What to look for when buying a used smartphone?

Are there any pitfalls?

In retail networks like DNS, smartphones are not just used - they are also out of order, which is why they were returned under warranty. Of course, they are repaired before being sold, and the type of part replaced is written on the price tag. But this does not exclude the fact that a similar breakdown may await you in the future. As for advertisements, under no circumstances contact a person if he is selling a top-end flagship at the price of a push-button mobile phone. Most likely this is a scammer. The methods of divorce on all kinds of Avito may be different, but this is not the topic of today’s article.

How to choose a used smartphone with minimal risks? Or should I just buy a new one?

When our favorite device breaks down or simply gets boring, we are faced with the choice of buying a new one. Someone doesn’t bother and immediately allows themselves a new one, the one they really wanted and it doesn’t matter at all how much it costs. And some are looking for ways to save money. And here, several possibilities open up to us at once; let’s consider them all.

Of course, someone will say that buying a used phone is a shame or a big risk, but not everyone can afford a new one. Of course, you always want to choose the most modern and functional device, but funds are often limited. Of course, there are installment plans, but not everyone decides to take it, and it may be that there is nowhere else to take, but there is a small amount to buy a new phone. So what should you do, choose a new one, but an average one, or a used one, but the one you really wanted? let's figure it out.

Let's first talk about the nuances of buying a new smartphone.

The most important and significant factor is the availability of warranty service. This is definitely a huge plus. There is no need to particularly describe this point. You buy the smartphone you wanted, you touched it, the seller told you about it, and you are confident in purchasing a specific sample. Of course, if you have financial wealth, this is the best way.

But even here there are mistakes; if you get a defective device, you still need to prove it before you return the money. The waiting times for service centers are quite long and all this time you need to use something to replace your brand new device. In this case, it may be that the defect is not recognized and the already opened gadget is returned to you, or they are recognized and corrected, but this will not be effective or the bug will return again, and again the device has already been opened. Agree, it’s not very pleasant.

There is still a risk when buying a brand new smartphone online in numerous Russian online stores. They may send you, for example, a piece of soap or a pebble, or they may even lose it during delivery. When purchasing from online platforms, there may also be issues with the guarantee or it may not exist at all.

Now let's talk about buying second hand.

Well, first of all, not everyone sleeps and sees how to heat you up, although this can happen. But in modern realities, when it is completely normal to change a phone every year, or even half a year, many simply want to sell their old gadget and buy themselves a new one. This option is an excellent opportunity to purchase, for example, a flagship at a similar price to a new budget smartphone.

But how can you know for sure that you will not be deceived?

There are several ways to check what you are buying:

1. Pay attention to the appearance, remove the case and protective glass. Check for chips on the case; if the phone has been dropped, then most likely there are marks left from the fall. The glass will show what condition the display is in; it can be scratched and the glass will hide it. Or the display may be completely broken, but some manipulations and protective glass can hide this. (I will not reveal exactly how this can be done, so as not to give the opportunity to not very conscientious people to use this feature) The main thing is that removing the protective glass will reveal the truth to you. (There is only one condition. Not every seller will want to remove the glass. But this is a human factor and in the mode of human communication only the person does not want to draw conclusions because he does not want to, or because he is hiding something.)
2. Take a closer look at the display, if it does not convey colors quite adequately, for example, it turns yellow or, conversely, blue, this may indicate its replacement.
3. Check the condition of the battery. (This is mainly important for iOS smartphones. It’s worth understanding here that if you buy a 2-3 year old device and its battery is 100%, then there are questions for its owner.)
4. Check the phone's camera, what condition the glass is in, how it displays and perceives colors, and whether the image is clear. Are there any jerks in the video or any stains? Pay special attention to autofocus performance. The accurate operation of autofocus indicates that there has been no mechanical damage in the history of the device. If it's a flagship with optical stabilization, pay attention to clarity and smoothness.)
5. The presence of the box and all the components is also a big plus; at a minimum, this indicates the thriftiness of the previous owner. And if you still have the receipt, then you will know exactly the terms of use of this device. In cases where the phone is not yet a year old, it may even come with a guarantee.
6. Pay attention to the adequacy of the price; they are unlikely to sell a good device for too low a price; most likely it will be a broken smartphone.
7. Another additional tip. If possible, check the network reception status on your phone. For example, if your smartphone shows all the sticks, but there is barely one in the smartphone you are buying, this is also a question about its quality.
8. Do an easy test, record your voice on a voice recorder and listen right there, this will check the operation of the microphone and speaker.

After checking all these points, you are likely to get a good smartphone at a reasonable price.

What used smartphones should you pay attention to?

It is best to choose flagships that are 1-1.5 years old. Most likely they change it to purchase a new item. Such a device will definitely be relevant for a couple of years in terms of hardware, its battery is in good condition and will serve you for quite a long time.

You should not choose a flagship that is more than 3 years old; its relevance may already be in question. Well, even more so, you shouldn’t look for a budget phone from 2-3 years ago, the chance that you will like it and be good is very small, but the risk of taking a dead device, on the contrary, increases greatly.

Alternative ways to purchase smartphones.

Typically, in this example, the option of purchasing a new device when handing over your old one is used. But legal trade-in of retail chains is unprofitable. In my opinion, the only adequate trade-in is the Smartphone Upgrade system from Samsung. Of course, it’s difficult to recommend it as the only profitable one; in any case, there are restrictions and conditions, but you can really get a good discount.

It is possible to track sales and leaks in online stores, buy a smartphone on pre-sale, or order from China. These cases are exceptional and depend on your attitude towards online shopping. Nowadays there is still a trend of not weak benefits when buying on Aliexpress. For example, you can buy a smartphone for sale on the Internet much cheaper, while in a local retail chain its price can be enormously more expensive. I like to give an example of my purchase of Realme 8pro for 13k, while in online stores they cost 20k. This method is interesting in terms of savings, but there are questions about the guarantee.

Conclusion

There is no clear opinion on the question posed in the article; everyone draws their own conclusion and decides what to do. But I hope that these tips in the article will help you save money when buying the right smartphone.

What else could be related to the low price?

If the seller asks for very little money, then this may be due to certain problems that the device has. For example, he could have been in water or his software is extremely unstable. Some sellers are quite adequate - they talk about all the “sores”. But many people praise the device, not knowing how to answer your question: “Why is it so cheap then?” Be sure to ask it during a personal meeting with the owner of the device. If a person hesitates, then he should think ten times before parting with his money.

Checking all documents and packaging

We recommend purchasing smartphones with an official warranty and box. This way you can at least somehow secure the transaction and not fall for the tricks of scammers. Carefully check all documents on your phone. It cannot be that a Samsung device is being sold, but Huawei is listed on the warranty card. It is also a good idea to check the IMEI of the device with the numbers indicated on the box. To do this, dial the combination *#06# in the call line . The IMEI of the specific device will be displayed on the screen. Check it with the one on the package. If they differ, then most likely the device is stolen.

Do Pawnshops check the smartphones they accept?

Of course, the salespeople working there do some checking. But the seller’s skill level can be completely different - an experienced specialist will only go to such a place under duress. Most often, only general performance is checked. Sometimes the seller does not even clarify whether the device recognizes the SIM card. But the appearance of the device is closely examined. That’s why at Pawnshop you can buy a smartphone that looks perfect in appearance, but functions with very big problems.

Connection

It is equally important to check the communication functions by connecting your own SIM card. To do this, just make a test call to a friend. At the same time, it is imperative that the speaker provides a comfortable volume and does not emit extraneous noise.

Don't forget about the quality of the main sound source. You can test it by turning on the speakerphone or playing music files. Next, it would be wise to make sure that Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth modules are working correctly. All of them must ensure normal signal reception.

How to evaluate the display?

If you see very deep cracks on the front panel, then it is better to refrain from purchasing such a device. Such defects indicate that the device fell hard on the asphalt at least once. You may experience sensor failures or other serious problems in the future. It's like living in a house with a huge crack running along the load-bearing wall. It is theoretically possible to live in such a place, but someday the ceiling may fall on your head. But small scratches should not cause any special issues, especially if they are not visible when the screen is on. They only reduce the cost of the device, while they do not affect its operation in any way.

Checking for originality

Many users mistakenly think that only devices from well-known brands are counterfeited. However, this is not at all true. Dishonest sellers can sell a copy of a cheap smartphone. To make sure that the phone is original you need to perform simple checks.

By IMEI

Checking by name is the easiest way to ensure the originality of the device. IMEI is a code that is assigned to the device during its assembly at the factory. It often consists of 15 digits containing the following data:

• The first 6 digits are the batch number;
• The next 2 digits are information about the manufacturer;
• The next 6 digits are the device serial number;
• The last digit is a unique phone code, indicating its originality.

As stated above, to find out the IMEI of the device, you need to enter the combination *#06# and press the call button. A window will appear on the screen where the name of the smartphone will be indicated. Next, you need to check the received code with the data on the box, in the warranty card and under the battery cover (if it is removable). If the IMEI matches everywhere, then go to the official authentication sites from the manufacturers:

• Xiaomi - mi.com
• Meizu - mymeizu.ru
• Samsung - samsung.com
• Huawei/Honor – consumer.huawei.com

We suggest considering the verification procedure using the example of a Xiaomi smartphone:

1. Open the official Xiaomi website for authentication mi.com/global/verify/ .
2. Select the first tab to check originality.
3. In the input field we indicate the IMEI or serial number of the device.
4. Enter the captcha.
5. Click “ Verify ”.

If the smartphone is genuine, a green checkmark will appear on the display.

By serial number

Authentication by serial number is practically no different from verification by IMEI. This code is located on the box and is marked with the letters SN. To do this, you can use the official websites of manufacturers, or install the Antutu application. Let's look at how the program works:

1. Open the application.
2. We provide the necessary permissions.
3. Click on the “ Device check ” button.
4. We are waiting for the end of the procedure

If the phone is original, a message with the text “Genuine” . Thanks to the Antutu program, you can check absolutely any Android smartphone for authenticity.

What about dead pixels?

Over time, some screens can burn out—individual pixels no longer display the specified color. Dead pixels can also appear as a result of dropping the device on a hard surface. If the display resolution is high, then you will not be able to immediately notice dead pixels, since their size is very tiny. But you can easily see them if you force the screen to display a picture filled with one color. You can find it on the Internet - that’s why you need to take a SIM card with you. Damaged pixels appear as black or white dots.

Let's make an appointment

The ideal option is to meet at the seller’s home. Agree, if a person has nothing to hide, it will not be a problem to invite you home to calmly check the device. Of course, we can imagine a situation where a fraudster will rent an apartment for daily rent for “shady dealings,” but this is unlikely.

Although anything can happen. Some people have small children at home, others simply live far away, and it’s more convenient for you to see each other on the way to work. It's better not to meet in the subway or on the street. Don't get into someone else's car either - it's dangerous, because you have money on you. Go to any cafe, order tea and calmly check everything. An office or shopping center is also an option.

Photo - wholesalecellphonecompany.com

What else should I check?

Be sure to check the operation of the touchscreen. To do this, launch the Messages application and use the virtual keyboard to enter text. Also evaluate the performance of the camera - it would be a good idea to inspect the lens for dust collected inside. Call a friend or family member to make sure your microphone and speaker are working. As for the music speaker, its performance can be assessed by starting playback of an MP3 track. Also ask the owner to connect the smartphone to a charger - this way you can check the USB port. If you know that the meeting will take place outside, then take a portable battery and a USB cord with you, because there will be no outlet nearby. Finally, be sure to plug in headphones, as the 3.5mm jack can wear out.

Battery

It is problematic to check the performance of a battery in a short period of time, but it is still possible to understand that it is in poor condition. When you pick up your smartphone, pay attention to how much charge is left. If after 10-15 minutes the number of percents has decreased by 5 or more, then the battery will have to be changed in the near future. There are no bumps on the back of the case that indicate swelling of the battery, and the case itself should not heat up quickly, which can also indicate a battery malfunction.

Also, various utilities may be suitable for checking the battery, since Android is an open operating system that even gives third-party applications access to a large amount of data. Download and install, for example, AccuBattery. It will show the wear of the battery and its current condition. If the Battery Health column shows an indicator below 80 percent, then the battery condition leaves much to be desired.

Avoid gadgets linked to a mobile operator

Just insert your SIM card and see if the device detects your mobile operator's network

Android gadgets are not so often sold tied to a specific cellular operator, because this restriction is not so difficult to bypass. However, to avoid additional difficulties, it is better not to mess with them. To check this, just insert your SIM card.