What Buyers Check When They Come to See Your Phone
18 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
When a buyer comes to see your phone, they will run through a set of checks. If you know what they are, you can prepare for each one, answer confidently and close the deal faster.
1. IMEI and PTA status
The buyer will dial `*#06#`, then compare the IMEI with the box and send it to 8484 to check PTA status. Do this yourself first and keep the result ready. See PTA status check.
2. Stolen or blocked check
Careful buyers also check the IMEI is not reported stolen. A matching box and bill reassure them. See how to check a stolen phone.
3. Screen
They will look for scratches, cracks, dead pixels, lines, burn-in and touch problems, often by opening a plain white image and dragging an app icon across the whole screen.
4. Body and frame
Dents, bends, scratches and whether the back has been opened. Screws near the charging port that look damaged can suggest a repair.
5. Battery
On iPhones, Battery Health in settings. On Android, how fast it drains and whether it gets hot. Charge the phone fully before the meeting so they can see it.
6. Cameras
All rear lenses, the front camera, focus, flash, and video recording. Clean the lenses before the meeting.
7. Calls, speaker and microphone
They may put in their SIM and make a call, use speakerphone and record a voice note. Have a SIM tool ready.
8. Fingerprint and Face ID
They will want to register their own face or finger. Face ID problems are a big issue on iPhones.
9. Buttons, ports and connectivity
Volume and power buttons, charging, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.
10. Accounts and lock
They will want to see you remove your accounts and reset the phone, so it is not locked. See factory reset and remove iCloud.
Make it easy with a health test
A free phone health test checks most of this in your browser before the meeting and shows a report on your ad. Buyers who have already seen the report spend less time testing and bargain less.
Give them time
Let the buyer test calmly, but stay next to your phone the whole time. A relaxed, honest seller makes buyers comfortable, and comfortable buyers pay fair prices.
For the buyer's side, see our used phone checklist. Ready to sell? Post your ad for free.
