Buying a used Android phone without the guesswork.
A used Samsung or Pixel is a great deal when the battery is healthy, the phone is unlocked, and the Google account is signed out. We check all three with you.
A used Android phone, Samsung or Pixel, is a strong value when the battery, the carrier lock, and the Google account all check out. We sell used Android phones at seven Lehigh Valley stores, and you can verify every one of these points at the counter before you pay anything at all.
Written by the technicians at Quick Cellphone Repair. This is how we handle this job at our seven Lehigh Valley stores — not a generic web article.
We have sold used Android phones in the Lehigh Valley since 2015, from seven stores open 10 AM to 8 PM every day. The checks we run with you are simple. Battery life, since Android does not show a tidy health percentage, so we look at age, charge behavior, and any swelling. Carrier lock, because an Unlocked phone works anywhere while a Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, or Verizon lock ties it down. Factory Reset Protection, meaning the prior owner removed their Google account, or the phone locks on setup. A clean IMEI, read in front of you, so the phone is not blacklisted. The condition grade, Brand New, Like New, Good, or Fair, is on the tag. Samsung and Pixel parts differ from iPhone parts, so repairs are a separate page. The device sales policy is the warranty for the phone itself.
Battery and charging on Android
Android does not give you Apple's neat battery-health percentage, so we judge the cell a different way: the phone's age, how fast it drains while you hold it, and whether the back feels warm or looks even slightly swollen.
A swollen battery is a hard no, and we will tell you if we see one. A simply tired battery is a cheap fix; our Android battery replacement guide covers that. A phone that will not hold a charge may be the port, which the Android won't charge guide walks through.
Charge the phone at the counter for a minute. Watch it climb. A healthy charge curve on a clean port is what you want to see before you commit.
Locks, accounts, and a clean IMEI
Factory Reset Protection is the Android version of Activation Lock. The previous owner must have removed their Google account or the phone will demand their password on setup. We verify the account is gone before you buy.
Carrier lock decides the network. Unlocked works on any carrier. A phone locked to Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, or Verizon only works on that one. We read the IMEI aloud and confirm the lock status and that the phone is not blacklisted.
A blacklisted IMEI means the phone was reported lost or unpaid, and it will lose service. This is the one check you cannot do by looking at the phone, so we do it with you at the bench.
Grade, screen, and the iPhone option
Every used Android phone has a condition grade on the tag: Brand New, Like New, Good, or Fair. The grade is honest. A Good-grade Samsung at a lower price is often the smartest buy on the wall.
If the only flaw is the glass, a cracked Android screen is a repair we quote on the spot, so a marked phone plus a screen swap can beat a pricier listing. Compare what is in stock on shop Android.
The device sales policy covers the phone you buy and is separate from repair warranty. If you are torn between platforms, the used iPhone guide runs the same checks on the Apple side.
The iPhone version of this guide
A used iPhone is a great buy when the battery and Face ID are healthy and the phone is clean. Here is how we check in front of you.
Buy a Used iPhone: What to CheckFrequently asked questions
Answers about used android phone at our seven Lehigh Valley stores.
Android hides a clean percentage, so we judge it by the phone's age, how quickly it drains in your hand, and whether the battery looks swollen. We charge it at the counter so you can watch the curve. A swollen battery is a no; a tired one is a cheap fix.
Walk in with the phone. We quote before we start.
Seven Lehigh Valley stores, 10 AM to 8 PM. Most in-stock screen and battery jobs finish in 30 to 60 minutes.