How to inspect a used phone before you pay

Do this at the meeting, in your hands, with the phone powered on. A listing photo is not an inspection. Mobile Market does not inspect devices for you.

Identity of the phone

• Open Settings and read the IMEI. On many Androids: About phone. On iPhone: General → About.
• Dial *#06# and compare. Open the SIM tray and compare the printed IMEI if present.
• Mismatch is a walk-away signal.

Body and screen

• Look across the screen at an angle for burn-in, green tint, or hairline cracks under a glass replacement.
• Press every edge of the display. Dead spots and “ghost touch” show up here.
• Check camera glass, flash, and whether the frame is bent (a drop that cameras cannot hide).

Functions

• Make a test call on both SIMs if the seller claims dual SIM.
• Face ID / fingerprint, loudspeaker, earpiece, microphone, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, charging with your own cable.
• Open the cameras — selfie and rear, including ultrawide if advertised.

Accounts

The phone should be signed out of iCloud / Google. An activation lock after you pay is a classic trap. Do not accept “I’ll remove it tonight”.