Shopping for a very good used phone is usually a excellent method to save some money even though upgrading to a much better device. But it’s not only about price; there are other elements to consider when purchasing for a used smartphone. Get extra information about used mobile phone supplier
1. Know when to get
If you are trying to get the most current phone model as you can when maximizing your savings, the ideal time for you to obtain a used smartphone is just following its successor comes out, which is when all the early adopters sell the previous generation of their smartphones.
When the dates for certain phone releases shift somewhat every single year, the smartphone calendar is pretty set. Top Android phone makers including Samsung, HTC and LG announce new flagship devices in early spring, followed by Apple, which rolls out its new iPhones within the fall. Other Android models - for example Google’s Pixel, Samsung’s Galaxy Note and LG’s V series - commonly debut later in the year, also.
2. Know your network, or invest in an unlocked phone
One in the most significant components to think about when buying a used phone will be to make sure the device will operate with your carrier of selection. The uncomplicated method to do this is always to invest in directly from your carrier; most give certified preowned and/or refurbished devices that may be guaranteed to perform on that carrier. The trade-off is that you will pay a bit of a premium.
If you don’t go the carrier route, just be sure that the device you might be obtaining indicates that it is actually compatible with, and ready to activate on, whichever carrier you choose. You may also opt for a multiband unlocked smartphone, which may be activated on any carrier. (Otherwise, you’ll will need to look to get a GSM-capable phone for use on GSM networks like AT&T and T-Mobile, or a CDMA-ready phone that should work on Verizon or Sprint.) Just consult the specs of whatever phone you are shopping for to confirm it supports all the relevant network frequencies for your carrier, or you won’t have optimal coverage.
3. Research prices
The next step should be to figure out what the going rate is for your chosen smartphone. There’s always some variability in used smartphone pricing, but you should be able to narrow it down by seeking at a few sites, like Swappa, Glyde, eBay (search sold listings only) and Amazon. Just ensure that that you are comparing apples to apples in terms from the general condition with the phone and what’s included.
4. Know the return policy
Try to obtain your phone from a reseller with a rock-solid return policy.
For those who don’t purchase from a carrier or phone maker, at least try to obtain your phone from a reseller with a rock-solid return policy. Although most physical damage is easy to detect the moment you receive your phone, it can take a bit longer to spot malfunctioning hardware or software. So take into account the return window when you’re purchasing for a phone, and once you complete the sale, make a note with the final day when you are allowed to return it, just in case.
5. Know your seller
When you purchase your phone through a private seller on sites like eBay or Swappa, you want to determine if the person you’re about to send hundreds of dollars to is often trusted. And unfortunately, you are usually basing that decision on a fairly limited amount of information.
eBay and Swappa provide some guidance, displaying how long the seller has been a member from the site, how many transactions they’ve completed, and how they’ve been rated by other buyers and sellers who’ve dealt with them.
6. Note the phone’s overall condition
The phone’s screen should be your primary concern when you are examining a used phone. Any chips or cracks are an immediate deal breaker, as replacing a screen is costly ($100 and up) and can indicate other problems with the device.
From there, you should look for any dents or significant abrasions that indicate a device has been dropped repeatedly. That could start to cause separation within the body of your phone or damage to the internal components.
If the phone passes these tests, it's really just a question of what kinds of minor scratches or abrasions you're willing to tolerate, and whether you might be planning to use a case. It’s worth considering that superficial damage can mean a lower price, and with a case covering the phone, you might not notice any cosmetic flaws in day-to-day use.
7. Check what you are getting besides the phone
The items included with the smartphone are not only a bonus; they may also give you valuable information about the seller. For example, if a seller has the original box, that’s a terrific indicator that you aren’t looking at a stolen device. If they include a case and/or a screen protector, the phone is probably in very good physical shape. Getting the original charger for your device is also more essential than it once was, as many Android phones support fast charging that may work only with compatible chargers.
8. Take into consideration software updates
Though the hardware on your smartphone remains the same as the day it was first sold, the software can - and should - continue to advance. For Android phones, the only manufacturer you are able to depend on for consistent software updates is Google, with its Nexus and Pixel devices.
At present, most Android devices run a version on the operating system that is actually a generation or two removed from Android Nougat. Whilst new features may be optional, the monthly security updates should be priorities, and you should ensure that that the manufacturer in the device you’re acquiring doesn’t fall more than a month or two behind with these updates.
Software updates are less of a concern for iPhones, as Apple generally supports its old hardware. Still, exercise some caution if you’re searching at an iPhone that’s more than a couple of years old. This fall’s iOS 11 update will reportedly function only on 64-bit devices, meaning phones including the iPhone 5 and iPhone 5c won’t be able to run the latest software.
9. Look at battery life
The lithium-ion batteries that power smartphones lose slightly of their capacity every day, so by the time they are 1 to 2 years old, they probably have only 80 percent with the original battery capacity, at greatest. Unless you are buying one of your few Android devices that still feature replaceable batteries, this could be a deciding factor for those who are a heavy smartphone user or frequently away from a charger for 12 to 14 hours at a time. You could either turn to an external battery for use in emergencies, or you'll be able to spend to have the battery on your used phone replaced. That will add $70 to $80 to your phone’s cost, though.
10. Check your phone immediately upon receipt
So you’ve gone through all the steps above and finally have the smartphone in your hands. For those who have a return policy, the clock is ticking, so it's time to figure out if you can find any hidden problems.
For those who didn’t obtain the smartphone from your carrier, this would be the time for you to verify that the device isn’t stolen or carrier-locked. You could check by either contacting your carrier with your phone’s IMEI number (normally found on the nano-SIM slot or within the About This Device section of your phone’s Settings app) or by trying to activate the smartphone on your account.
Once you’ve passed that test, do a basic physical check from the phone to ensure that there aren’t any surprises. Look over the phone, and move your hands around it, applying slight pressure to verify that there isn’t any separation in the case or screen. Check the water indicator. (On most modern smartphones, this will probably be found in the nano-SIM slot.) If it’s been triggered, you’ll see a solid red or pink color.
For those who search online for “service codes” and the manufacturer of your smartphone, you will find a series of numbers and symbols to enter in your dialer to open a diagnostic mode. You may run a series of checks here that could verify that the hardware and software on your phone are in fantastic working order. Pay particular attention to the battery test or status that may display the number of cycles. When a smartphone battery pushes beyond 500 cycles, it's on borrowed time and will have lost fairly significant capacity.
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