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Help How to check whether a phone is refurbished/repaired or not?

m4lik

m4lik

Lurker
Hi. I'm planning to buy a second hand (used) Samsung Galaxy Note N9005. So I need to know how to check by looking at the phone (the way its screws are tied etc) whether the handset is repaired or refurbished? Are there some specific indicators to gauge that?
Actually, the shopkeepers here try to sell repaired/refurbished phones in the name of original and 'never repaired' handsets so I need to know about it. Also, what specific functions I should check in a used phone before buying it?
Any help will be highly appreciated.
Thankyou.
 
Without knowing what carrier was previously used, I don't know if an ESN/MEID history would be available. You can ask you carrier if the phone has ever been activated. Check the water damage indicator and make sure it's WHITE. If it's red, don't buy it. By & large, though, refurbished phones will work just as well as a new one. But the sellers are wrong to try and get new phone prices on a refurb.
 
The_Chief said:
Without knowing what carrier was previously used, I don't know if an ESN/MEID history would be available. You can ask you carrier if the phone has ever been activated. Check the water damage indicator and make sure it's WHITE. If it's red, don't buy it. By & large, though, refurbished phones will work just as well as a new one. But the sellers are wrong to try and get new phone prices on a refurb.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your response. Regarding the Carrier thing you mentioned, things don't work like that where I live. We don't have CARRIERS here. I mean there's no at&t, sprint or anything like that in here. You buy a phone and insert your sim card, nothing more. Some phones have the at&t and verizon logos at the back cover, which I presume are most probably imported from the US or Europe but we CANNOT contact them. I'm from Pakistan, I hope you understand what I'm talking about. Plus, how do I check the water damage indicator?
Thanks again.
 
Moisture indicators are usually small discs or squares placed in and around the phone. They should be white, if they're pink or red, then they've been wet. If the phone has a removable back and battery, then you should see one there. However many phones now are glued and sealed battery, like recent Samsungs, but there might one in the headphone jack and/or SIM holder slot, visible by shining a light and looking down it. And with phones been glued and sealed, often means there's no external screws. You could look for gouge marks on a glued phone, which might be a sign of an amateur or improper repair.

This is the (red) moisture indicator in an iPhone, but many Androids should be similar.

iphonewaterindicators.png
 
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I'm not sure if this is valid in Pakistan but you could try this. Get the phone's IMEI and check it here: https://imeidata.net/check

When it finds the device, then select the option to check the warranty information. It will tell you the date of manufacture and the date of activation. You can draw your own conclusions based on this. I don't think there are specific visual clues to whether a device is repaired or refurbished, but you can tell pretty easily if it's ever been opened. Things like adhesive mis-aligned or chips in the locking tabs would certainly make me think twice if i was told it was "new".

The water damage indicators are usually under the battery, but again, it varies by phone make and model.
 
Something I just noticed in the OP, "N9005" isn't that a Chinese version Note 3? Which means unless the ROM has been changed, NO Google Mobile Services and it has Chinese apps.

FYI this is a China Unicom one.
Note-3-dual-sim-china-3.jpg
 
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Also, (Not sure in your country) but I've noticed people reporting buying rooted phones that were sold as brand new. If you see an app like SuperUser/SU/ or SuperSU or something similar, that means it is or was rooted. That is definitely not new. Problem is if the seller really knows about rooted devices or if they know how to handle rooted devices correctly.


I know you asked for a physical sign that it was repaired/refurbished but this happens more than we know.
 
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