10 Tips for Buying a Used Pre-Owned Smartphone

Are you planning to upgrade your smartphone but don’t want to spend a high amount on a new phone? If you think so, you can visit the online smartphones shops in the UK where you can find a wide range of used or Pre-Owned iPhone. Buying a second hand mobile phone is probably a wise option since this way helps you get a good phone in second hand condition according to your budget.

However, with the increasing demand for used or refurbished mobile phones, it’s recommended that you must be very careful while purchasing such phones. You must consider some important factors if you want to avoid buying defective phones from dishonest sellers.

I have listed ten tips on how to purchase used smartphones online; take a look at!

Search for A Reliable Authorised Dealer/Seller

If you are interested in buying a used phone from an online shop, you must first find out whether the dealer/sellers is certified or not. It is advisable not to deal with any of the sites which are not certified by top smartphone manufacturers. Authorised shops offer the factory-refurbished phones that have been tested by expert technicians to restore their normal condition. Try to browse numerous sites one by one and check out their certifications, testimonials, terms and conditions, and policies as well. It will definitely take your time but I am sure you will find a reliable authorised dealer or seller to buy used smartphones.

Calculate Your Budget and Compare Prices

It’s really important to set your budget while planning to buy a used smartphone. It will not disturb your monthly tight budget or bank balance because second hand phones are a lot cheaper than the brand new ones. So, evaluate what you want to pay for your desired phone.

Furthermore, never go for the first option. If you want to save more money then you should check out the deals from several dealers and compare them to find the best one.

Understand the Difference Between Used and Refurbished Phones

When you go into the smartphone market, used and refurbished phones are the most common terms that you will hear the most. Therefore, before buying the one, you should know what they are. Refurbished or reconditioned mobile phones are the used phones that have been reworked or repaired for resale. On the other hand, used or second hand phones don’t go through any refurbishment process and typically sold as it is. Nevertheless, they all have been inspected and are in good working condition if you contact an authorised dealer.        

Check the Features You Want to Have in Your Smartphone

It’s also important to research about the features of the phone model you intend to purchase. Go online and conduct a thorough search on the specifications of the phone model you want to buy. Look for the capabilities as well as the features by the smartphone. There are features including camera, touchscreen display, operating system, storage capacity, RAM, battery life, and Wi-Fi connectivity you should check to choose the most suitable one.

Make Sure The Phone is Not Stolen or Lost One

Make sure that you don’t purchase a stolen smartphone. Before buying a used mobile phone online, be sure that you review completely the records of the phone.

Check the IMEI code of the phone that identifies the phone’s status either it’s blacklisted or not. Bear in mind that blacklisted smartphones are useless since they can’t be activated. As well, read reviews and testimonials of both satisfied and dissatisfied customers on the seller’s site. You may also make a call to the online shop and ask for an assurance that they don’t sell stolen mobile phones.

Check if There is Any Glitch on the Phone Screen

Another tip you must consider is to check the screen display and body of the phone. Ensure there is no glitch on the phone screen. Usually, used mobile phones have been dropped for many times by the previous owners. Therefore, it’s really important for you to check the entire area on the screen to see if the device has any physical defect or glitch around the screen or body of that phone. If there is any scratch or glitch on the screen then it means the screen is not fine.

Make Sure that the Battery is still Pretty Good

There is no doubt that battery is one of the most significant components in smartphones; though it powers mobile phones to make them functional, it losses a little of their capacity day after day. If the phones are 1 to 2 years old, it probably means that they have 80% of the original battery capacity. So, make sure the battery is still in pretty good condition while buying a used or refurbished smartphone.

Ask If the Phone is Already Unlocked or Locked

Unlocked mobile phones are a good option if you are looking for used or refurbished phones. These phones allow you to use any of your favourite network services freely, conversely, locked phones are locked to some specific carriers that means you can’t use any other carrier’s services on them. So ask the seller if the phone is already unlocked or not and prefer an unlocked one to save more money.

Investigate About the Warranty

Ask for a reasonable warranty. After you have considered all the essential factors and finally decided on what to purchase, make sure that you ask your seller for a decent warranty. Typically, dealers or resellers offer at least 1-year warranty for all used and refurbished mobile phones. This way, you can get maximum satisfaction regarding the purchase.

Check Out The Return Policy

Along with the warranty, it’s better to look for the seller’s return policy. Authorised sellers provide 7-days money back guarantee for all their second hand and refurbished phones- that means if the newly purchased used phone fails to meet your needs and expectations, you can return it to the seller and get your money back.

Well, those are 10 tips that you need to know before making a purchase of any used or refurbished smartphone. Buying a used/ refurbished smartphone might be a lot cheaper than getting the new one, but you as a customer still deserve the good quality phone, even second hand one. So, hopefully, these tips can be really useful for you every time you are planning to buy used or refurbished smartphones in the future.