10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Second Hand Phone Online

Buying a used phone is an option that comes to many users' minds now when thinking about upgrading their smartphones. The reason for this is the skyrocketing prices of flagship phones that are now close to or even passed, the €1000.

However, many users still think that by purchasing a used or second hand phone that they'd be giving up on the brand-new phone experience. For those users, this article is going to give you the important tips to get this "brand-new experience" from buying a second hand phone.

Reasons you should consider buying a used phone

According to your budget and desired features in your next phone, reasons to consider buying a used phone will differ. However, there are a few reasons that are common and make sense for most users.

Pay less money for upgraded features

Of course, the main reason to consider buying a used phone is the fact that you can get a better device with better and more advanced features for a lower cost. The budget that can get you a mid-range phone with a camera that has limited capabilities, can also get you a decent iPhone with an amazing camera and all the other iOS features.

A refurbished phone can be as good as brand-new

Since most people worry about the condition of the second hand phone they are considering to buy, you can go for a refurbished phone. They are in the same price range as the second hand, but the fact that they have been renewed makes them as good as new in terms of quality and performance.

Second hand phones are better for the environment

There is no denying that the climate of our planet is changing and this could lead to severe consequences for humans. Some environmentalists are speaking of extinction!

One of the ways to prevent that and help our planet is through recycling products that use plastic. Since mobiles and smartphones are made of plastic in most cases, buying a second hand phone is a form of recycling these devices. 

Things to consider before purchasing a second hand phone

No matter what your reasons for buying a second hand phone might be, you still want to have a like-new phone in an excellent condition. No one says that we have to use broken old phones in order to save money or save the environment, right? There are other ways to recycle those completely damaged phones and they are perfectly fine. As for smartphone users, they should only get the best!

Well, no worries. The next few points will tell you what to do to get the best second hand phone and to make sure that you aren't going to get scammed.

Available phones within your budget

The first step when you're looking to upgrade to your next smartphone is to determine your budget. This may seem like a trivial point, but some people actually take it for granted only to find themselves got carried away and spent way more than they initially had intended on the new phone.

Another reason to determine your budget is that you have to know exactly what phones and features you can get for your budget limit. This will help you with the comparisons, but, most importantly, it will help you gain the necessary awareness not to fall prey for scams.

If you are properly prepared, you'll know that there is no second hand iPhone X for a €100!

The right time to buy a second hand phone

Not many people pay attention to this, but there is actually a good and a bad time for buying second hand phones. This time is determined by the time of year in which mobile companies release new phones. This is usually the time that flagship users are ready to sell their old pristine phones to get the new one. This is the perfect time for you to get a like-new used phone for the lowest price.

Where to buy a second hand phone

It is better to buy your second hand phone from a shop or a business as it will give you more assurances than if you bought it directly from the user. You can also get the phone's accessories from a second hand phone business, while this is less likely to happen with a regular person selling his or her phone.

How to test a used phone

There are a few instant tests that can indicate the phone's condition and quality.

Touchscreen test:

Simply take an icon from the phone's home page and run it all around the screen to test the touch quality. If at any point the icon slips out, this means that the touch sensitivity is defective in this area.

Brightness test:

Turn the phone's brightness all the way up to max and see if the brightness is dimmed or defective. This means that the screen is most likely was damaged at some point.

Battery life:

Keep the brightness up to max for an hour or two to see how the battery is doing. If it gets drained too fast, this means the battery is not worth your money.

Make a call:

To test the mic and speaker quality, make a lengthy call from the phone to one of your friends.

Take a selfie:

Test out the cameras. Take a selfie, record a video, and play it!

Red flags in second hand phone deals
When you buy a second hand phone you should pay attention to the terms of the deal that the seller is offering. Any deal that doesn't offer a return policy or a considerable warranty period should be immediately passed. Visit to know second hand phone deals that offer warranty and return policy.

Keep payment method in mind

Look for second hand phone deals that offer trustworthy payment methods. PayPal is very secure. You can also find deals that allow monthly payments which will enable you to get an even better and more expensive smartphone.

Consider your carrier and network limitations 

To keep using the same SIM card with your old phone number, make sure that your second hand phone is operating on the same carrier as yours. Or, better yet, get an unlocked second hand phone and it will work with any carrier's SIM card.