TIP: What to look for when buying a second-hand iPhone

To buy or not to buy...

If you’re in the market for a second-hand iPhone, you’ll no doubt have found yourself bewildered by the options and jargon-laden ads out there. Here, we try to clear the waters and provide some pointers to make sure you don’t end up with an iLemon.

The Line-up: Know your choices

1. The Generation Game

There are three iPhone models that you’ll be picking from on the second-hand market. Check out this article for an in-depth comparison between the three, but in a nutshell: The original iPhone has to be hacked to work on any NZ network. The 3G is like the original but with GPS and faster mobile internet. The 3GS is like the 3G but with a faster processor, video camera, voice control and compass.

Which network you are with may also make a difference. If you are with XT, Digital Island or any other XT reseller then you will need to avoid the Original iPhone, it simply won’t work on the network as it is 3G only, so you will need to go for the 3G or 3GS. If you are with Vodafone, 2Degrees or any other Vodafone reseller then you can take your pick of the bunch, all three generations work on the red network. Beware, however, of iPhones that are from overseas as they will often need to be hacked to work here. See this article for more important tips on this topic.

There is currently no CDMA iPhone so if you are on Telecom CDMA (the old network) then you will need to upgrade to XT or switch to Vodafone/2Degrees.

2.. Let’s Get Physical.

The screen of the iPhone is made of glass so it’s pretty tough and you should expect it to be in good condition. Be wary of any iPhone with visible scratches on the screen as it’s likely to have had a tough life. Avoid screens with cracks like the plague.

The chrome bezel is easily lightly scratched so don’t expect flawless chrome on a second-hand model. Be wary of any deep scratches or cracks, however.

Cracking up: Be wary! (click to enlarge)

The plastic back of the 3G and 3GS is prone to hairline cracks. If the iPhone you’re looking at has any then it doesn’t necessarily mean that the owner has been rough with it, but avoid any badly cracked housing.

3. Water Torture.

No mobile likes water, and the iPhone is no exception. With most mobiles it’s pretty hard to tell if there is any moisture causing damage to the inside of your phone, but the iPhone has handy indicators inside the headphone jack and the dock connector. Check out this Apple Knowledgebase entry for full details including illustrations of what to look for.

4. Accessorise

All iPhones ship with a wall charger, USB cable, SIM tray removal tool and headphones with in-line controls. The original iPhone also came with a dock. If any of these are missing, make sure you factor in the cost of replacements with any purchase you make. Ideally you’ll want unopened headphones but those are a rarity! Remember: regular headphones won’t give you the ability to answer phone calls / pause music etc so make sure you purchase original or compatible iPhone headphones.

5. Power Struggles.

The iPhone’s battery isn’t the biggest marvel of modern science known to man, but it’s best to go in with the right expectations. Naturally the older the phone the more run-down the battery is likely to be and unlike other mobiles you cant just whip the back off and replace it. If you’re looking at an original iPhone, remember these phones came out three years ago and were discontinued a year later, so any you find on the second-hand market will be getting on a bit in mobile terms. We have heard some stories of hitting brick walls when trying to get a replacement battery fitted out-of-warranty and even if you can get it done it will be costly, so bear this in mind. Ask the seller how often the phone needs to be recharged. Every 2 days or more is outstanding, every 1 or 2 days is about normal but avoid any that won’t last 24 hours.

6. Music (and Apps) to your ears?

Don’t be enticed by any ads saying they will ship the phone loaded with music and apps because no matter how well-meaning the seller is, unfortunately you can’t keep them. As soon as you sync your purhase with iTunes for the first time any content will be erased and replaced with your own. Besides, the original purchasers login details are linked to App Store and Music Store downloads so they would always remain their property and won’t be up-datable without their iTunes login.

How much wedge?

7. The Price is Right.

So how much should you expect to pay for a second-hand iPhone? Well, this depends on the model, the condition and the capacity.

For an original iPhone 8GB you should expect to pay around $350 – $450.

For an iPhone 3G 8GB in used condition you should expect to pay around $400 – $600. A new one being re-sold on the likes of TradeMe can go for around $700 – $800. Add around $100 to these prices for the 16GB model (but note that the 16GB model was discontinued around March last year so new ones may be thin on the ground).

For an iPhone 3GS 16GB in reasonable condition you can expect to pay around $800 – $1000. The 32GB model currently goes for around $1000 – $1200. Bearing in mind that a brand new 16GB from Apple goes for $1,149 and the 32GB goes for $1,349 it’s worth thinking twice about buying a second-hand 3GS. You won’t necessarily be saving all that much and you’d have to ask yourself whether you’d be better off paying the little extra for a brand new phone with fresh battery and full warranty.