Second-Hand Phone: Buying a second-hand phone in pursuit of cheapness can land you in serious trouble. Before buying a used phone, you should always check these three important things. Learn the full story.

Tips for buying a second-hand phone

Nowadays, the price of new smartphones has risen so much that not everyone can afford to buy a new phone every year. In such a situation, many people turn to the second-hand market to find a premium phone from their favorite brand within a tight budget. Used phones are easily available at very low prices, from online websites to local mobile stores. Seeing a shiny old phone from the outside often leads people to immediately withdraw money and give it away.

But a few days after bringing it home, sometimes the phone's battery runs out within half an hour, or sometimes you suddenly get a call from the police saying the handset is stolen. To avoid such fraud and financial loss, it's important to check a few things beforehand. Let's tell you about the three most important things you should always check when buying a used phone.

The biggest risk when buying a used phone is that it might be stolen. If you accidentally purchase a stolen phone and insert your SIM card, the police will track it and arrive at your doorstep. To avoid this problem, first dial *#06# on the phone's dial pad. Entering this code will display the 15-digit IMEI number on the screen.

Be sure to compare this number with the number on the phone's original box and bill. Then, visit the Department of Telecommunications' Sanchar Saathi portal and enter this number in the Know Your Mobile section to check. If the status on the screen says "blacklisted" or "duplicate," return the phone immediately. Also, be sure to obtain a photocopy of the original bill and ID from the dealer or the person selling the phone.

Check the internal hardware as well.

Often, second-hand phone dealers replace broken screens with inexpensive, local displays, giving the phone a new shine. The touch screens of such local displays can often become unusable within a few weeks. To verify this, press and hold an icon and move it around the screen. If the icon disappears from the center, it's likely a problem with the display.

Additionally, insert the SIM card into your phone and make a call. Check if the screen lights up and the sound is clear when you hold it to your ear. Take photos and videos with all the front and rear cameras, zoom in, and check for dust or smudges on the lenses. Also, repeatedly test the phone's speaker, microphone, charging port, and fingerprint sensor to avoid unnecessary repair costs later.

Be sure to check battery health.

The weakest link in any old smartphone is its battery. If you're buying a used iPhone, be sure to check its battery health in the Battery section of Settings. If the battery health is below 80 percent, you'll need to immediately replace it with a new battery, which could cost thousands of rupees. For Android phones, use the phone continuously for 10 minutes to see how quickly the battery is depleting and whether the phone is overheating at the back.

Additionally, people often dry out phones that have been dropped in water and sell them for cheap, but the motherboards completely rot after a few days. To detect this, remove the phone's SIM tray and peek inside with a flashlight. If the small liquid damage indicator sticker inside appears red or pink instead of white, it's likely the phone has been submerged in water.