What to check when buying a smartphone from your hands: from ads to dead pixels

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Hand buying is always a risk. But this guide will help you keep it to a minimum.

What are the pros and cons of buying used devices

A new device is expensive, and you can find it in perfect condition one-third cheaper. And with some minor flaws - even cheaper. Buying a used one is an opportunity to afford more if you are on a limited budget. For example, a flagship model instead of a dull "average".

Cons - you do not know how you used the device, if it has any problems. And you will not be able to check if the seller is telling the truth.

Why do people sell used devices

There are many options:

• want something new
• money is urgently needed,
• they were given something unnecessary,
• bought, but did not like the device (and you cannot return used equipment to the store).

And it also happens that there are serious problems with a smartphone, and they want to get rid of it as soon as possible, having received as much money as possible.

How to choose a reliable ad

Potential fraudsters can be really "rejected" already at the stage of searching for options.

Do not consider offers without photos and descriptions

If you have one or two standard photos from Google and the signature “all the details by phone” is not an option. A self-respecting seller will spend five minutes and take a photo of the smartphone from different sides, and also write about all the important points - when it was purchased, is there a guarantee, are there any defects in appearance and other problems, what is the reason for the sale. However, not everyone is good at the epistolary genre. If you have any questions - call or write to the advertiser.

Don't be fooled by prices that are too low

It's okay if a smartphone in perfect condition costs a third less than in a store. Not perfect - half the price. But the "discount" should alert you several times: they will try to sell you either a fake or a problematic gadget.

The seller may say "I urgently need money, so this is the price." Do not rush: if a person has real problems, then he would rather go to the nearest pawnshop than sell the item by ad.

Don't buy broken devices

Broken devices can also be offered for ridiculous amounts. For example, with a broken screen or a broken camera. Or just “stopped turning on”. The author of the ad, as a rule, says that he does not want to bother with repairs, he has already bought a new phone, and you will repair it at any service center for a couple of thousand and will use it for your pleasure. This is likely to happen. But it may be different: the device will fail completely, it will be recognized as non-repairable, or the repair will cost a pretty penny. Unless you're a smartphone repair specialist, avoid these options. And in general, the current super-thin non-separable smartphones are poorly suited for repair: fix one, then the other will break.

Don't settle for prepayment, don't buy in another city

You need to check the device personally.

"Punch" the author

Many sites provide an opportunity to view all the seller's ads. Pay attention to them: if a person sells dozens of used pipes, then he is a reseller. He cannot be responsible for what he sells, his goal is to get rich. Such offers are best avoided.

Also, try entering the seller's number into the search engine. Of course, if he is a swindler, he will use a "clean" SIM card every time. But if the person is "real", you can find some more information about him - there is more trust. However, don't worry if you don't find anything: many people are afraid of spam and try not to show numbers on the net.

How to contact the seller

So, you have chosen an interesting announcement and want to make an appointment. What to ask over the phone? About the date and place of purchase, whether there were any problems with the phone. You, most likely, are not an expert in determining lies by voice, but still listen - suddenly something will strain.

Be sure to ask for the phone's IMEI (unique number). There are information bases (first, second), in which you can find out the terms of the warranty, make sure that the device has not been stolen, not fake. However, the absence of a smartphone in the stolen goods database does not mean that it is 100% “clean” - keep this in mind.

Where to meet

The best option is from the seller of the house. If a person is ready to invite you to him, then he has nothing to hide and he is not afraid that you will return with claims. It can be assumed that a fraudster will rent a house for daily rent to deceive gullible citizens, but this is rare.

However, it is not always convenient to ask for it. Or maybe you don't want to go to the other end of the city. An office, a shopping center, a cafe are also good options. It is better not to meet on the street or in the subway. And don't get into other people's cars.

What to take with you

To test your smartphone, you will need a cable, an external battery, a SIM card of a suitable format, headphones and a memory card (if supported).

What to check

IMEI

Dial * # 06 # on any phone to find out its unique number. If the seller still has the box, then check the IMEI with the data on it. This will make sure that the packaging is from the tube that they want to sell you. However, fraudsters can sell stolen phones by sticking printed stickers on the "left" boxes.

Guarantee

I recommend buying handheld devices only if they have an official guarantee. Let her have a couple of months left, this is at least some kind of insurance in case of problems. The seller must have a warranty card with the details of the company where he bought the smartphone, and a receipt. iPhones can be accepted for repair without documents, since the warranty data is stored in a single database, you can check it here.

Appearance

Your goal is to make sure the device is not damaged. Examine it from all sides, pay attention to scratches, dents, ask the seller about their origin. Often, smartphones are replaced with broken screens and low-quality Chinese counterparts are installed. Not everyone is able to tell the difference by eye, but it's real. It is best to take a closer look at the original before buying in order to be able to compare.

Twist the device in your hand, squeeze the case. Pay attention if there are creaks, backlashes. Press all keys. Take a closer look at the bolts - you can see from them whether they were touched with a screwdriver.

Determining moisture ingress is difficult, but some models, for example iPhone, have special indicators. Keep in mind though: the latest generation models are water resistant.

Screen

If there is a protective glass or film on the display - peel them off, they can hide defects. Check if the sensor works clearly in all parts of the screen. To do this, try dragging the icons, type text on the keyboard.

You can check the matrix for the presence of "broken" pixels. Up to five pieces is the norm, more is a marriage. There are programs for detecting burnt spots on Android phones. On the iPhone, you can open a completely black image (for example, in a browser) and take a closer look to see if there are any burnt pixels or highlights.

Connectors

Connect the charger and headphones, check if everything works fine, if the connectors are loose. If an outlet is not available at the meeting point, an external battery will help. Install SIM cards and memory card. Make sure they are identified.

Cameras

Check the main and front cameras. It is best to take a picture of a white wall or a sheet of paper - there should be no spots in the frame (their appearance indicates damage to the module).

Battery

In a short meeting, it is unrealistic to make sure that the battery is in good condition. In any case, you need to understand that its resource is significantly reduced by the first year of using the tube. At the beginning of the test, enable the display of the charge as a percentage in the settings. If after five to ten minutes the device runs down by more than 5%, then the battery is really bad.

Removable batteries in smartphones are now rare, but if you buy this option, then take out the battery and inspect. It should be flat. A swollen battery is dangerous. You can also identify a swollen battery by the suspiciously bulging back cover of a thin phone or by the white stripes on the screen.

Sound

Go to the ringtone settings, listen to the sound at full volume through the speaker and headphones. Call someone and make sure the voice quality is good. If there is no one to call, dial 112 - there is an answering machine. And the quality of the microphone can be checked using a voice recorder.

GPS, wireless networks

Turn on Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, check the visibility of devices and networks. Launch the Maps application and determine your position. In the room for this you need to go to the window.

Sensors

Most smartphones are equipped with proximity and light sensors. The first helps to turn off the screen when you bring the handset to your ear during a conversation. The second automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen: you can simply close it with your finger to see the result (the auto-brightness option must be active in the settings).

Also make sure the smartphone changes screen orientation when rotating. For example, in a browser or when viewing a photo. But this option must also be enabled in the settings.

If your phone has a fingerprint reader, add yours and test the recognition.

Software

During the test, a normally working smartphone should not get too hot, slow down, or reboot. Stock applications should be fast.

All is well and are you ready to buy? Do a full factory reset. Even if the owner assures that he has already done it. The system may ask for a password. If the seller “forgot” it, refuse to buy - they are trying to sell the stolen goods to you. If everything is okay, then register the phone to your own account.

An important point for iPhone buyers: Apple has a strong security system. If the phone is marked as stolen, then no one can reactivate it. So buy the device only after you log into your own iCloud account and successfully activate the "Find iPhone" option.

Conclusion

Don't be afraid to sound meticulous. And let the salesman roll his eyes and hint that he is tired of your checks. You won't get a second chance to make sure your phone is working smoothly.