Smartphones have become a popular breed of feature phone successors, owning a Samsung or iPhone no longer grants you bragging rights in a section where the Camon 11, Infinix S3x, Huawei Mate 20, Itel S13 smartphones exist. But on purchasing cool class smartphones like high-end versions, many users prefer used for a reason or two.
When buying a new smartphone you are either assured of a high copy or a genuine copy depending on the place of purchase. But when buying a used smartphone, 99% chances are that you’ll land on a genuine piece maintained in either rough or soft hands. So, If you wish to buy a used smartphone whether locally or online, here are a few things you should consider.
Genuine or clone appearance
Back then, landing on a cheap Samsung clone was as simple as requesting a SafeBoda to the city center. In 2019, we can’t actually tell if the percentage has met the resistance lines yet. Well, before buying that used smartphone, check for its IMEI serial number and enter it on the Manufacturer website for confirmation.
For Tecno smartphones visit http://gc.tecno-mobile.com/, Samsung or simply visit imei.info to test the same serial number directly. Either way, you can check the device settings in the About phone option to locate the serial number, note it down and cross check if its the same as that on the battery and inside device back.
Another common way is to press *#06# to retrieve the smartphone serial numbers. However, you can also search online for the particular device specifications and check whether the camera has the same quality as reviewed online or even the battery being of the same capacity. If any of these things don’t match, then its better you search for a brand new version of the phone.
Battery Life
If you a buying a pre-lady owned smartphone, chances are it will be in good condition and the battery life will be a superb as unboxed. However, you should not rely on the previous owner, perform tasks like downloading a high consumption racing game and play for 2 minutes to check the draining rate.
If the battery can hang on for some good minutes without a percentage drop, then you may have landed on a well-used piece perfect to purchase. Poor battery smartphones drain first, but once the battery can hang on and its capacity is as per the specification, it means you’re good to go.
Used Condition
Used smartphones can be grouped as Mint-, Very Good, Good, Fair or inoperable. So before buying the device, ask the previous owner its condition and chances are good will be the keyword used. But if you check on the cosmetic and design wear, you should be able to identify the true condition before you buy.
Model and Software version
Before buying a used smartphone, first, know the model and query with its right software version as per the online specifications. Fake smartphones usually have weird models in the About section plus different software version from the original versions.
For instance, specifications might have Android 8.1 and the used smartphone ships in Android 8.0. So you should be keen on these changes and trash any irregular incidences for a better smartphone whether on OLX or locally in a shop.
Smartphone safety screws
New smartphones come with safety screw stickers, before you proceed to buy a used smartphone, check if its not tampered with by checking its back side for safety screw stickers (small round papers behind).
Either way, tampered screws show signs of screwdriver usage and this shows the smartphone has been repaired before. So, the previous owner has to admit what must have provoked the opening and reason for sell before you pull out a UGX note to check out on your bid.
We believe if you follow the above guidelines when buying a used smartphone, you must have a perfect genuine piece in your right arm if all goes well. Nonetheless, high copy clones are also aligned as originals so you should be on the look for basic marks on the smartphone.
