Buying a Used Phone Safely: A Buyer's Checklist

A used phone can be a great deal or an expensive mistake, and the difference usually comes down to a five-minute inspection most buyers skip because they're excited to close the deal. Here's what to actually check before you pay.

1. Check the IMEI before you agree to meet

Every phone has a unique IMEI number — dial *#06# on the phone to display it, or check Settings > About Phone. Ask the seller for it in advance and cross-check it against the phone's box or original receipt if they have one. You can also check whether an IMEI has been reported lost or stolen through your network operator or the phone manufacturer's official IMEI-check tool. A seller who's reluctant to share the IMEI before you meet, or whose story about how they got the phone keeps changing, is a red flag worth walking away from.

2. Verify it's not iCloud or Google account locked

For iPhones, ask the seller to fully sign out of iCloud (Settings > [Name] > Sign Out) in front of you, then do a factory reset and set the phone up as new — this proves there's no Activation Lock waiting to brick the phone the moment you change the password. For Android, confirm the device isn't tied to a Google account via Factory Reset Protection by doing the same factory-reset test. Never accept 'I'll remove my account after you pay' — a phone still locked to someone else's account after payment can become a very expensive paperweight.

3. Inspect the screen and body under good light

Check for a screen that looks slightly discoloured, has uneven bezels, or doesn't sit perfectly flush — these are signs of a replacement (aftermarket) screen, which usually means lower touch sensitivity and colour accuracy than the original. Look at the frame and back glass for cracks, and check the charging port and headphone jack (if present) for corrosion, which can indicate previous water exposure even if the phone currently powers on fine.

4. Test battery health, not just 'does it turn on'

On iPhone, check Settings > Battery > Battery Health — anything below 80% maximum capacity means noticeably reduced battery life and is a fair reason to negotiate the price down. On Android, battery health isn't always shown natively, but a free app like AccuBattery gives a reasonable estimate. A phone that dies fast or randomly shuts down at 20-30% charge has a battery worth replacing, so factor that cost into your offer.

5. Test every function before you pay, not after

In front of the seller: make a test call to check the earpiece and microphone, play audio to check the speaker, take a photo with both cameras, test the fingerprint sensor or Face ID, connect to WiFi, and check that the SIM tray reads a SIM properly. It's far easier to negotiate or walk away over a faulty speaker before payment than to get a refund afterward.

6. Confirm the seller and complete the deal safely

Prefer sellers with a verified badge on 247Market where available, and always meet in a public place for the exchange — a busy café, mall, or shopping centre with security is ideal. Confirm payment has actually cleared in your account before handing over cash, or confirm the transfer has landed in the seller's account before you walk away with the phone — don't rely on a screenshot from either side.

A used phone that passes all six checks is very likely a safe, solid buy — and running through this list takes less time than the average phone shop haggle, while saving you from the two or three scams that account for almost every bad used-phone purchase.