Condition, water damage and network

Inspect the body

1. 1Run your finger along the frame. Dents, bends or gaps between the screen and frame can mean a drop or a repair.
2. 2Back glass and camera glass: look for cracks and chips. A cracked camera glass lets in dust and water.
3. 3Screws near the charging port: damaged or mismatched heads show the phone has been opened.
4. 4The screen should sit evenly all around. A lifted corner can mean a swollen battery or a bad repair.
5. 5Charging port and SIM tray: look inside with a torch for rust, green or white residue, lint or bent pins.
6. 6Smell the phone. A burnt or sweet smell can mean battery or liquid damage.

Water damage

An IP rating such as IP68 means the phone passed a lab test when it was new, in clean water, for a set depth and time. It does not mean a used phone is still water-resistant. Seals age and weaken, and a replaced screen or back cover usually breaks the seal. Liquid damage is generally not covered by warranty.

1. 1Eject the SIM tray and look inside the slot with a torch. Many phones have a small liquid contact indicator that turns red or pink when it gets wet (the colour and place depend on the model).
2. 2Look for corrosion near the charging port and speaker grille.
3. 3Look for fog or droplets under the camera glass or screen.
4. 4A phone that was in water can work for weeks and then fail. Ask directly, and walk away from a seller who will not answer.

Warning. Do not buy a phone with a red liquid contact indicator or corrosion unless the price reflects it and you accept that it may fail.

Network and connections

1. 1Put a working SIM in the phone. The network name and signal bars must appear. Repeat for the second slot on a dual-SIM phone.
2. 2Make an outgoing call and receive an incoming call. Check that both people can hear well.
3. 3Send and receive an SMS.
4. 4Turn on mobile data and open a web page. On 4G or 5G phones, check that the network type shows 4G or 5G where there is coverage.
5. 5Join the shop Wi-Fi and open a video. Disconnect and reconnect.
6. 6Pair Bluetooth earbuds or a speaker.
7. 7Open Maps and wait for the blue dot to settle on your position. This tests GPS.
8. 8NFC (if the phone has it): tap a contactless card or use a tap-to-pay test where available.
9. 9Turn on the hotspot and connect another phone.

Tip. Use your own SIM for the call tests. It also proves the phone is not carrier-locked.

Common questions