How to Buy Second-Hand Electronics in Australia Without Getting Burned (2026)
James Kowalski
ClickOz Automotive Editor
Used electronics are the second most scammed category on Australian marketplaces after cars. Cracked screens hidden under cases, water-damaged phones sold as 'fully working', stolen iPhones with activation locks. The good news is that 90% of issues can be caught in 5 minutes if you know what to check.
Buying a Second-Hand iPhone: The Checklist
- Ask for the IMEI and check it at checkmend.com.au — confirms it's not reported stolen
- Go to Settings → General → About and verify the IMEI matches the box
- Check Settings → Battery Health — anything below 80% means a battery replacement soon
- Test Face ID / Touch ID before handing over any money
- Check if it accepts your SIM — activation-locked phones are dead weight
- Inspect the charging port for damage or corrosion (water damage indicator)
- Test the camera front and rear — autofocus, flash, video recording
- Settings → General → VPN/Device Management — should be empty (not a corporate/managed device)
For iPhones, the single most important check is: Settings → General → About → scroll to 'Parts and Service History'. Any 'Unknown Part' listed means non-genuine Apple components have been fitted — this affects resale value and repair options.
Buying a Second-Hand Laptop: What Actually Matters
Battery condition is the main hidden cost in used laptops. A MacBook with a dead battery needing replacement adds $180–250 to your actual purchase price. Always check battery cycle count: on MacBooks, hold Option and click the battery icon in the menu bar. Under 500 cycles is great; over 1000 means replacement is imminent.
$180-250
Battery replacement (MacBook)
$200-400
Screen replacement (laptop)
$80-150
SSD replacement
The 5-Minute Laptop Test
- 1Open 5 heavy browser tabs + play a YouTube video — check for lag
- 2Open keyboard tester (keyboardtester.com) — every key must register
- 3Check all ports with a USB drive or charger
- 4Open Display Settings and look for dead pixels, backlight bleed at full brightness
- 5Run a speed test to verify the Wi-Fi card works properly
Gaming Consoles: The Hidden Issues
PS5 and Xbox are relatively reliable but check for: disc drive noise on disc models, HDMI port damage (very common from rough cable handling), and controller battery life. For PS5, ask the seller to show the storage screen — it should show near-full available storage, meaning it hasn't been filled with unremovable files.
When to Walk Away
- Seller won't meet in person for items over $200
- No original accessories and no explanation why
- Device won't turn on 'because the battery is flat' (classic scam)
- Price is more than 50% below market for the condition described
- Seller is in a rush or creating urgency
