The iPhone is a fantastic gadget, but they are expensive and infrequently go on sale. Therefore, purchasing a used iPhone can be your best option if you want an iPhone but don’t want to spend full price. There are nine things you should look for before purchasing a used iPhone, along with some recommendations for where to locate a deal, even if they can be a decent value.
Are Refurbished iPhones Reliable and Good?
You might be hesitant to purchase a reconditioned or used iPhone. It seems sense to question whether a used iPhone is just as good and dependable as a brand-new one. It depends on where you buy the iPhone, is the response. You can presume that a refurbished iPhone is a high-quality iPhone if you’re purchasing from a well-known, trustworthy, and knowledgeable source—think Apple and phone companies. Be more wary of sellers that lack credibility.
Purchase the Appropriate Phone for Your Phone Company:
All iPhone versions, as of the iPhone 5, are compatible with all phone provider networks. It’s important to realise that AT&T’s network utilises an additional LTE signal that the competition does not, which may result in speedier service in some areas. It’s possible that you won’t be able to use that additional LTE signal if you purchase an iPhone made for Verizon and take it to AT&T. To make sure the iPhone is compatible with your phone carrier, ask the seller for the model number (which will be something like A1633 or A1688).
Verify the used iPhone hasn’t been stolen:
You don’t want to purchase a stolen phone while purchasing a used iPhone. With its Activation Lock feature, which is enabled when Find My iPhone is activated, Apple prevents stolen iPhones from being activated by new users. However, the iCloud-locked iPhone cannot be unlocked, thus you won’t be able to tell if a phone is Activation Locked until after you purchase it.
Where can I find a used iPhone at the best price?
The best place to purchase a used iPhone is through an Apple Certified Refurbished retailer. There won’t be much of a selection, though. Only the iPhone 11, 11 Pro, 12 small, and 12 Pro are currently available from Apple, and they are all discounted between 15 and 25 percent, which isn’t much of a deal given that only the iPhone 11 models are nearly 25% off.
In theory, carriers also provide used gadgets. However, AT&T and T-Mobile had no used iPhones in stock when I looked into the inventory for this story, and Verizon had a very limited variety. They do provide decent protection plans if you can find a used iPhone from your favourite carrier.
You’ll most likely wind up at a third-party retailer because Apple and the carriers don’t offer many options. I would not advise using well-known websites like Gazelle, SellCell, or Swappa because they do not provide a return policy or a warranty (although some private sellers on Swappa do give warranties). Although it would be good to believe that the seller has fixed the iPhone correctly, you need a backup plan in case it stops working after a few weeks of ownership. Additionally, you should purchase from a vendor who discloses their refurbishment criteria, including the amount of battery life still left in the device (Best Buy does not do this, thus I do not advise purchasing an open-box, previously owned, or refurbished iPhone from Best Buy either). Reputable sellers also check to make sure the iPhone isn’t stolen.
After considering the possibilities, I suggest purchasing an iPhone via Amazon, Back Market, and Decluttr. Each one verifies that the iPhone is not a stolen one, offers return policies, warranties, and details about the refurbishing process, such as the degree of physical flaws you may anticipate and the battery capacity in relation to a brand-new battery.