When we change mobile, many factors must be taken into account before making the final decision. Features, features, design … Each person is different and we all have our preferences, but the only certainty is that if we are going to get another phone, we can take two paths. The first one is the one we usually choose: buy a new one. We can find a mobile that meets our expectations, but on many occasions the price can skyrocket and we are left with the desire …
The other way is more affordable, although it can also be riskier: buy it second hand . Risky not because of the fact that they want to scam us (which in many cases, especially with private sellers, can happen to us), but because we have to make sure that the mobile is in full condition and does not present any problem, both inside and outside. This also applies to all types of second-hand products, since when we get a product that has passed through other hands, no one wants to be disappointed when acquiring it. Therefore, before buying a second-hand mobile we must check several aspects to ensure that it is in good condition.
The first thing is to choose the brand and model
A bit simple question, right? No way. The first thing you have to know is which mobile you want exactly, since its history of failures or errors (not always have all) can take its toll, and more if it is second-hand. In addition, knowing the price range will make it easier for you to choose, since this way you can be sure of its true status. Take the example of the new Samsung Galaxy S21. Obviously we can already find it second-hand, but if you see it for 400 or 500 euros … That is why it is a priority to know its possible failures and the price in this state.
Aspects to consider before buying a second-hand mobile
Perhaps you have preconceptions in mind regarding second-hand mobiles, and more so if you buy it from a private person. You are on the right track. Moreover, before reviewing the device itself, we must ask if the mobile is under warranty . It may or may not have it in force, but in any case the seller must notify you, because if later the mobile suffers any damage and you want to repair it, the store where it was purchased will not be responsible. In this regard, it is more convenient to buy it in second-hand stores, as there are times when they can provide you with their own purchase or return guarantee.
The second thing is to check if it is a stolen mobile. We must be very careful in this regard, as we may have legal problems. To do this, check the IMEI number of the terminal. On Android devices it is usually printed on a sticker on the box. We can also find it in Settings , and inside we go to the About the phone section and inside we look for IMEI information . Otherwise, we will type the sequence * # 06 # . If the number that appears on the screen does not match the one on the box, it may be a stolen mobile.
What should you look out for?
Physical state
Once we have decided on the model and are ready to buy our future second-hand mobile, the first step is to check its external appearance. The screen , the buttons , the sensors … You have to examine everything in detail to make sure that it is in good condition and has no notable damage. With the naked eye, you may not see any bumps or breaks on the screen, but if you run your finger across the glass, you will notice if it has any damage or scratches. It is no longer a question of whether the mobile has received worse or better use by its previous owner, as time causes it to deteriorate. But if so, and even if it were minimal, its price would drop even more.
The edges are also one of the elements that suffers the most over time, but finding a pristine mobile in this area, unless it is very recent, is really difficult. Looking at it from the good side, possible damages will always “favor” you, since the price of the terminal will lower. Also check if the sound from the speakers is correct, the power and volume buttons, the fingerprint reader (if it has one) and try to insert your SIM card , the latter to know if the mobile is free or not.
Internal state of the mobile
By this we mean reviewing all the internal aspects of the phone, both at the software and hardware level. This is where we must be more careful and cautious, since the phone can present performance failures or system errors without realizing it.
- Check the Android version: We must know if the mobile has the latest update installed to make sure that it has not undergone any modification, such as a rooting or a change of parts. If you can not receive more updates because it is an old model, the rest of the applications will not either, so it will be of little use to buy it. To find out, go to your phone’s Settings and look for the Software Update option.
- Check the status of the battery: It is one of the elements that gives more problems in a mobile. With prolonged use and the passage of time, the battery loses autonomy and makes it last less and less. On Android, by default, it is not possible to know the health of the battery itself, with the exception of some brands such as Xiaomi , which also shows the charging cycles . The latter is very important to know, since they inform us of the complete process of charging and discharging the battery. This includes a number of complete cycles, and when these are exceeded, the battery life begins to decrease. To know them, we must download an application from the Play Store , such as AccuBattery .
- Test its performance: The performance of a second-hand phone is probably what we must take into account the most, since it will basically tell us if the mobile is working correctly or if it has an internal error. For this you must test the internal memory, for which you can open several applications at the same time, take photos, play videos or music … If you do not see that any action is processed at a slower speed than normal, the performance will not be affected. If you want to be more secure, you can use Antutu , a benchmark which assesses the power and speed of the processor, graphics processing unit (GPU), RAM, and data reading and writing. It is no longer available in the Play Store, so you will have to download it through other pages or servers.
