Why a used iPhone needs extra care
iPhones hold their value well, which makes them a favourite for scammers and a big purchase for you. The good news is that iOS shows you a lot about the phone’s history if you know where to look. Apple’s own guidance for buying a pre-owned iPhone covers most of what’s below, and you can do all of it in about fifteen minutes at the meet-up.
1. Activation Lock and Find My: the deal-breaker
Activation Lock ties an iPhone to its owner’s Apple Account. Apple is clear: if the iPhone is Activation Locked, don’t buy it. Without the previous owner’s Apple Account password, you may not be able to use it.
- When you switch it on, you should see either the Lock Screen or the “Hello” setup screen.
- If you see “iPhone Locked to Owner”, ask the seller to enter their Apple Account password to remove Activation Lock. If they can’t, don’t buy it.
- If it’s on the Lock Screen or Home Screen, it hasn’t been erased. Ask the seller to sign out of their Apple Account and erase the iPhone in front of you, then start setup yourself. If setup asks for the previous owner’s Apple Account, it’s still linked to them.
Also dial *#06# and check the IMEI matches the box. Our guide on checking if a phone is stolen explains why, and how to ask a network about blacklisting.
2. Battery health
Go to Settings › Battery › Battery Health (on some iOS versions it’s called Battery Health & Charging). “Maximum Capacity” shows how much charge the battery holds compared with when it was new.
- Apple says batteries in iPhone 14 models and earlier are designed to keep 80% of their original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles.
- iPhone 15 models are designed to keep 80% at 1,000 complete cycles.
- On iPhone 15 and later (iOS 17.4 or later), the Battery Health screen also shows the cycle count and when the battery was manufactured and first used.
A lower maximum capacity isn’t a reason to walk away on its own, but factor the cost of a battery replacement into the price. If you see a message saying iOS is “unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple battery”, the battery has probably been replaced with a non-genuine part and the health figure may not be accurate.
3. Parts and service history
On iOS 15.2 and later, go to Settings › General › About. If parts such as the battery, display or camera have been replaced, you may see a “Parts and Service History” section showing which parts, and whether they’re genuine Apple parts or unknown ones. An aftermarket screen isn’t automatically a deal-breaker, but the seller should have told you, and the price should reflect it.
4. Model, storage and network lock
Still in Settings › General › About, check the model name and storage capacity match the advert. Apple also suggests checking carrier status there. Look for the line about carrier or SIM restrictions: you want an iPhone that works with any network. Then put your own SIM in and make a call to be sure.
5. Physical checks and a quick function test
- Take the case off. Check the screen, sides and back for cracks, dents and gaps around the display.
- Check the charging port: plug in and make sure it charges.
- Test Face ID or Touch ID by setting it up.
- Try the volume buttons, side button and the Ring/Silent switch or Action button.
- Take photos with every camera, front and back, in bright and dim light.
- Make a call and record a voice note to test the earpiece, speakers and microphone.
- Adjust the brightness from low to high and look for patches, lines or discolouration.
- Connect to Wi-Fi and pair a Bluetooth device.
6. Paying safely
Only pay once the iPhone has been erased, set up on your own Apple Account, and passed your checks. Meet in a busy public place, don’t pay a deposit for a phone you haven’t seen, and keep the chat and proof of payment. Our guide to common Marketplace scams covers the tricks to watch for.