Everyone wants an iPhone, but they aren't cheap. If you want an
iPhone but don't want to pay full retail price you can buy another phone or go
without. Neither option is very appealing.
But
there’s a third choice: buying a used iPhone.
Used
or refurbished iPhones will save you some cash, but are the tradeoffs worth it?
If you’re considering buying a used iPhone, here are the things you need to
take into account and some suggestions for where to find a bargain.
What to Watch Out for with Refurbished iPhones
While
a used iPhone can be a good deal, there are a few things you should watch out
for to make sure you don't end up a penny wise but a pound foolish.
Get the Right Phone For Your Carrier—Generally
speaking, every iPhone model starting with the iPhone 5 will work on all phone
company networks. It's important to know, though, that AT&T's network uses
an LTE signal that the others don't. So, if you buy an iPhone that was designed
for use with Verizon and bring it to AT&T, you may not be able to access
that other LTE signal. Ask the seller for the iPhone's model number and check
it to make sure it's well-suited to your carrier.
Check
out Apple's website on model numbers and LTE networks for more information.
Make Sure The Phone Isn't Stolen—When
buying a used iPhone you definitely don't want to buy a stolen phone. You can
check the status of the phone you're considering by using Apple's Activation
Lock Status tool.
Activation
Lock is a security feature that blocks thieves from activating stolen iPhones.
Just visit the site and enter the phone's IMEI or serial number. While this
won't cover every single phone or possible theft scenario, it's useful
information.
Visit
the Activation Lock Status website
Contact Your Carrier to Confirm—Even
if you've got the right iPhone model, it's a good idea to call your phone
company before you buy to confirm it can activate the phone.
In order to do this, ask the seller for the phone's IMEI number (for AT&T
and T-Mobile phones) or the MEID number (for Verizon and Sprint). Then call
your carrier, explain the situation, and give them the IMEI or MEID. They
should be able to tell you whether there will be a problem.
Check the Battery—Since users
can't replace the iPhone's battery, you want to be sure that any
used iPhone has a strong battery. A lightly
used iPhone should have decent battery life, but anything more than a year old
should be checked. Ask the seller for as much detail about the battery life as
possible or see if they’ll install a new battery before you buy. Also be sure
to confirm return policies in case the battery turns out not to be as lively as
they claim.
Check the Other Hardware—Every iPhone has
normal wear and tear like dings or scratches on the sides and back of the
phone. These won't cause problems. But major scratches on the screen, problems
with the Touch ID sensor, scratches on the camera lens, or other hardware
damage can be big issues. Ask to inspect the phone in person if you can. Check the
water damage sensor to
see if the phone has gotten wet. If inspecting it isn't possible, buy from a
reputable, established seller who stands behind their products.
Buy the Right Storage Capacity—While the allure of a lower
price is strong, remember that used iPhones usually aren’t the latest
models and have less storage space. The current top-of-the-line iPhones offer
up to 128GB of storage for your music, photos, apps, and other data. Some
recent models that are available for low prices used have as little as 16GB of
space. That's a big difference. If you've got a ton of music, that can really
affect your enjoyment of the phone. Buy as much storage as you can. You
probably shouldn't get anything less than 32GB.
Assess Features & Price—Be
sure you know what features you're sacrificing when you buy a used iPhone. Most
likely, you're buying at least one generation behind. That's fine, and a smart
way to save money. Just make sure you know what features the model you're
considering buying doesn't have and that you're OK with that. A used iPhone may
be $50-$100 cheaper, but make sure saving that money is worth not getting the
latest features before you buy.
RELATED: Compare
all iPhone models in this chart
If You Can, Get a Warranty—If
you can get a refurbished iPhone with a warranty—even an extended
warranty—do it. The most reputable sellers stand behind their
products. A phone that's had a previous repair won't necessarily be trouble in
the future, but it might, so consider spending the extra money for an extended
warranty.
RELATED: Six
Reasons You Should Never Buy iPhone Insurance
Where
to Buy a Refurbished iPhone
If a
used iPhone is right for you, you need to decide where to pick up your new toy.
Some good options for finding lower-cost iPhones include:
- Apple—Apple sells
refurbished products on its website. While it doesn't always
have iPhones available, it's worth checking. This is especially true
because Apple's refurbished iPhones have been repaired by the experts and
come with a limited warranty.
- Phone Companies—Most of the
major phone companies that sell new iPhones also sell used or refurbished
ones (which have generally been traded in during upgrades or returned for
repairs). Because the iPhone is a hot product, you may not see these too
often, but it's worth looking.
- Used resellers—Companies
like NextWorth and Gazelle both
buy and sell used iPhones. Their prices are appealing and they often offer
some kind of quality guarantee and protection plan. Check out a
full list of companies offering these services.
- eBay/Craigslist—eBay and Craigslist are hotbeds of online bargains,
but buyer
beware. A scammer could stick you with a broken iPhone or a
phone that doesn’t have the specs you thought you were getting. Try to
stick with reputable, high-rated sellers.
What
To Do If You Can't Activate a Used iPhone
The
worst-case scenario is buying a used iPhone and finding you can't activate it.
If you're facing this situation, you haven't necessarily wasted your money.
Check out this article for instructions on what to do in that situation: What
To Do When You Can't Activate a Used iPhone.
Selling
Your Old iPhone
If
you’re buying a used or refurbished iPhone, you may have an older model you
want to get rid of. Get the most money you can for it by assessing all your
options. Your best bet is probably to sell to one of the many resale companies
like NextWorth and Gazelle (check out the link above for a full list of these
companies). They offer a good combination of price and assurance that you won't
get scammed