How to check a refurbished iPhone before you buy it
Six checks that take five minutes and separate a genuine bargain from someone else's problem. The technician's version, from a bench where these land every week.
Last updated 2026-07-26 · 7 minute read · Applies to: iPhone
Buy a refurbished iPhone if the battery health is above 85%, Activation Lock is off, and it comes with a written warranty. On models a generation or two back, expect to pay 40-60% less than new. Walk away from any seller who won't let you open Settings before you pay.
A good refurbished iPhone is one of the best value buys in tech. A bad one is somebody else's problem with a fresh screen protector. The difference is almost never luck. It comes down to six checks, and they take about five minutes standing at the counter.
We open iPhones every day in Bendigo, including plenty that arrived as bargains. Here's what we look at.
1. Know what the word actually means
"Refurbished" is not a regulated term in Australia. It can mean a device professionally tested, repaired, and reset, or it can mean wiped and wiped down. Apple Certified Refurbished is the strict end: new battery, new outer shell, full Apple warranty. Everything else depends entirely on who did the work. Ask the seller what they actually replaced. A straight answer is itself a good sign.
2. Check battery health first
Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging → Maximum Capacity. Above 85% is healthy. Between 80% and 85%, factor a battery replacement into the price. Below 80% the phone is near the point where iOS starts throttling performance, so treat it as a discount, not a dealbreaker. If the screen says Service or the battery section won't load at all, that's a non-genuine or failing battery, and worth a hard look at what else was done.
3. Read the parts and service history
Settings → General → About, then scroll to Parts and Service History. Recent iPhones list the battery, display and camera, and flag any that Apple can't verify as genuine. "Unknown Part" is not automatically bad. A good aftermarket screen can be an excellent buy, but it must be reflected in the price, and you should know before you pay, not after. If this section is missing entirely on a phone that should have it, be suspicious.
4. Confirm Activation Lock is off
This is the one that leaves people with an expensive paperweight. The phone must be signed out of the previous owner's Apple Account. Check Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone: if it asks for someone else's Apple Account password, the phone is still locked to them and you cannot use it. No seller, no repair shop, and no Apple Store can remove it for you. Do not hand over money until the phone has been reset in front of you and set up clean.
5. Check the IMEI story
Dial *#06# to display the IMEI, then check it matches the one in Settings → General → About and on the box if there is one. Run it through a free IMEI checker to confirm the phone isn't reported lost or stolen, and isn't network-locked to a carrier you don't use. A blocklisted IMEI means the handset can be blocked from Australian networks. It may work today and be a brick next month.
6. Look for the physical tells
Even seams all the way round, no gaps where the screen meets the frame, no adhesive squeezing out, no chewed screw heads by the charging port. Test Face ID and both cameras. Press gently around the display edges. A screen that flexes or clicks was fitted without fresh adhesive, and it will let dust and water in. None of these mean don't buy; they mean this was opened, and the price should say so.
7. Do the maths against your other options
A refurbished iPhone competes with two things: a new one, and the phone already in your pocket. If your current iPhone works but has a tired battery or a cracked screen, repairing it is often the cheaper answer. See what a screen replacement costs in Bendigo. If you're upgrading regardless, a refurb one or two generations back is usually the sweet spot on price per year of remaining life.
Warning: Battery, screen and even a dodgy charging port are all repairable. A phone still locked to someone else's Apple Account is not. If a seller says they'll "send the unlock through later", that is not a deal, it is a donation. Reset and set up the phone before money changes hands, every time.
Frequently asked questions
What battery health is acceptable on a refurbished iPhone?
Above 85% is healthy and should need nothing. 80-85% is usable but budget for a replacement in the next year or so. Below 80% is where iOS may begin managing peak performance, so the price should reflect a battery swap. Sellers advertising "90%+ guaranteed" are usually being straight with you, it's an easy claim to verify on the spot.
Do refurbished iPhones come with a warranty in Australia?
They should. Australian Consumer Law guarantees apply to refurbished goods sold by a business. They must be of acceptable quality and match their description, regardless of what a seller's own policy says. Private sales between individuals are a different matter and carry far less protection. Always get the warranty terms in writing.
Can I tell if a refurbished iPhone is stolen?
Partly. Dial *#06# for the IMEI and run it through a free IMEI checker to see whether it's been reported lost or stolen, or blocked on Australian networks. Combined with Activation Lock being off, that covers most cases. It isn't a guarantee, so buy from someone with a traceable business address.
Is a refurbished iPhone better than a new budget Android?
Usually, for longevity. A refurbished iPhone two generations back typically has more years of software updates left than a new entry-level Android at the same price, and holds resale value better. If you want the newest camera and a fresh factory warranty, buy new.
Can I get a phone checked in Bendigo before I buy it?
Yes, and there's no charge. Bring it into Geekly, or bring the seller, and we'll run battery health, parts history, Activation Lock, and an IMEI check at the counter. It takes a few minutes and we'll tell you plainly whether it's a good buy, including when the answer is no.
How long should a refurbished iPhone last?
With healthy battery health at purchase, expect three to five years of comfortable use, with a battery replacement somewhere in the middle. Software support is the real clock: check how many years of iOS updates the model has left, because that usually runs out before the hardware does.
Related guides
- Are refurbished iPhones worth buying? — What refurbished actually means, the five-minute checks that separate a bargain from a dud, and when a refurb genuinely beats buying new.
- How to identify your device, with or without power — Two ways to pin down your exact device: one for when it still powers on, one for when it's dead. iPhone, Samsung, Android, iPad, MacBook, Windows and Apple Watch.
- Phone battery draining fast? Causes and real fixes — How to read your battery health, the settings that actually move the needle, and the point where replacement beats tweaking.
- Moving to a new phone: the no-data-left-behind checklist — Transfer day goes wrong in predictable ways: authenticators, WhatsApp, eSIMs. The checklist that gets everything across.