Buying a used iPhone

The iPhone is among the most traded devices — and the most prone to lock and battery issues. A few minutes of checking saves you from a bad deal.

Make sure it isn't locked or stolen

Ask the seller to sign out of iCloud and factory-reset it in front of you. A device that won't sign out may be stolen, or will stay locked by Activation Lock and be unusable. Also check the IMEI via *#06#.

Battery and screen

Open Settings → Battery → Battery Health; below ~85% means a replacement is due soon. Verify the screen is genuine (recent models show an 'unknown part' notice in Settings) and test touch and colours.

Authenticity and accessories

• Test front and rear cameras, speakers, and fingerprint or Face ID.
• Confirm network, SIM, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth work.
• Ask about warranty, box, and original accessories.

Pricing

Compare the same model and storage on the market. Higher storage and remaining warranty raise value; a non-original battery or screen lowers it. Don't chase a very low price — it usually hides a fault.