7 Things to Check When Buying a Second-Hand Phone in NZ

Buying second-hand can save you hundreds — or cost you dearly if you skip the checks. Run through this list before money changes hands.

The checklist

  1. IMEI blacklist check: verify the phone isn't reported lost or stolen. Dial *#06# for the IMEI.
  2. Activation lock: make sure Find My iPhone / Google account has been signed out — otherwise the phone is a paperweight.
  3. Battery health: Settings → Battery. Below 80% means a replacement is coming.
  4. Screen and cameras: test touch across the whole screen, both cameras, and the flashlight.
  5. Charging port and speakers: plug in a cable, play audio, make a test call.
  6. Water damage indicators: check the SIM tray slot for red markers.
  7. Warranty: a private sale has none. That's the biggest hidden cost of "cheap".

Or skip the anxiety

A certified refurbished phone has already passed all these checks — done by technicians, documented with a condition grade, and backed by a 12-month warranty. See our tested stock; if anything's wrong within the warranty period, it's our problem, not yours.

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