Buying a used phone? 10 things to check before you pay
A 10-minute checklist that will save you from buying a stolen, blacklisted, or dying phone.
Jean Niho 2
06 April 2026
The second-hand phone market is huge — and unfortunately so is the number of problem phones being sold. Most issues are avoidable if you know what to look for. Here's the 10-minute checklist every Tradeza buyer should run before handing over cash.
1. Meet in person — always
Never buy a phone by courier or "bank deposit then we ship". Meet at a mall, public place, or inside a shopping-centre security zone. No exceptions.
2. Check the IMEI for blacklisting
Dial *#06# on the phone. Note the IMEI. Run it through the CEIR website (ceir.co.za) or via your network operator to confirm it's not blacklisted as lost or stolen. If it is, walk away — the phone will lose signal the moment you put your SIM in.
3. Match the IMEI to the box
If the seller has the original box, the IMEI on the box should match the one on the phone. Mismatches mean the phone has been swapped or reboxed.
4. Test every physical button
Volume up, volume down, power, home button (if any), silent switch, fingerprint sensor, face ID. Broken buttons are common and expensive to repair.
5. Test all cameras
Front, back, ultrawide if it has one, flash, video mode, slow-mo. Lens scratches show up immediately on video.
6. Check the battery health
- iPhone: Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 85% = replace within 6 months.
- Samsung: dial
*#0228#to see capacity and battery condition. - Other Androids: install AccuBattery for a quick read.
7. Factory reset in front of you
This is non-negotiable. The seller must sign out of iCloud / Google Account and factory reset the phone before you pay. If they refuse, the phone might be locked to their account and useless to you.
8. Verify activation lock is off
After reset, set up the phone with your own account. If it asks for the previous owner's password, it's still locked — do not pay.
9. Check speakers, microphone, and charging port
Play music. Record a voice memo. Plug in a cable. Bad charging ports are a common hidden fault, especially on older iPhones and Pixels.
10. Ask for a proof of purchase
An original till slip, online invoice, or even a screenshot of the order confirmation is a strong signal the phone isn't stolen. No proof isn't a deal-breaker on very old phones, but raises the risk.
If everything checks out, pay in cash or via an instant EFT that's cleared before you leave. Never transfer first and collect later.