A used phone is judged in twenty minutes with six tools: your eyes, your hands, your SIM, the *#06# code, the battery setting and the manufacturer's website. Price comes afterwards. An iPhone 13 at DZD 55,000 can be a good deal or a total loss, depending on the actual condition.
The basic rule: always compare the asking price with the new price from a retailer, not with another listing. A DZD 70,000 listing is not a reference just because another seller wrote it.
The five identity checks
Dial *#06# and compare the IMEI with the box and invoice. Note the exact model from the first eight digits. Then confirm the phone is not locked to an account: on iPhone, ask for Find My iPhone to be disabled in front of you, otherwise the device is unusable. On Android, require the Google account and FRP lock to be removed.
Ask for the original invoice. Without it, remaining warranty is hard to claim and provenance becomes unclear. Finally, check that the serial number matches the advertised model, especially for an iPhone.
The battery is the first negotiation point
On iPhone, battery health is in Settings, Battery, Battery Health. Below 85%, budget for a replacement. On Android the setting is not always available: use a diagnostic app, and distrust a percentage quoted by the seller.
A tired battery is not a deal-breaker. It is a bargaining argument worth DZD 8,000 to 15,000 depending on the model. Get a replacement quote before agreeing.
Screen and sensors
Display a white image, then a black one. Look for spots, dead pixels and logo burn-in on OLED panels. Test touch in the four corners and along the edges, where drops leave damage.
Switch to camera mode, try both cameras, record ten seconds with sound. Check the speaker, microphone, earpiece and proximity sensor. A phone that blanks its screen during calls has a proximity fault, often from a poor repair.
Network and charging
Insert your SIM. Make a call, enable data, open a web page. Test Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS by opening a map. An antenna fault is hard and expensive to repair.
Plug in the charger and confirm the percentage rises. Wiggle the cable gently: a loose port signals a previous USB repair. Check the volume and power buttons too, and the fingerprint reader or face unlock.
The fair price
Take the lowest new price for the model from our comparison tool. For a two-year-old phone, a 30–40% discount is normal. Beyond 50%, be suspicious: battery, screen or provenance is a problem.
A concrete example: the 128 GB iPhone 13 sells between DZD 55,000 and 129,000 new or from old stock. A used unit at DZD 55,000 is only interesting if the battery is healthy and the device unlocked. At DZD 75,000 the used phone costs more than a model on promotion.
Verdict
Buy if the IMEI matches, the account is removed, battery health is above 85%, the screen has no spots or burn-in, the SIM connects and the price is 30–40% below new. Otherwise walk away. There are enough listings to avoid the risk. Always negotiate after the test, never before.
