The five keys to look at before buying a second-hand mobile

The high price of mobiles and inflation make the second-hand market an excellent option for renewing the phone. Consumer electronics, which includes smartphones, is the fourth most purchased type of product in Europe so, according to Statesman. And it’s important to be sure it’s a good buy.

After all, these are products that can exceed four figures in the case of models prime. In order not to be surprised, it is necessary to check the state of certain components like buttons or cameras before buying a second-hand Android device.

Checking them is also useful when buying a refurbished product, although it is true that in these cases the store itself is usually make a test of the state of the mobile and inform the user of its result. Many companies in Europe sell used technology in this format, and Amazon, for example, has revamped this section to give it more prominence.

battery health

Battery efficiency may be reduced over time and the charging habits you have experienced. This component has a limited lifespanso probably the longer the device has been used, the more it will have deteriorated.

There are apps, like Electron, that pass a test to determine the health level of the mobile battery. If its capacity has dropped, or if the app indicates that it is in poor condition, it will last fewer hours than it should and refills will have to be frequent. This shouldn’t be a problem and depends on who is going to use it.

However, to achieve the greatest possible battery life, it is very likely that at some point you will have to change the battery, with the cost that this implies. At Phone House, for example, a change can cost between 40 and 90 dollars depending on the model.

There is also the possibility of buying a portable battery to connect the mobile when needed, although this can be somewhat uncomfortable on a daily basis. In any case, the decision is up to the buyer, but thanks to this application, he becomes all the information on the table before paying for the smartphone.

Chamber glass

The camera has become one of the segments in which manufacturers are making the most effort to differentiate themselves from the competition, and its possibilities have grown a lot over the years. However, if the component is faulty, it is highly likely that the photographic experience is not very good.

Most manufacturers use special glass that protects the sensors and is tough to prevent scratch ing and damage. Corning Gorilla Glass DX is one of them, and it is able to increase the resistance of this component while favoring the entry of light.

Even so, there are times when it can deteriorate, and for this reason it is important take a close look at the front camera and rear module. If the glass just above the sensor is scratched, photos taken with that particular sensor will be blurry.

In the event that the photographic part is not one of the priorities, it suffices to try it to find out whether it is worth buying or not. Getting a damaged device is not ideal, but the severity of the damage should be assessed against the use each gives to that component.

Display and sensors

There are secret codes in Android that are able to reveal the components of certain cell phones or tablets, as well as test to see if it is in good condition. The way to access it is to use the code *#*#197328640#*#* in the phone application. However, does not work on all models.

Alternatively, an application like Testio will perform several functional tests with the smartphone to verify that everything is working correctly. Additionally, they also offer information about the hardware that the device has, which is useful to see what that model has in terms of internal storage and RAM.

The app will check the status of the screen, proximity sensors, accelerometer, barometer, auto rotation and brightness, GPS, or cameras. Tests will also be speakers and microphones Some of them require user participation.

It’s best to ask the owner to install the app and take several of the available tests. Some components such as the screen digitizer may exhibit errors difficult to detect with the naked eye and which impoverish the long-term experience.

ports and buttons

It is extremely important that the USB Type C is in good condition. Otherwise, it may require you to have it repaired if you want to continue using it, because in many cases, this is the only way to recharge the mobile. Some models like the Samsung Galaxy S23 or the Google Pixel 7 Pro also support wireless charging.

If it is connected to a portable battery with a good cable, it can be easily checked if there is any irregularity when plugged in. It does not detect the load, that the connector is loose or that it only charges when moved to a certain position

To check the operation of the headphone port, it is also important to have one that works well. To do this, just plug them in and play some music. Yeah it does not sound good when you turn the cable a little without removing it or only one of them is heard, it is most likely in poor condition.

You press the volume and power buttons on a daily basis, and you also need to make sure they respond properly when pressed and don’t get stuck or have ghost keystrokes. Eventually, the SIM tray must be in good condition for it to read cards correctlyit must therefore be extracted and ensured that it is not broken.

Is stolen?

The IMEI is the identification number of each smartphone, it is made up of 15 digits and thanks to it it is possible know if it is a stolen mobile. When someone loses or misplaces their phone and this is reported, it is marked as stolen and may even be blocked in certain countries so that it cannot be used.

To find this code, all you have to do is go to Settings and look for the information section, where it will appear next to the Android model and version. But, dial the code *#06# in the call application will bring up a window with the IMEI numbers of your SIM slots.

Once you have that number there are pages like imei24 where when you enter it it compares it to a database to find out if it is a smartphone that has been reported stolen. The purchase of a stolen product is an offense under the Penal Code, and can result in a prison sentence of 6 months to 2 years if it is determined that there are indications that the buyer had knowledge of it.

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