Smartphones
features and specifications are becoming advance on every new launch they make.
We also love to grab them but budget or other factors pulls back. So, what we
do is waiting for their price to go down or think of buying second-hand phones.
Before buying used phones certain
things you have to know to pick them. Sometimes you consider their
specifications or budgets to buy them. You buy a used phone so you have to take
extra care than buying a fresh mobile.
Here I am giving some tips you can
follow while buying a second hand phones.
Try to know them
Before going to buy a second-hand phone try
to know their specifications, users review and especially its price in the
market. You have to check the prices of both fresh and used phone in which you
plan to buy. So, it's helpful to make negotiations with the seller and not to
get cheat. Also avoid buying outdated phones, as sometimes you may fail to
install apps that you love.
Buy in full Box Piece
It's better to buy used phone which
have a Box piece. Also make sure that
the mobile accessories they offer are not from a third-party (accessories that
not meets the rating of the mobile manufacturer). Using third-party charger,
earphones etc may risk you and your Smart phone's life.
Check the Mobile as Usual
Already you know this part in buying a
used phone. As you always check, if there any scratches, screen problems or
volume key, power key etc were working proper. Sometimes after pressing these keys
they go inwards and not retain its place. So, it’s important to checkout the
power key button is loose or not because sometimes we may trick as they made
adjustable to just working good.
Check Battery
Always check battery of used phones.
Firstly exam if there is any bulging to the battery. Secondly go for their
manufacturing date (Refer picture). This date has an importance in analysis of a battery life.
Because every battery has a shelf life (time period in which a battery is not
in use) of two years from the date of its manufacture and 400 to 500 recharge
cycles. If this expires the battery may fail to proper charging.
Also check the battery health by
switch off and switch on the phone. If the battery charge drop drastically than
the earlier percentage, then the battery may have some charge problems.
Check Liquid Damage
Liquid Contact Indicator sticker on a Samsung galaxy S3 marked as Red box in the figure
Check that the mobile in any way come
in to contact with water or exposed to rain. For that, a Liquid Contact
Indicator (that changes their color when contact with water) placed inside of all
electronics devices like iPod, laptop etc.. also this can found in
smartphones like Samsung galaxy S3. In smartphone it can found by removing battery.
You can know it by accessing the
default color change of this indicator.This
will also get triggered by certain other factors like humidity or water drops
that entered through the ear phones connection port etc....
Check Ports
Ensure that all external ports of the
phone are working. You can check this by taking earphones, data cable with you
before going to buy the phone. Plug in to the port and make sure that the ports
are not loose and you can hear music through the ear phones. Sometimes port may
not work if mobile fell to water or rash usage of data cables, charging cables
with the mobile. Also bring SD card to know if the card reader port is working.
Check SIM Lock or Network Lock
It's an important thing while you
paying money to buy a second-hand phone. SIM lock means your mobile is locked
for accepting only a carrier (operators like Vodafone, AT&T, Verizon etc)
SIM only and its may differ to countries. This is more important while you are
looking to buy a mobile that brings from a foreign country.
It's also applicable if you buy a new phone.
You can check this by inserting your local operator's SIM and you can normally
use and make calls then the phone is not network locked. So search and buy an
international version phones which you have new OS updates and so many other
features. Also not advised to use unlocked phones and unlocking phones will
void warranty.
Check Sensors
Sensors play a vital role in making a
Smartphone complete. If sensors are not working you can't enjoy a smartphone in
its way what they offers. You can check it by technically and practically.
Technically by typing certain manufacturer base codes (eg. By checking sensor,
touch pad working etc by typing some code like *#0*# (Refer the figure) and practically by playing
a video (make it rotate while playing and slow to response may have a sensor
problem), if possible play a video game (playing difficulty in games like car
racing etc...)
Make a call
Making and receiving calls are the
main functions that we expected from above all the other features offered by
smartphones or other normal phones.
Therefore you have to check by make a call from the second-hand phone
and if possible tell your friend or others to call to the same mobile. This
helps to check the phone ear piece is working or any problems to the mic of the
mobile.
Check the Phone Connectivity
Phone connectives like Bluetooth,
Wi-Fi scanning, sharing and Wi-Fi hotspot, NFC etc...Checking all these is a
difficult one. So, at least try to check the Bluetooth connectivity by make it
on, check if its discoverable and can send files. Also if you have more time, go
for a Wi-Fi search with the phone.
Check the Hardware Specification
Screen shot of the CPUZ app shows the specifications of Samsug Galaxy S3
Always study the features and
specifications of the mobile you are going to buy. Because you may get cheated by selling to
you a China phone (looking exactly same as that of the original phone but very
low quality) or a refurbished phone (phones that have changed the circuit board
only or changing the screen only or both and claims it is new and sell with
some what's same as that of original phone price). It’s difficult to tell a
phone refurbished or not. So, try to buy from a trustworthy seller.
Another option is to know the hardware
specification of a smartphone by installing an app like CPU-Z (its only small kb
size) to the mobile. The app tells the hardware specification of the mobile to which
the app is installed before that you have to know the phone hardware specifications to verify the details shown by CPUZ.
Switch Off and Switch On
Switch off and switch on the phone.
Doing this may know if there is any booting error or any failure in software or
hardware.
Make an Agreement
Try to made agreement between you and
the seller of the second-hand phone. Agreement like, you are not anyway liable
for the misuse that happened from the phone seller ( owner of the phone) before
the date of buying or at the time of buying and so on you can add other
responsibilities and It's up to you.
Stolen or not
How to know that the phone you are
going to buy was stolen or not. It’s sometimes difficult to find that. Here I
give some tips to avoid buying stolen phones.
- Give prefer only to buy used phone that comes with original box piece.
- Try to made agreement with seller.
- Try to keep an ID of the seller with you.
- Always buy from a trustworthy seller.
So, above are some common tips to make
sure that the buying phone is not stolen.
Buying from Online
Certain things you have to know
before buying especially used phones from online.
- Confirm that the seller is legitimate.
- Track transaction history of the seller and users review (if they have).
- If possible, don’t try to give advance.
- If you noted that you cheated, inform early as possible to the online site where you have purchased the mobile (they may help you).
- Ask why they selling a high-end phone at low price, if you found that the price is so cheap as compared to the market tag price.
Ya!.....I know it's difficult to
follow all these steps at the time of buying a second-hand phone. As there is
time limit and you may restrict to follow some steps. So, select steps from
this that you can follow.
Hope you enjoy this article. If you
have more suggestions and tips that I forgot to mention pls feel free to drop
it as comments
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