Tips for Buying a Used Smartphone
20/02/2019 19:53
Obtaining a fantastic used phone can be a fantastic method to save some cash although upgrading to a greater device. But it is not only about price tag; you can find other components to consider when shopping for a used smartphone. Get more details about used mobile phone supplier
1. Know when to buy
If you’re seeking to get by far the most current phone model as possible when maximizing your savings, the most effective time to purchase a used smartphone is just immediately after its successor comes out, that is when all the early adopters sell the preceding generation of their smartphones.
While the dates for precise phone releases shift a little every year, the smartphone calendar is pretty set. Major Android phone makers for example Samsung, HTC and LG announce new flagship devices in early spring, followed by Apple, which rolls out its new iPhones inside the fall. Other Android models - including Google’s Pixel, Samsung’s Galaxy Note and LG’s V series - usually debut later within the year, as well.
2. Know your network, or purchase an unlocked phone
One in the most important aspects to think about when getting a used phone should be to make certain the device will work along with your carrier of option. The effortless method to do that should be to obtain directly from your carrier; most give certified preowned and/or refurbished devices which will be assured to operate on that carrier. The trade-off is that you will pay a bit of a premium.
In the event you don’t go the carrier route, just make sure that the device that you are getting indicates that it truly is compatible with, and prepared to activate on, whichever carrier you choose. You can also opt for a multiband unlocked smartphone, which may be activated on any carrier. (Otherwise, you will will need to look for any GSM-capable phone for use on GSM networks for example AT&T and T-Mobile, or a CDMA-ready phone that could function on Verizon or Sprint.) Just consult the specs of whatever phone you are purchasing for to confirm it supports all the relevant network frequencies for your carrier, or you won’t have optimal coverage.
3. Research prices
The next step is usually to figure out what the going rate is for your chosen smartphone. There’s always some variability in used smartphone pricing, but you should be able to narrow it down by hunting at a few sites, like Swappa, Glyde, eBay (search sold listings only) and Amazon. Just be certain that you happen to be comparing apples to apples in terms of the general condition from the phone and what’s included.
4. Know the return policy
Try to get your phone from a reseller with a rock-solid return policy.
In the event you do not purchase from a carrier or phone maker, at least try to get your phone from a reseller with a rock-solid return policy. Whilst most physical damage is easy to detect the moment you receive your phone, it can take a bit longer to spot malfunctioning hardware or software. So look at the return window when you’re shopping for any phone, and once you complete the sale, make a note from the final day when you’re allowed to return it, just in case.
5. Know your seller
When you obtain your phone through a private seller on sites like eBay or Swappa, you want to determine if the person you’re about to send hundreds of dollars to is usually trusted. And unfortunately, you are usually basing that decision on a fairly limited amount of information.
eBay and Swappa provide some guidance, displaying how long the seller has been a member of your site, how many transactions they’ve completed, and how they’ve been rated by other buyers and sellers who’ve dealt with them.
6. Note the phone’s overall condition
The phone’s screen should be your primary concern when you are examining a used phone. Any chips or cracks are an immediate deal breaker, as replacing a screen is costly ($100 and up) and can indicate other problems with the device.
From there, you should look for any dents or significant abrasions that indicate a device has been dropped repeatedly. That could start to cause separation inside the body of your phone or damage to the internal components.
If the phone passes these tests, it is really just a question of what kinds of minor scratches or abrasions you happen to be willing to tolerate, and whether that you are planning to use a case. It’s worth considering that superficial damage can mean a lower price, and with a case covering the phone, you might not notice any cosmetic flaws in day-to-day use.
7. Check what you’re getting besides the phone
The items included with the smartphone are not only a bonus; they can also give you valuable information about the seller. For example, if a seller has the original box, that’s a terrific indicator that you aren’t hunting at a stolen device. If they include a case and/or a screen protector, the phone is probably in very good physical shape. Getting the original charger for your device is also more critical than it once was, as many Android phones support fast charging that should perform only with compatible chargers.
8. Take into account software updates
While the hardware on your smartphone remains the same as the day it was first sold, the software can - and should - continue to advance. For Android phones, the only manufacturer you could depend on for consistent software updates is Google, with its Nexus and Pixel devices.
At present, most Android devices run a version with the operating system that is often a generation or two removed from Android Nougat. Even though new features may be optional, the monthly security updates should be priorities, and you should make sure that the manufacturer with the device you are shopping for doesn’t fall more than a month or two behind with these updates.
Software updates are less of a concern for iPhones, as Apple normally supports its old hardware. Still, exercise some caution if you’re hunting at an iPhone that’s more than a couple of years old. This fall’s iOS 11 update will reportedly operate only on 64-bit devices, meaning phones which include the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c won’t be able to run the latest software.
9. Think about battery life
The lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones lose a little bit of their capacity every day, so by the time they are 1 to 2 years old, they probably have only 80 percent of the original battery capacity, at best. Unless you are acquiring one on the few Android devices that still feature replaceable batteries, this could be a deciding factor in the event you are a heavy smartphone user or frequently away from a charger for 12 to 14 hours at a time. You are able to either turn to an external battery for use in emergencies, or you are able to pay to have the battery on your used phone replaced. That should add $70 to $80 to your phone’s cost, though.
10. Check your phone immediately upon receipt
So you’ve gone through all the steps above and finally have the smartphone in your hands. If you have a return policy, the clock is ticking, so it's time to figure out if you can find any hidden problems.
In case you didn’t obtain the smartphone out of your carrier, this would be the time to verify that the device isn’t stolen or carrier-locked. You'll be able to check by either contacting your carrier with your phone’s IMEI number (normally found on the nano-SIM slot or in the About This Device section of your phone’s Settings app) or by trying to activate the smartphone on your account.
Once you’ve passed that test, do a basic physical check of the phone to ensure that there aren’t any surprises. Look over the phone, and move your hands around it, applying slight pressure to verify that there isn’t any separation within the case or screen. Check the water indicator. (On most modern smartphones, this will be found inside the nano-SIM slot.) If it’s been triggered, you will see a solid red or pink color.
In case you search online for “service codes” and the manufacturer of your smartphone, you will find a series of numbers and symbols to enter in your dialer to open a diagnostic mode. You can run a series of checks here which will verify that the hardware and software on your phone are in very good working order. Spend particular attention to the battery test or status that should display the number of cycles. When a smartphone battery pushes beyond 500 cycles, it truly is on borrowed time and will have lost fairly significant capacity.