Should you buy a used smartphone in Kampala?

By
Farooq Gessa Mousal
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s6 Edge plus_edge SW

The used smartphone market is bustling because the phones come at a relatively cheaper price than their shiny brand new counterparts. If you’ve ever set foot out in market for a brand new smartphone, you must have noticed the wallet whittling prices. Brand new phones like the iPhone X cost well above UGX 4 million. Sticker shock? Well, that’s how expensive brand new top-of-the-line smartphones are getting. Most people are taking a ride around the used phone highway for its cost saving advantage.

If you are not willing or able to fork out all that cash for a brand new phone, and you don’t mind having something a little less than the newest model, then you must consider buying a used smartphone. Obviously your wallet needs a break from the sky rocketing prices of new devices.

In the developed countries, it’s standard practice today for cell phone carriers to guarantee their products with 30-day return policies with no questions asked, by law. (God bless us). These returned phones can no longer be classified as “new”. Most of them come from the UK and hence the name, “UK used”.

For a long time, I have bought UK used phones and made some mistakes a long the way. But the long time in the used smartphone game helped me evolve the skills that apply in these realms if you are to get value for your money. For whatever reason you have to consider buying a used phone rather than a brand new one, you will find my answers to these questions invaluable.

Where should you buy?

There are legitimate shops in Kampala that ship in these used devices for sale. But how do you know it’s a legitimate shop? Well, it should have big stock of phones and company receipt book in its name. There are lots of phone sellers in town claiming to have legit UK used smartphones. Going for registered shops is the best option since buying used phones comes with a bit of risk.

How much must you pay for? 

The Nokia 3310 review 5
Nokia 3310 hangs out with the Galaxy S8 Plus

Used phones don’t have mapped out prices. While its obvious that the price must be below the price of a brand new device, it’s not clear how much a used version costs. The starting point is finding out how much it costs to buy the same phone in brand new category. Some used phones go for prices almost half the price of a brand new one. But expect to pay between 60% – 70% of the price of the new one to get a used phone thanks to the high taxes and profit mark-up of the phone dealers.

Is the phone unlocked?

Some of these phones were previously locked to carriers abroad. So when they get here, they cannot be usable on any network in Uganda. Before your splash out your cash to secure a used phone, make sure you know it’s been unlocked to function in Uganda. Also, some iPhones come iCloud locked. These cannot be used for anything other than playing music and taking pics. So make sure you test this before you pay.

When should you buy a used phone?

Prices drop as newer models are released. Even the prices of brand new devices fall when a newer model of the phone is put on market. Luckily, the frequency of releases increased in the past years. So price drops are expected. You should consider buying a used phone when a new model has been released on market for sometime. This will assure you getting the phone on a bargain.

Do you get some kind of warranty?

New phones come with longer warranties and guarantees. Used phones however, come with short warranties if you are lucky. But these are enough to see if the phone has any defect that wasn’t communicated to you. Consider buying used phones from a seller who offers you a warranty.

Does the phone get software updates?

The hardware of the smartphone doesn’t change from the day the phone was manufactured. But software updates are very important. They give new life to old devices in terms of security patches and support for new applications. For android devices, Google is the only trusted company that is known to give timely software updates and over a long time. So for android, consider Google phones like the Nexus and Pixel devices. Software updates are not a thing to worry about for iPhone users as Apple typically supports its old hardware. But don’t go over board and buy devices that are from a couple of years down memory lane.

Isn’t the phone stolen?

s6 Edge plus_edge UXEveryone is aware of the “kifesi” squad that terrorizes the city and the neighboring districts. They have built a reputation of stealing smartphones and selling them for the cheap. Your new-to-you phone may not be UK used, but part of the the many phones that have been stolen from irate owners. These owners of the stolen phones may not be ready to just let their precious devices go without a follow up. Buying a stolen phone, even innocently, may land you into the biggest problems you’ve never imagined. So, buy from legitimate shops and not anyone that comes flashing a device for sale. If you buy from a person, let them avail you with the necessary documents to prove ownership of the device.

Does the phone have replaceable parts and spare?

Some parts of the phone like the lithium ion battery are subject to decline over time. You can’t expect the battery to maintain its holding capacity if you buy a used phone. Buying one with a replaceable battery will bail you out.

Remember to do a physical check of the device to make sure that there aren’t any hidden faults. Carefully examine the phone for any traces of major falls that may render the internals unreliable. You may go as far as exerting slight pressure to make sure the package is intact. Also, remove the back cover for any signs of rust or whether the phone has been tampered with by looking at the screw holes.