Buying a used iPhone? Check these five things before you pay.
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.
A used iPhone is the smart buy when the battery, Face ID, and carrier status all check out. You do not need the newest model to get years of use. We sell used iPhones at seven Lehigh Valley stores, and you can test every one of these points at the counter before you hand over a dime.
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 iPhones in the Lehigh Valley since 2015, from seven stores open 10 AM to 8 PM every day. Here is what we check with you before money changes hands. Battery health, in Settings, Battery, Battery Health; under 85% means a replacement is coming. Face ID, tested on the spot, because a swapped sensor from a bad repair is how it dies. Carrier lock, so an Unlocked phone works on any network while a Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, or Verizon lock does not. Activation Lock, meaning the prior owner signed out of iCloud, or the phone is a brick. iCloud status and a clean IMEI, which we read in front of you. The condition grade, Brand New, Like New, Good, or Fair, is on the tag. The device sales policy is the warranty for the phone itself.
Battery health is the number that matters
An iPhone with 78% battery health is not broken, but it will not last a full day either. Open Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health and Charging. The maximum capacity number tells you how much life is left in the cell.
We show you that screen before you buy. If the number is low and the price is right, a battery replacement is a cheap fix that buys you years. If the number is high, you are getting a phone that behaves like new.
A healthy battery is worth more than a newer model with a tired one. Do not let the model number distract you from the one measurement that decides your day.
Face ID, locks, and a clean IMEI
Face ID has to be tested, not promised. Set it up at the counter. If it fails to enroll, the sensor was swapped in a cheap repair and it will never be reliable. We keep original Face ID hardware on every phone we sell.
Carrier lock decides where the phone works. Unlocked runs on any network. A phone locked to Simple Mobile, T-Mobile, or Verizon only works there. We read the IMEI and tell you the status so there is no surprise at activation.
Activation Lock is the dealbreaker to rule out. The previous owner must be signed out of iCloud or the phone cannot be set up. We verify that is clear before you pay, every time.
Grade, price, and what comes after
Every used iPhone carries a condition grade: Brand New, Like New, Good, or Fair. The grade is on the tag and it is honest. A Fair phone with light scratches at a lower price can be the best value on the shelf.
If the glass is the only flaw, remember a cracked screen is a same-visit repair, so a scratched Good-grade phone plus a screen swap can beat a pricier listing. Compare the models on shop iPhone.
The device sales policy covers the phone you buy. The repair warranty is separate and covers repairs. If the Android side is where you are leaning, read the used Android phone guide instead.
The Android version of this guide
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.
Buy a Used Android Phone: ChecklistFrequently asked questions
Answers about used iphone at our seven Lehigh Valley stores.
Aim for 85% or higher for a phone that lasts a full day. We show you the exact number in Settings before you buy. Below that is not a dealbreaker if the price reflects it, because a battery replacement is an affordable fix that restores full-day life.
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.