Buying a Used iPhone? 7 Checks Before You Pay

A used iPhone can be a great deal – or an expensive mistake. Run through these seven checks before you hand over any money.

1. Match the IMEI

Dial *#06# and compare the IMEI with the one in Settings > General > About and on the SIM tray or box. They should all match.

2. Check the carrier lock

In Settings > General > About, look for Carrier Lock: No SIM restrictions. If the phone is locked, factor the cost of a factory unlock into the price. See how to check if an iPhone is carrier locked.

3. Check the blacklist status

A blacklisted iPhone has been reported lost, stolen or unpaid and may not work on mobile networks. An IMEI blacklist check shows this in minutes.

4. Make sure iCloud is signed out

Go to Settings and confirm no Apple ID is signed in, and that Find My is off. Never buy a phone that shows an Activation Lock screen – ask the seller to remove it from their account in front of you.

5. Check battery health

Open Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Under about 80% usually means a replacement is due soon.

6. Test the hardware

Test Face ID or Touch ID, cameras, speakers, microphone, charging port, buttons and the screen for dead pixels or ghost touches.

7. Check for replaced parts

On recent iOS versions, Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History shows whether the screen, battery or camera has been replaced.

Need an IMEI check or unlock?

We offer IMEI carrier, blacklist and warranty checks as well as permanent factory unlocks. Browse our services or read our unlock FAQs.