Considering a pre-owned or refurbished iPhone purchase? Our comprehensive guide to simplify your buying process

By the end of this year, more than half of all iPhones in use will be second-hand devices, according to a leading analyst firm.

CCS Insight predicts there will be 1.3 billion iPhones in circulation by the end of 2023, and that more than 50% of them will be reused.

The prediction highlights the ever-lengthening lifespan of Apple’s smartphones, with CCS claiming that from 2024 the average life of an iPhone will be eight years.

CCS has been tracking the second-hand device market for the past couple of years and claims the iPhone is by far and away the most reused smartphone. “We have seen a huge surge in interest in the second-hand technology market over the last few years, which has really come about for a few reasons,” said Leo Gebbie, principal analyst at the firm.

Gebbie said one of the biggest reasons is a lack of major upgrades between one iPhone and the next. “The iPhone 15 has just come out, and it is incrementally better than the iPhone 14, which was incrementally better than the iPhone 13,” he said.

“Increasingly there is this view from customers that say, ‘hey, I could go and spend a thousand pounds on a brand new iPhone 15, or I can go and spend four or five hundred pounds on a good quality refurbished iPhone 13.”

People’s motivation for buying second-hand iPhones isn’t purely financial, though, with customers recognising that it’s also good for the environment, Gebbie said.

iPhone Dominance

The second-hand smartphone market is almost entirely dominated by Apple, according to CCS Insight’s research. “The iPhone is driving a vast amount of volumes in the secondary device landscape,” said Gebbie. “It is by far and away the brand that people choose to get and obviously part of this comes from the fact that new Apple devices are expensive. This is a way that people can go and get the device they want for a more affordable price point.”

There’s also a whole industry that has matured around providing refurbished iPhones. “We see very well organised supply now in the secondary market,” said Gebbie.

“Increasingly, we do see it as being a huge way that people are getting into the Apple ecosystem, and the way that people are buying their first iPhone. Or they’re upgrading to a new iPhone if they’ve been holding on to a far older model for a really long time. It’s a behavior that is becoming very, very well established throughout the industry.”

Although a high proportion of the demand for reused iPhones comes from emerging markets, Gebbie said there was “very high levels of interest” in markets such as the U.S. and the U.K. too.

Worry For Apple?

Apple offers refurbished devices via its own website, in addition to the burgeoning third-party market for reused iPhones. But will the company be concerned by the growing proportion of customers who are seeking out second-hand devices?

“Apple is happy enough with the situation because, right now, Apple is in a position where its services line of revenue is growing very strongly,” said Gebbie. “For every person who buys an iPhone, even if it’s a second-hand iPhone, what they then tend to do is give money to Apple on a month-by-month basis, because they’re subscribing to services like Apple TV or Apple Fitness.”

App Store purchases are also subject to the 30% commission that Apple takes from developers, Gebbie added.

“However, there certainly is a point somewhere in the future where this could become problematic for Apple,” said Gebbie. “Every person who’s buying a second-hand iPhone instead of a brand new iPhone is ultimately taking a chunk out of that top-line revenue and, at a certain points in time, we do think that will be something that Apple might think more seriously about.”

If you are planning to get on the iPhone bandwagon and don’t want to spend a lot of money, then getting a used iPhone is probably the best way to do it. A second-hand iPhone is usually a lot cheaper and more affordable. However, in some cases you might end up paying a lot more, depending on the condition of the iPhone.  Here is a quick guide on how to get the best deals while buying a second-hand iPhone.

Ensure it’s a genuine iPhone by verifying it on Apple’s website

The very first thing to make sure of is that it is actually a genuine iPhone. This can be done by simply verifying the serial number on Apple’s website. First and foremost, ensure that the serial number on the retail box and the iPhone match each other.

Next, go to checkcoverage.apple.com/in/en/ and enter the serial number and the security page. On the next page, Apple will showcase information about the device, including if the device has a valid purchase date if the device has telephone technical support, and if the device is still under repair and service coverage. This ensures that you are actually getting a genuine iPhone.

Ensure it’s not iCloud locked

Buying an iCloud-locked iPhone is as bad as buying a stolen iPhone. In fact, an iCloud-locked iPhone is likely a stolen device. Even Apple won’t help you to unlock the device. Always ensure that the iCloud account is removed and disabled on the second-hand iPhone that you are buying.

Check battery health

Apple introduced an ability to check battery health percentage directly on the iPhones with the iOS 11.3 update after the battery gate fiasco. Hence, most modern iPhones, which are as old as iPhone 6 now support a battery health per cent indicator. This feature allows users to get an idea about the actual battery health and helps them if they need to replace the battery to improve the battery backup.

To check the battery health of an iPhone, go to Settings > Battery > Battery health and charging. If an iPhone has a battery health of over 80 per cent, then the device will deliver good battery life. If an iPhone battery’s health is less than 80 per cent, you can bargain further, as the device might need a battery replacement for it to last longer and offer all-day battery life. If you can’t see battery health, then the iPhone will non-Apple battery.

Check if the display is genuine

With modern iPhones, Apple has made it easier to identify if the display on the device is replaced or repaired by an unauthorised service centre. Go to Settings > display and brightness > see if you can enable True Tone. If it cannot be enabled, then there is a high chance that the iPhone might have a third-party display.

Similarly, in select iPhones, Apple also locks Face ID on iPhones with third-party spare parts. If you can’t set up or access Face ID, the iPhone could have a faulty Face ID component or the device might have a non-genuine display.

A few more things to check while buying a used iPhone

Make sure that all the cameras on the iPhone are working, including the selfie camera. On top of that, look for any possible scratches or dents on the surface of the iPhone. While it is common to have minor scratches on a used iPhone, make sure that there is no damage to the back or front glass, which could affect the water resistance rating of the device.

Also, try to get an invoice while buying a used iPhone. This ensures that you will not get into any trouble. Always double-check the resale price of a specific model while buying an iPhone to ensure you get the best possible deal on an iPhone.