9 things you must do when buying a ‘pre-owned’ iPhone

Inspect the physical condition of the iPhone carefully. Serious damage can affect its functionality. Remove the case and accessories to check for scratches, scuffs, dents, and damage to the Lightning connector.

Ensure the iPhone turns on and displays either the Lock Screen, Hello screen, or the iPhone Locked to Owner screen. If it doesn't turn on, try charging it. If the battery won't charge, consider not buying the iPhone.

If the iPhone shows "iPhone Locked to Owner," ask the seller to disable Activation Lock. Don't buy the iPhone if Activation Lock is enabled. If you're purchasing online and encounter this message, return the iPhone.

Check for replaced parts in the iPhone by going to Settings > General > About. Look for the iOS version; if it's 15.2 or later, you may find a Parts and Service History section. "Genuine Apple Part" indicates a legitimate replacement, while "Unknown Part" suggests an incomplete or non-genuine replacement.

For iPhone 6 and later, check the battery health in Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Ensure the battery is in good condition, and it's using genuine Apple parts and processes. Verify if any performance management feature is active.

Determine if the iPhone is locked to a carrier. Go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" for an unlocked iPhone. If you see a carrier name, it's restricted to that carrier.

If possible, connect the iPhone to a Wi-Fi network. This ensures the device can connect and function properly.

Test the physical buttons on the iPhone, including the volume buttons, Ring/Silent switch, and side button. Ensure they work correctly.

Perform comprehensive testing on the phone, including camera functionality in different lighting, speaker sound quality, microphone recording, and display brightness adjustments.