Used Phone Buyer's Guide · Pakistan

30-Point Inspection Checklist
Before Buying a Used Phone

Run through every check before handing over cash at Hafeez Center, Saddar, or an OLX meetup. Takes 10–15 minutes. Catches the problems sellers hope you miss.

30 checks across 6 areas 10–15 min at the shop Works offline — save this page

Run all 6 areas in order — earlier checks prevent wasting time on later ones

Verify IMEI via PTA Device Verification Visit pts.gov.pk and enter the 15-digit IMEI. If it shows "Non-PTA" the phone will be blocked on Pakistani networks.

IMEI matches the box and SIM tray The number on box, under SIM tray, and in Settings > About must all be identical. Any mismatch means the phone has been opened or tampered with.

Price is within OLX / PakistaniLiving market range Prices 20% below market usually signal a problem. Use the Used Mobiles section on PakistaniLiving.com as a reference.

Original box, charger, and receipt available Original box confirms model and storage. Receipt proves purchase date. Missing accessories are fair grounds to negotiate price down.

Screen: no cracks, deep scratches, or delamination Run your fingernail across the screen. Cracks that are invisible in-hand show up under light. Delamination appears as a faint haze near edges.

Edges and corners: no significant bends or dents A bent frame means the phone was dropped from height. This can stress the motherboard and cause failures later.

Back panel: no cracks, lifted glass, or missing coating On glass-back phones, check for hairline cracks near the camera module. Lifted back panels often indicate a swollen battery.

All buttons click cleanly — volume, power, mute Press each button repeatedly. Mushy or rattling buttons indicate liquid damage or heavy use.

SIM tray ejects and re-seats cleanly Check the tray for bent pins or discolouration (indicator of water exposure). The tray should slide in flush with no resistance.

Charging port: no debris, bends, or discolouration Shine a torch into the USB-C or Lightning port. Green or brown discolouration means moisture damage. Bent pins will cause intermittent charging.

Any single one of these signals is reason enough to stop and leave.

Open a full-white image — check for yellow tint or dead pixels Search "white screen test" in the browser. Dead pixels appear as black dots. Yellow tint near edges indicates glue separation.

Open a full-black image — check for backlight bleed or burn-in Search "black screen test". On AMOLED, look for ghost images from previous apps. On LCD, look for uneven grey patches around edges.

Touch response across entire screen — including corners Open any drawing app and drag slowly across every corner. Dead zones in corners indicate a cracked digitiser.

Maximum brightness is readable in direct sunlight Step outside briefly or face a window. A dim max brightness often means a replacement screen — not the original panel.

iCloud or Google account is fully signed out On iPhone: Settings — your name — must show no iCloud account. On Android: Settings — Accounts — must be empty. A locked account means the phone is stolen.

Settings > About confirms correct model and storage Fake-storage phones report 256GB in settings but format to 32GB once reset. Cross-check against the IMEI box label.

Runs a heavy app for 3 minutes without overheating Open a game or run a benchmark for 3 minutes. The back should be warm — not hot. Hot phones have failing thermal paste or battery issues.

5 apps opened quickly — no crashes or slowdowns Open Camera, Maps, YouTube, a game, and the browser in quick succession. A clean phone handles this without stuttering.

PUBG Mobile or Free Fire runs for 5 minutes — no frame drops The most common daily stress test in Pakistan. If the phone struggles here, it will struggle in every other demanding task.

Software version is current and updates are available An outdated OS can mean the seller has blocked updates to hide a factory reset screen, or the phone is no longer supported.

Front and rear photos — check focus, colour accuracy, and sharpness Take photos indoors (low light) and near a window (daylight). Autofocus should lock in under 1 second. Greenish tint or consistent blur means a damaged sensor.

Video: audio syncs and stabilisation works Record 30 seconds of video while walking. Clap once on camera — check that the clap sound matches the hand motion on playback.

Earpiece is clear at max call volume Call any number and raise volume to max. Crackling or rattling at high volume is a sign of moisture damage to the speaker membrane.

Loudspeaker plays audio cleanly at max volume Play music and raise to max. Any distortion or rattle is a red flag — replacement speakers are expensive.

Microphone records voice clearly Open the default voice recorder, record 20 seconds, play back. Your voice should be clear without hiss or muffling.

Battery health is above 80% iPhone: Settings > Battery > Battery Health. Android: use AccuBattery (free app) or check Settings > Battery > Usage. Below 80% means significant degradation.

Fast charging delivers 15–20% in 10 minutes Plug in the original charger at 50% charge and time 10 minutes. If gain is under 10%, the battery, port, or charging IC is damaged.

Wi-Fi connects to both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands Connect to a 5GHz network separately. Many sellers test only 2.4GHz. A failed 5GHz antenna is a known fault on some Samsung models.

Both SIM slots accept a SIM and show network signal Insert your Jazz or Zong SIM into each slot individually. No signal in one slot means a damaged SIM reader — a complex repair.

Bluetooth pairs with another device and GPS locks within 30 seconds Open Google Maps with Wi-Fi off. GPS should lock position in under 30 seconds outdoors. A slow lock means a damaged GPS antenna.

Your Inspection Score

Score updates live as you tick items — aim for the green zone before handing over cash.

0 – 17

Walk Away

Too many unknowns. Either the phone has hidden damage or the seller is not being straight with you.

18 – 23

Negotiate

Some issues present. Use failed checks as leverage. Expect a 10–20% discount from the asking price.

24 – 30

Buy with Confidence

Phone is in good condition. Proceed at the agreed price, with a receipt if possible.

PakistaniLiving tip: Never skip checks 15 (account lock) and 1 (PTA IMEI) — these two alone determine if the phone is usable at all.

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30-Point Inspection ChecklistBefore Buying a Used Phone

Your Inspection Score

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30-Point Inspection Checklist
Before Buying a Used Phone