✓ The 3 non-negotiable conditions
If any of these three is missing, don't buy regardless of price or explanations. The rest of the checklist is for negotiation.
- → IMEI verified — not blacklisted, not reported as stolen on imei.info or codat.ro
- → iCloud disconnected — seller signs out of the account in front of you, on the spot
- → Battery at least 80% — under 80% means replacement soon, negotiate or refuse
Complete checklist — 21 checks
Some you do yourself directly on the phone. Others you ask the seller to perform. Don't rush — a good iPhone deserves 15-20 minutes of inspection.
Documents and identification
3 pointsIMEI and serial number
Go to Settings → General → About. Note the IMEI and Serial Number. Verify immediately on imei.info or codat.ro — the phone must not be blacklisted or reported as stolen. This is the most important step of the entire checklist.
Box and proof of purchase
If it comes with the box, check that the serial on the box matches the serial on the phone. Ask for the original proof of purchase — without it, Apple warranty is void.
Country of origin
Check on imei.info which market it was initially activated in. Phones brought from Asia or US are legal, but Apple support may be limited and some models don't have 5G for Romanian networks.
Ownership checks
4 pointsiCloud Lock / Activation Lock
Ask the seller to go to Settings → iCloud and disconnect the account NOW, in front of you. If they say they can't or that they'll do it later — don't buy. An iPhone with iCloud Lock is completely unusable without the original account password.
Find My iPhone
Check Settings → [Username] → Find My → Find My iPhone. It must be disabled. If it's still active after the seller claims to have signed out of iCloud, the process wasn't completed correctly.
Screen Time Passcode
Try to enter Settings → Screen Time. If it asks for a passcode the seller doesn't know, restrictions remain active and can't be removed without that code. Ask for it to be disabled before purchase.
SIM Lock (carrier-locked)
If the phone came from US or UK, it may be locked to a specific network (T-Mobile, AT&T, EE). Ask for proof of unlock or test with your SIM on the spot.
Battery
3 pointsBattery Health
Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. Ideal: 85%+. Acceptable with negotiation: 80-85%. Under 80% — price must include battery replacement cost (300-500 RON). Under 70% — refuse or negotiate a major discount.
Original or replaced battery?
Settings → General → About → iPhone Parts. On iPhone 15 and newer, iOS indicates whether the battery is original Apple or has been replaced. A good-quality replaced battery is OK — an "unknown" one or without warranty is risky.
Discharge behaviour
Keep the phone on 10-15 minutes with WiFi active. Does it behave normally? A phone that suddenly drops from 30% to 5% or shuts down unexpectedly has a more worn battery than the Settings percentage shows.
Screen and display
2 pointsCracks, dead pixels, lines
Open an image with pure white background (Settings → Wallpaper or photograph a white sheet). Look carefully in good lighting. Any dead pixel, vertical line or dark area means the screen will need replacement — cost 800-2,000 RON depending on model.
Brightness, colours and uniformity
Set maximum brightness. Uniform colours across the entire surface? No area more yellow or cooler? "Burn-in" marks (ghost images) appear on intensively-used OLED screens and can't be repaired — the entire panel is replaced.
Cameras
3 pointsFront camera and Face ID
Open Camera and switch to selfie. Image clear? Autofocus working? Test Face ID — it should unlock quickly from normal use angles. If Face ID doesn't work, repair costs 400-600 RON.
Main camera (back)
Take a well-lit photo. Autofocus works (tap to focus)? Lens clean inside, without dust or condensation? Also check video mode — OIS stabilisation works smoothly?
Telephoto (if available)
On iPhone 15 Pro+ and 16 Pro+, test 3x, 5x or 10x zoom. Image stays clear and stable? If the lens makes noise or doesn't switch smoothly, the zoom motor may be damaged.
Audio and sensors
3 pointsSpeaker and microphone
Play a song at maximum volume — sound should be clean, without crackling or distortion. A speaker that's been in contact with water sounds "drowned". Test the microphone with a short voice recording.
Vibration (Taptic Engine)
Settings → Sounds & Haptics → test vibration intensity. The Taptic motor should produce clear and precise vibrations, not weak or irregular ones. A weak motor indicates wear or previous impact.
Touch ID (older models)
On iPhones with Home button (SE, 8 and older), scan 2-3 different fingers. Touch ID should work fast and consistently. If it doesn't recognise, the sensor may be damaged or unofficially replaced.
Connectivity
2 pointsWiFi, Bluetooth, 5G
Connect to a WiFi network — connection speed and signal should be normal. Activate Bluetooth and check if it finds devices. If none of the wireless connections work correctly, it may be an antenna issue (complex repair).
Charging port (USB-C or Lightning)
Connect a cable — it should go in easily and firmly, without needing force or a special angle. If the port is oxidised, loose, or requires holding the cable in a specific position to charge, replacement costs 300-500 RON.
Exterior and liquid damage
1 pointCase, corrosion and water indicator
Fine scratches are normal on a 2-3 year old phone. What should worry you: cracks in the aluminium case, green-brown corrosion near connectors, or the red water indicator. The indicator is located near the SIM slot — if it's red, the phone has been in contact with liquid. Internal corrosion progresses slowly and can lead to failures in 3-6 months even on a phone that currently appears functional.
How to interpret the results
✓ Buy
All 3 basic conditions OK + maximum 1-2 minor points (superficial scratches, battery 80-85%).
↓ Negotiate
2-3 points with real issues (battery 75%, port slightly damaged, screen with scratch). Calculate repair costs and subtract from price.
✗ Refuse
iCloud Lock active, red water indicator, IMEI blacklisted or seller refuses any check. No price is low enough for these situations.