Buying a new or open-box phone

What the words mean

1. 1Brand new: sealed by the maker, never opened or activated.
2. 2Open-box: the box has been opened, usually because it was returned or shown. It should be unused or lightly used, and it should come with all accessories.
3. 3Refurbished: a used phone that was repaired or tested and repackaged. Maker-refurbished is done by the brand. Seller-refurbished is done by the shop or a third party and has no brand backing.
4. 4Used: has had an owner. It may or may not have been repaired.

Warning. A shop that calls a refurbished or resealed phone brand new is misrepresenting it. Ask in plain words and get the answer on the receipt.

Box and seal

1. 1The shrink wrap or seal must be factory-neat. Re-sealed boxes often have glue, tape, or a wrap that is loose or cut and joined.
2. 2Look at the box corners and printing. Scratches, dents or reprinted labels can mean the box was opened.
3. 3Match the IMEI and serial number on the box label with the phone (*#06# and Settings > About).
4. 4Check that the model and colour on the box match the phone.
5. 5Look for the original charger and cable, and the right plug for Pakistan. Some phones do not come with a charger in the box, so check what that model should include.

Warning. If the box label and the phone do not match, you may be holding a different phone, a swapped box, or a clone.

Warranty and activation

1. 1Ask whether the warranty is official (from the brand or its authorised distributor in Pakistan) or the shop's own. Ask what each covers and where to claim.
2. 2Get the invoice with the shop name, phone number, date, model, IMEI and warranty period.
3. 3For an iPhone, enter the serial number on Apple's coverage page and compare the model and the coverage start with what the seller says.
4. 4For Android, ask for the brand's warranty page or app and check the serial number or IMEI there. Methods differ by brand and we do not list pages we could not confirm.
5. 5A brand-new phone should show few or no charging cycles and low storage use. A phone with a used look and a long activation date is not new.

Then test it like any phone

1. 1PTA status on every IMEI (see the PTA and IMEI guide).
2. 2Display, touch, cameras, audio, battery and charging, SIM and network.

Common questions