The Chinese company Xiaomi actively produces phones of different price segments. Despite the large selection of devices, sometimes the user wants to save money and buy a smartphone that has already been used. A counter question arises: how do I check the used Xiaomi phone and make the most profitable purchase? What features should be tested? The answers you will find in this article.
It is impossible to check absolutely all items, especially on the street. Therefore it is recommended to choose before buying only the most important items for yourself, which will be at least a simple check.
5 tips before buying a used device
Below we will place a practical guide, which will come in handy during the transaction. By paying attention to these key points, you are sure to buy a great working device it will not lock up after the first reset.
Choosing a reliable platform
First, we need to decide where we will buy the phone.
Internet services with posted advertisements. These are online bulletin boards designed for the independent purchase and sale of various goods. For example, someone advertises the sale of a Redmi Note 10. You find this material and get acquainted with the specified characteristics and nuances. If everything suits you – contact the seller and agree to buy.
Pros: a huge selection of ads. You can find interesting offers in your city and the country.
Cons: there is no guarantee that you have a bona fide seller with a quality product. There is a significant risk of fraud.
Examples of sites: eBay.
Sales groups in social networks. A similar option but riskier. If on the same eBay, you can complain about the seller and block his subsequent updates. There is no such option in the Facebook community.
Pros: a convenient way to communicate through the social network. It is possible to see the seller’s profile.
Cons: there is no guarantee that the seller’s account is real. You need to study it well and watch the circles of interest and dates of publication of entries.
Examples of sites: Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram.
Commission technical stores. But this is a pretty good alternative to the above services. It’s better to choose local thrift shops rather than Internet sites.
Pros: professional advice from the seller. You purchase the goods exactly in the store and not from a certain person, so the risk of fraud is reduced. You can carefully check the Xiaomi smartphone or Redmi when buying + get a warranty (usually provided for an additional fee).
Disadvantages: not every city has good commission stores and the range there is limited.
Do not agree to prepay
In no case do not send money before receiving the goods. If the smartphone is sent by mail, choose only cash on delivery and inspect the device in the office. Unscrupulous sellers often require at least partial prepayment and disagree with other options. This is a clear sign of fraud.
The ideal solution is, of course, a personal meeting with the seller and a thorough inspection of every detail of the smartphone.
Looking at the seller’s rating
A column on special Internet sites always indicates how long the seller has been selling. You can also look at his other listings.
Be careful if the user registered just a few days ago and sells only one mobile device. It might be a fake account to cheat.
Sellers who hide their personal information: phone number, email, and residential address, are untrustworthy. In the case of a scam, an appeal to law enforcement will be useless because there is no data on the person.
Finding out about the condition of the merchandise
The announcement should indicate in what condition the smartphone or tablet is sold. Are there any problems with the software, sound, battery, and how the phone display and casing look? Do not fall for the common phrase “Good used condition” and directly specify whether the device has been repaired, subjected to mechanical damage, or fallen into the water.
Do not choose offers with the lowest price. If all the functions work in the phone and there are no problems, the seller will give you an average value, which is only a few thousand dollars more than the factory value. Then, with a phone conversation, you can negotiate a price reduction.
Broken screen and scratches
Almost any device will scratch over time, and nothing is wrong with that. Small scratches and scuffs will be present on your used phone. But broken glass, chips, and other serious damage should alert you.
It is quite possible that the device’s sensor is not working, and you will have to replace it after the purchase. Experienced users will help with our instructions from the repair section, but the newcomers must go to the service center.
Checking the appearance of the smartphone
Now let’s start testing the used phone, paying special attention to each element. Let’s start with the appearance and the display.
Scuffs, chips, scratches
As noted above, the appearance of the device significantly affects the price. Severe scratches can indicate that the device has been operated without a case. Tempered glass Gorilla Glass should protect the display from the factory.
Minor damage will not affect the phone’s performance, so it is safe to buy. If the front or rear of the device is broken, it is not worth the risk. It’s better to look for another ad.
Broken pixels, yellow/blue spots on the screen
Next, we check the condition of the screen. The matrix burns out with time, and the quality of the picture worsens. There are colored spots, and some colors are no longer transmitted. Therefore it is very important to check the display with special techniques, not only by a visual method.
- So, take a sheet of white paper and photograph it in good light conditions.
- Then carefully examine it. Have you noticed the small black dots? If so, these are dead pixels indicating deteriorating screen quality.
- No problems? Then the screen is most likely intact.
You can also install a couple of special applications. For example, AnTuTu, in which we check the color rendering, and Display Tester for general testing of the display.
And the last proven option is the built-in engineering menu. To activate it, go to settings → “About phone” → and make four clicks on the line“Kernel version“. In the menu that opens, check the display with special tests.
Socket for charging
It is recommended to take an external battery to check the charging process.
Additionally, inspect all connectors, especially the socket designed for charging the smartphone. To do this, it is desirable to connect the phone to a power source, observe the charging process, and connect it to the computer via USB. But when buying a smartphone by hand, especially on the street, this is very problematic.
Evaluating the normal performance
With the visual part finished, we check important elements like cameras, communication sensors, and the Internet.
Front and rear cameras
The best test here would be taking pictures indoors and outdoors. After taking a few pictures, be sure to pay attention to their quality:
- how color is rendered;
- whether there is no distortion or blurring;
- pixels are not visible;
- take a photo of a white sheet of paper.
Also, examine the camera modules themselves. If they are broken or badly scratched, that’s a bad sign.
Sensors, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Mobile Internet, and Speakers
Wireless networks are next in line. Find a place in town with good mobile coverage or free Wi-Fi, and test the network. Just activate the data transfer and visit a few sites, paying attention to the internet speed.
Similarly, check Bluetooth and geolocation services. The GPS will ideally locate immediately, and Bluetooth will find the right devices to pair with.
Make a couple of calls to a friend by inserting your sim card. The connection should be clear: You should be able to hear the person you are calling, and you should be able to be heard without any problems. When you put the phone to your ear, the screen goes out. It means that the proximity sensor is working perfectly.
Don’t forget to check the talking and the main speaker. To do this, talk to someone on the phone, record a few words on the recorder, and listen to the audio at maximum volume. The sound should be clear, with no interference, crackles, or interruptions.
Check all the paperwork and packaging
It’s best to purchase a smartphone with factory packaging, a warranty card, and a receipt. But the last two documents may not remain with the owner, but the presence of a box and a branded charger is mandatory. This indicates that the cell phone was purchased officially and not stolen.
If you doubt the certification of the device, check it for originality. This we will talk about in the next paragraph.
Checking for originality
There are two main checking methods: by imei and s/n (serial number). You can find the complete instructions in our separate article, but here we will repeat the most important and basic. The verification is done through the official Mi Verify website.
By IMEI
The ideal option would be to verify through the official Xiaomi website. We enter the current IMEI, and the service searches for existing devices. If there is no such code in the Xiaomi database, the phone is stolen or non-original.
There are two ways to find your IMEI: by finding it on the factory packing or by entering the command *#06# into your smartphone. Then go to the verification site and enter all the required data.
By serial number
You can also check the authenticity of the phone by its serial number. It’s almost the same procedure. S/N can be found by path: “Settings” – “About phone” – “General information”. By checking the serial numbers again through a special website, you can verify the originality of the device.
Today we discussed how to buy a used device safely if you don’t want to buy a new phone. Following our tips and instructions, you will make a profitable purchase and buy a quality device. Good luck!
