It is well known that iPhone offers new models termly with upgrades iOS and new features, which intrigues a large number of loyal iPhone users. There is no doubt that iPhone works seamlessly with other Apple gadgets, including Macs and the Apple Watch — there’s an ecosystem factor. However, the price of a brand new or the latest released iPhone always hits new highs, which means not all can afford it or it is not worth to abandon the old one for pursuing the latest. To some followers of iPhone, they may spend a lot of money to get an iPhone as it is hardly on sale. If you do really want to get one without paying full price, buying a used iPhone would be a great alternative. Then how can you buy a used iPhone and where can you buy a used iPhone? Read on to find the answer.

Part 1: Is it Safe to Buy a Used iPhone?

You may have some concerns about buying a used iPhone. It’s reasonable to wonder whether there are any risks to buy a used iPhone or a used iPhone is as good and reliable as a new one. As a matter of fact, it largely depends on where you buy a used iPhone. There is no doubt that everything has two sides, buying a used phone is no exception. If you are buying a used iPhone from an established and reputable platform such as Apple, Amazon, etc., you can avoid most of traps and risks and get a good and reliable used iPhone. In this case, buying a used iPhone at a fair price pays off. There are often some platforms offering the cheapest options, but the savings come with their fair share of risks and you should be more discerning.

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Part 2: Where to Buy a Used iPhone?

There are several platforms to buy a used or refurbished iPhone, among which Apple, eBay and Amazon are the most reputable.

1. Apple Refurbished Store

Apple sells refurbished products on its website, and guarantees Apple quality. A solid collection of refurbished iPhone models is compiled here, including iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max. It claims that all refurbished iPhone models come with a new battery, new outer shell, are backed by a one-year warranty, have free delivery and returns, and also include:

  • Full functional testing, genuine Apple part replacements (if necessary), and a thorough cleaning.
  • The original Operating System or a more recent version.
  • All refurbished devices are repackaged in a brand-new box with all accessories and cables.
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2. eBay

eBay has a huge catalog of used iPhone models for sale. It has developed a great reputation as a quality place to buy used goods from sellers across the globe over the years. If you would like to get a used iPhone at a fairly low price, it is a good option. On this platform, sellers can upload photos and give detailed descriptions of the phone’s condition, and buyers can also ask questions to get more information. With eBay’s money back guarantee, you can return the phone for a full refund if it isn’t exactly as the seller described.

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3. Amazon Renewed

Amazon Renewed has a solid selection of pre-owned, refurbished, and open-box products. A large collection of used iPhone models is available here for reasonable prices. You can buy a used iPhone directly from manufacturers or a third-party reseller here. It is claimed that products here have been professionally inspected and tested to work and look like new by an Amazon qualified and performance managed supplier. Moreover, a used or refurbished iPhone bought here is quite reliable and backed by Amazon’s trusted return policy.

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Part 3: What You Need to Consider When Buying a Used iPhone?

Except for choosing a reliable place to buy a used iPhone, there are many other factors you need to consider when buying a used iPhone.

△ 1. Decide Your Budget

The latest iPhone models can be breathtakingly expensive. If you’re desperate for an iPhone but your budget doesn’t quite stretch to the newest iPhone models, buying a used or refurbished iPhone is a great way to pick up a bargain. The price difference between a used iPhone sold through different vendors can be significant, however. There are also other factors that make the price different. It’s tempting to pay only $50 to an eBay seller as opposed to a hefty $500 for a certified pre-owned phone. It may depend on your budget sometimes.

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△ 2. Check the MIEI

Before your buy a pre-owned, used or refurbished iPhone, you’d better make sure that the iPhone is not a stolen or lost one by checking the IMEI. IMEI refers to International Mobile Equipment Identity numbers, the unique identification number for the device. An IMEI number is essentially a 15-digit social security number that identifies a phone on a mobile network, which can help you track down your phone if it has been registered as lost or stolen. If it has, you won’t be able to activate the phone. So, checking the IMEI is crucial. Follow the simple guide to check IMEI numbers.

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Steps:

  1. Tap the “Settings” app on the iPhone > “General” > “About”.
  2. Scroll down and look next to IMEI (or MEID) for the number.
  3. When getting the number, you can go to the CTIA Stolen Phone Checker website and submit the number. The website returns a green “Not reported lost or stolen” or a red notice that the phone has been reported as lost or stolen.

△ 3. Check Carrier

Apple has made it easy to use the iPhone with any wireless carrier — all iPhone models of recent new versions in the US are compatible with all major carriers. Nonetheless, if you’re buying an iPhone X or older, you should pay much attention to the model number. For example, the iPhone X has two models: The iPhone X A1865 is a combination GSM and CDMA model that works on any carrier, while the iPhone X A1901 is GSM-only, intended for carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile, but not Verizon or Sprint. It is significant make sure the used phone is compatible with the carrier you want to use.

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△ 4. Check the iPhone Battery Health

Since users can’t replace the iPhone’s battery, you’d better check the iPhone battery health when you are buying a used iPhone. To check the health of the battery on phones running iOS 11.3 or later, you can use the Battery Health feature:

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Steps:

  1. Tap the “Settings” app.
  2. Choose “Battery” > “Battery Health” to check the battery’s maximum capacity.
  3. A perfect, brand-new battery on a brand-new iPhone would have 100% capacity, so the closer it is to 100%, the better. If it’s currently under 80%, the phone may not be a good value.

△ 5. Check Hardware Issue

Another important thing you need to do when buying a used iPhone is to check the phone’s hardware functions. Firstly, you should check the screen to make sure that every inch of the screen responds to touch and there is no dead spot. Secondly, make sure that the microphone, speaker, camera and other hardware can work normally. Most importantly, it is necessary to check the water damage indicator sticker hidden inside the SIM card tray to see if the phone has ever been water damaged. The water damage indicator or liquid damage indicator (LDI) is initially white and will turn red if it comes into contact with water, indicating that the phone may be water damaged.

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△ 6. Check Home Button or Face ID

What’s more, you should check Home button or Face ID when buying a used iPhone to make sure that they’re performing normally. If the Home button spins or wiggles more than usual, it could have been replaced with a low-quality part. A replaced home button will often result in the malfunction of the Touch ID fingerprint scanner. To test whether Home button works fine or not, follow the simple steps below.

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Steps:

  1. Tap the “Settings” app.
  2. Tap “Touch ID & Passcodes” > “Fingerprints”.
  3. Select “Add a Fingerprint…” and try placing your thumb on the home button a few times to be sure that it performs normally. Face ID will be the same path.

Part 4: How to Transfer Data from Your iPhone to the Used iPhone?

Once you get a used iPhone for your next phone, you may need to transfer data to it from your owned iPhone. To make sure you transfer your data safely and efficiently between the two phones, a powerful and user-friendly transfer program—Leawo iTransfer is strongly recommended. Leawo iTransfer provides perfect solutions for iPhone transfer issues. It can transfer 12 kinds of files, like photos, music, videos, SMS, contacts, and so on between iOS devices, iTunes and PCs. Therefore, it can also be used to back up iPhone, iPad and iPod (touch) files to computer. To transfer data from your iPhone to the used one, you can just follow the guide below.

Step 1. Download and install Leawo iTransfer

Go to the official site and download Leawo iTansfer for free. Then follow its simple instructions to install the program on your computer in minutes.

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  • Leawo iTransfer

    - Transfer files among iOS devices, iTunes and PCs with ease.
    - 6x faster than iTunes
    - Transfer up to 14 kinds of data and files without iTunes.
    - Support the latest iOS devices like iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, etc.
    - Play back, view, and delete data and files on iOS devices.
    - Support Windows & Mac OS

Step 2. Connect both iPhones to computer and run the software

When you connect both iPhones to computer and run Leawo iTansfer, it will automatically detect the two devices and show the Libraries of them. Click the name of your iPhone and choose a library in left sidebar.

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Step 3. Select files you want to transfer to the used iPhone

You can select all files listed on the right sidebar and then click the transfer button. Or you could also hold Ctrl/Shift key to select certain files, and then right-click the selected files and click “Transfer to” to choose iPhone.

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Step 4. Start transferring files from your iPhone

Click the transfer button below to pop up a transfer setting dialog. Now you can check Transfer to List in the dialog and choose iPhone as a target. Then click “Transfer Now” to start transferring files from your iPhone to the used iPhone.

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If you would like to sell your old iPhone after transferring all data to your next phone, you can read more on how to erase iPhone here. And there are also some solutions to transfer music from iPhone to computer if you would like to back up your favorite music on your iPhone.