Tips and Tricks
What to Check Before Buying a Used iPhone
Used smartphone market in Bangladesh is trending nowadays. Many are sliding towards used iPhone, as they are getting a premium Apple ecosystem without investing too much. And even if you try to buy a new iPhone, it’s not so easy when you are low on budget. As the price of newer iPhones are getting higher every year, it’s hard to get your hands on a new one. That is why some users tend to go for a used iPhone.
Although I must say, this used market is full of scammers as well, making reliable iPhone purchases a bit tricky. Today’s guide will walk you through everything important you should know before buying a used iPhone in Bangladesh. So that you can avoid scams and purchase with confidence. Let’s dive right in:
10 Essential Checks Before You Buy a Used iPhone in BD
Here’s a quick but most necessary checklist to inspect any used iPhone before you make that final purchase:
1. IMEI Check:
Some of you might not be so technical about these facts but checking the “IMEI” info is really useful to give you an idea whether the phone is blacklisted or stolen. This is also how you ensure legitimacy, through ensuring it hasn’t been reported lost or stolen from previous users, and that it’s not activation locked.
2. BTCL Registration:
Dial *#06# and used the IMEI number to check if it’s registered with BTCL to avoid network issues. By checking this, you make sure that the product is not illegally imported or counterfeit. This is how you help yourself to avoid any potential legal issues in future, ensure the phone is genuine and can be used. Check the process down below to see if the iPhone’s IMEI registration status:
> Open the phone’s dial pad
> Type the message “ KYD <space> IMEI number “
> Send this SMS to “16002”.
If the process followed correctly, you will later receive a reply stating whether your device is legal (registered) or illegal (not registered) in Bangladesh.
3. iCloud Activation Lock:
Make sure that “Find My iPhone” feature is turned OFF. This is how you understand the device is not stolen. If it’s “turned on”, there is a possibility of a fake user or stolen device.
4. Battery Health:
Checking the battery health is another way you can determine whether the phone is in a position to use regularly. If the battery health is less than 80% or 75%, then there is a high possibility that the phone’s battery will give you only a few hours of power. It is advised to buy a used iPhone which has 85% or above battery health, which will give you a good amount of battery life for basic usage.
5. Water Damage:
Some of you might not check thoroughly but water damage is a huge deal when you are planning to buy a used iPhone. Check the SIM slot or charging ports for signs of rust or corrosion. This is how you determine that there is no major water damage.
6. Face ID / Touch ID:
This is how you make sure the security features are working right. Test if biometric authentication is working properly. If it’s an older iPhone from Apple which has a dedicated home button, like the iPhone 5s to iPhone SE (2022) edition, which has a fingerprint sensor on the home button. Check if the fingerprint sensor is working properly. And if it’s an iPhone X and onwards which gives you “Face ID” security, then check whether it’s working properly or not.
7. Replaced Parts:
For deeper checking, you can use “3uTools” or reliable diagnostic tools to detect non-original screens or batteries. You can also find out whether there has been any jailbreaking status. Find out production date or activation by understanding how long the device has been used.
8. Test Hardware Parts:
There are some common hardware parts of the iPhone you should check before buying that used iPhone. Like camera, microphone and speaker, which lets you do major tasks like taking photos, having clear calls and listening to music or ringing. Check whether the camera is capturing proper photos, is there any blurriness after the capture.
Have a real time call or record voice and make sure the microphone is working properly by conducting a voice conversation. Finally, play songs or tune to find out if the speaker is functioning properly or not. These are very important for a regular phone user to find out before purchasing a used phone.
9. Connectivity Check:
By checking SIM connectivity, Wi-Fi turning on or not and bluetooth connecting or not, you will realize the connectivity hardware is alright and functioning normally. Through this checking process you will understand whether you can have proper network communication. Because you will obviously sooner or later use a SIM with the iPhone and connect with a wireless LAN for internet access.
10. Physical Condition:
After understanding all the listed above facts, now it’s time for looking at the outside of the device. Look for any cracks all around the device, even minor cracks will give you the advantage of bargaining the price to your favor. After that, check for any display issues, look for any marks or noticeable smudges within the display. Finally check if touch responses are working properly or not, as it is how you’ll be interacting with the phone all time, so check for dead zones in touch sensitivity.
Why People Buy Used iPhones in Bangladesh
Now that you know a little bit about a few important things to check before buying a used iPhone, next let’s understand why people fall for used smartphones anyway, and in today’s case iPhones. As we all know, an average Bangladeshi smartphone buyer often sees new iPhones as a luxury device, which is most of the time rare to get their hands on with low-budget. Used iPhone offers these same users a chance to afford an iPhone. And enjoying the same performance, reliable software updates, and good battery life.
Current Condition of Used iPhone Market in Bangladesh
As per zion market research, the used smartphone market in a global stage is valued at approx 46.52 billion dollars in 2024 and it is expected to raise more than triple for around 189.86 billion by 2034. Even in our country, the second hand iPhone in BD scenario is now bigger than ever, and it’s growing rapidly. But there’s a downside too, as we all know there are dark market sellers as well, who try to gain advantage.
That is why new users (or especially iPhone consumers) who are planning to get a used iPhone need to be aware of a few things. Some of those factors are given down below:
Frankenstein iPhones:
The title might be unfamiliar although it is quite easy to understand. Some immoral sellers mix parts to build a working iPhone. At first it might look a lot like an iPhone, but internally there are mixed parts. For example, a replica or third party display, third party battery and so on.
Online Scams:
Platforms like “Facebook marketplace, bikroy.com” have a huge number of consumers and sellers roaming around. It is possible for fake iPhones to be sold as used to new consumers by using their disadvantage of lack of knowledge about iPhones.
Lack of Accessories:
Sometimes pre-owned iPhone users don’t provide any authentic chargers or cables, leaving the new buyer in a complicated situation. Without the proper accessories and documentation, these purchases can remain risky due to lack of authenticity.
Stolen Purchase:
It is very common in Bangladesh to get iPhones stolen and sold again in the used market. There is a high chance of mistakenly purchasing a stolen iPhone if you are not careful. This situation can lead to you getting arrested for owning someone else’s device and worse do jail time. That is why it is advised to purchase used iPhones in BD from a reliable store who provides proper documentation of your purchase and offers warranty policy.
Verdict
Finally, as you have already understood, using an used iPhone in Bangladesh feels really awesome if you get the right deal. And it’s an open truth that people are dying to get their hands on a used iPhone these days. So whenever they get the right investment on their hand, it’s just a matter of time when they purchase one. With today’s blog, you will at least have a basic idea about what major things to check before taking that final purchase decision.
Whether you buy from a shop or an unknown pre-owned iPhone seller, you now can verify it yourself. Always remember, your little cautions of knowing a few things about used iPhones can save you a lot more than regretting tomorrow. As always, keep your eyes on Apple Gadgets Care blog page to stay informed about your device care tips and tricks.
And if your device needs any repair or fixing, don’t worry—just visit your nearest Apple Gadgets Care outlet, and our experts will take care of it for you.
