Guides & JournalHow to Check a Used iPhone Before Buying
To check a used iPhone before buying, confirm its PTA status with the IMEI, make sure Find My iPhone is off and it is signed out of iCloud, check battery health in Settings, look at the parts and service history for replaced screens or batteries, and test Face ID, cameras, speakers and charging. Used iPhones are among the most searched second hand phones in Pakistan, and their prices swing widely with PTA status, battery health and storage — which is exactly why each one needs checking. Here is the full checklist, in the order to do it.
1. PTA status comes first
In Pakistan an iPhone's price depends heavily on whether it is PTA approved, non PTA, or a JV (carrier-locked with a SIM chip). Dial *#06#, send the IMEI to 8484, and read the reply before anything else. How to Check if a Mobile Is PTA Approved shows every step, and PTA Approved vs Non PTA explains JV and factory unlocked iPhones.
⚠️ Careful here
Look for a thin chip under the SIM card in the SIM tray. That usually means a JV iPhone, whatever the seller calls it.
2. iCloud and Find My: the lock you must not buy
Every iPhone has Activation Lock. If the old owner's Apple ID is still on the phone, it can lock itself after a reset and ask for their password — and there is no legitimate way around it without them.
Go to Settings and tap the name at the top. If someone else's Apple ID is signed in, ask them to sign out of iCloud and turn off Find My iPhone in front of you, then erase the phone (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Erase All Content and Settings). When it restarts, set it up with your own Apple ID before you pay.
🔑 The key point
An iPhone that is "iCloud locked" is not a bargain at any price. Walk away.
3. Battery health
Open Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging to see the maximum capacity as a percentage. As a rough guide, the higher the number the better, and a very low figure means you should budget for a new battery. If the screen says the battery is not genuine or shows a service message, it has been replaced with a non-Apple part.
On newer models you can also see the battery's cycle count in the same area or in Settings → General → About.
4. Original or replaced parts
Recent iPhones show a Parts and Service History in Settings → General → About. It lists parts that were replaced and whether they are genuine Apple parts. Common replacements are the screen, battery and camera.
A replaced screen is not always a deal-breaker, but a non-original screen can have duller colours, weaker touch response and no True Tone. Ask about it, and let it reflect in the price.
5. Model, storage and the IMEI match
In Settings → General → About, check the model name, the storage capacity and the IMEI. Compare the IMEI with the box and with what you checked on 8484. A 64GB phone sold as 128GB, or a mismatched IMEI, tells you all you need to know about the seller.
6. Test everything you will use
Go through the functions one by one. It takes ten minutes.
- Face ID or Touch ID — set up your own face or fingerprint; if the option is missing or shows an error, it has likely been damaged or repaired badly.
- Cameras — every lens, photo and video, including portrait mode and switching between lenses.
- Screen — a white page and a black page to spot marks, lines or burn-in; check True Tone is available.
- Speakers and microphone — play a video, record a voice memo, make a call.
- Charging — wired and, if the model supports it, wireless charging.
- Buttons — power, volume and the side switch or Action button.
- SIM and network — put your SIM in, make a call and use mobile data (this also shows JV problems quickly).
7. Checking the price is fair
Compare the asking price with other used iPhones of the same model, storage, PTA status and battery health. Those four things move the price more than anything else. A PTA approved iPhone with a healthy battery and the original box will always cost more than a non PTA one with 75% battery — and it will also sell for more later.
If the price is far below everyone else's, find out why before you get excited.
8. Paying and afterwards
Pay after the checks, not before. Keep the box and bill if they come with the phone. Buying online? Pay through a platform that protects your money — on dapxop, an advance is paid to dapxop and checked before the order goes to the seller, and you can report a problem after delivery.
Once you are home, check PTA status again with your own SIM in. For the other devices in the series, see the complete guide to buying used electronics in Pakistan.
Shop small sellers across Pakistan with the condition stated on every listing.
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Frequently asked
How do I check battery health on a used iPhone?
Go to Settings, then Battery, then Battery Health & Charging. It shows the maximum capacity as a percentage, and a message if the battery is not genuine.
What does iCloud locked iPhone mean?
An iCloud locked iPhone is still linked to the previous owner's Apple ID through Activation Lock. After a reset it asks for their password, so you cannot use it. Never buy one.
How can I check if an iPhone is original or fake?
Check Settings, General, About for the model and IMEI, then look up the serial number on Apple's coverage check. Parts and Service History shows whether key parts are genuine Apple parts.
How do I know if a used iPhone is JV?
Remove the SIM tray and look for a thin chip under the SIM card, then check the IMEI on 8484. JV iPhones are carrier-locked phones made to work with that chip and cannot be PTA approved in that state.
What battery health is good for a used iPhone?
The higher the better. A figure well above 80% usually means the battery is in good shape; a low figure means you should budget for a replacement and negotiate the price.
Should I buy a used iPhone without a box?
You can, but it makes the history harder to confirm. Be extra careful with the IMEI check and iCloud sign-out, and ask why the box is missing.