
The first line indicates the number of complete cycles, the second - the current battery capacity, the third - the capacity declared by the manufacturer. Reaching 450 cycles, the device can lose about 15-20% of its charge on average.
AirPort routers of any model and Time Capsule
Today, I have an AirPort Express hanging proudly in my office—right near the entrance. It shows all visitors that this place is home to a proud Apple fan. It looks great, but works mediocre. This is not surprising, because the manufacturer has not updated this and its other routers since 2013, and in 2016 it began to curtail their production altogether. The device can still be found somewhere in remnants and on the secondary market, but due to its rarity and the touch of Apple history, such gadgets cost a lot. They do not support current Wi-Fi protocols, but, most importantly, they are not powerful or stable.
AirPort Express moved from my small apartment to my even less spacious office because it could not cope with the distribution of Internet via Wi-Fi over 60 square meters. It was replaced by a fairly simple and much cheaper TP-Link Archer C60, which today covers all the tasks that I try to assign to it. There is absolutely no point in buying such Apple devices on the secondary market. It is better to take something from companies that specialize in such gadgets. They have long been easily configured using mobile applications and work extremely well.
Cost of a used phone
How much does a used iPhone cost? Of course, it all depends on when it was released and whether it is a rare device on the market.
For example, now an iPhone 5s will cost you 6-7 thousand rubles, depending on the condition of the device. iPhone 6 can be purchased for 13-14 thousand rubles. A used iPhone X now costs 50-55 thousand rubles.
Again, the cost of a non-new smartphone depends on many factors: the release of new models, withdrawal from sale, and the dollar exchange rate. Some online stores selling such devices may charge a higher price than people who place their ads on the appropriate sites.
AirPods 1st generation wireless headphones
When we discussed this material with technology enthusiasts, we argued for a long time about the need to write about headphones. Well, since we are discussing everything that is extremely undesirable to buy secondhand, it would even be somehow strange not to dwell on them. Such gadgets cannot be purchased on the secondary market at all, even for reasons of personal hygiene. Every person has so many different microorganisms in their ears that putting headphones into your ears that someone else has already used can be dangerous to your health. That is why at any electronics exhibition they always give test models new disposable ear pads.
However, that's just one problem with buying headphones secondhand. The second concerns specifically wireless models. They contain batteries with a minimum volume, which discharge quickly enough and are regularly recharged in special cases. After a couple of years of more or less active use, the battery life of wireless headphones - especially TWS - is reduced below a comfortable level. AirPods of the 1st generation began to be sold at the end of 2016 - by 2020, their battery capacity had already dropped so much that it was no longer possible to buy them even just for that reason.
