# Buying used smart phones-advice? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190 "2012-02-08T14:59:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Burrido](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Burrido](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Burrido)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/1 "2012-02-08T14:59:29Z")
So earlier this year I accidentally ran over my iphone. Im not available for an upgrade for some time. I would like to buy a used iphone 4. Any really savy smart phone users think this is a good idea provided its not stolen, works, etc…? I still do have my SIM card. Im thinking it should be ok since all the data/phone is driven off the phone number? Thanks in advance! ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/2 "2012-02-10T15:00:22Z")
I don’t think the verizon Iphone 4 will work with a simcard. So make sure you get the AT&T one. Just factory restore the phone and stick your simcard in it. It should boot up just fine. ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/3 "2012-02-10T15:42:22Z")
Yes, as harmonix pointed out, you have to make sure it’s on the same carrier…a Sprint iPhone will not work with an AT&T iPhone. (though there is a _slim_ chance a Sprint iPhone could work for a Verizon iPhone…they both use CDMA, but it would require jailbreaking and unlocking it, a complicted process and not worth getting into since you said you have a SIM card and therefore must have an AT&T (or non-US) iPhone.) The thing to be wary of is the quality, obviously. I’d avoid craigslist. Ebay could work, just make sure to choose a seller with a good rating. But personally I’d try to find a factory refurbished one…might cost a little more, but it will also come with a warranty. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/4 "2014-05-02T20:17:19Z")
I’m thinking about a used iPhone from Swappa or Cowboom. I think I’d like to switch to T-Mobile. Is that a possibility? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/5 "2014-05-02T21:41:17Z")
> [@Burrido](#): > > Im not available for an upgrade for some time. Shouldn’t this be “I’m not eligible …” or “An upgrade isn’t available …” ? ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/6 "2014-05-02T22:42:45Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > I don’t think the verizon Iphone 4 will work with a simcard. So make sure you get the AT&T one. > Just factory restore the phone and stick your simcard in it. It should boot up just fine. An I-Phone 4 does not have a SIM tray on the side. The 4S does though although it is not like a real SIM. The 4S is GSM capable and is superior in many ways to a 4. On the 5 a SIM can be burned only once for a set line - not so with the 4S. It rarely matters since SIM cards are free at Verizon stores. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/7 "2014-05-02T22:44:13Z")
Assuming you are in the US, you must have an ATT or TMobile SIM, so as noted you must buy an ATT phone. Also make sure it has been unlocked by ATT, not by other means. ATT does this for customers in good standing for free. AFAIK, no one else can do this for you without potential problems. That said, I have purchased two used iPhones by asking around and finding a friend who has or wants to upgrade. At this point, an iPhone4 might need a new battery, but that is cheap and easy these days. ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/8 "2014-05-02T22:44:31Z")
> [@Burrido](#): > > So earlier this year I accidentally ran over my iphone. Im not available for an upgrade for some time. I would like to buy a used iphone 4. Any really savy smart phone users think this is a good idea provided its not stolen, works, etc…? I still do have my SIM card. Im thinking it should be ok since all the data/phone is driven off the phone number? > > Thanks in advance! Go to [checkesnfree.com](http://checkesnfree.com) and make sure you have a clean ESN before you buy ANY phone. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/9 "2014-05-02T22:46:09Z")
> [@Linden\_Arden](#): > > An I-Phone 4 does not have a SIM tray on the side. The 4S does though although it is not like a real SIM. The 4S is GSM capable and is superior in many ways to a 4. > > On the 5 a SIM can be burned only once for a set line - not so with the 4S. It rarely matters since SIM cards are free at Verizon stores. Are you sure? My iPhone 4 (ATT) has a SIM tray - CDMA models may not. ---
**Author:** ![Linden\_Arden](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Linden\_Arden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Linden_Arden)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2014, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/10 "2014-05-02T23:23:34Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Are you sure? My iPhone 4 (ATT) has a SIM tray - CDMA models may not. Right, CDMA models don’t. I thought the OP was buying a Verizon phone. I have a bunch of old Apple phones (Sprint and Verizon) - which are not interchangeable even though they are exactly the same. Both carriers list their MEID/ESN numbers for use on their networks only. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/11 "2014-05-03T00:22:27Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Shouldn’t this be “I’m not eligible …” or “An upgrade isn’t available …” ? Well, he made the OP two years ago, so he has to be eligible for one now. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buying-used-smart-phones-advice/612190/12 "2014-05-03T06:11:13Z")
**Moderator Action** This is an advice question not a factual question. Moving thread from General Questions to In My Humble Opinion.