What does UK used mean?

A phone that was first used abroad, usually in the UK or US, and imported second-hand. The term says where it came from, not how good it is. Check it exactly like any other used phone.

How do I check the IMEI of a phone?

Dial *#06# on the phone. The number that appears should match the one on the box and in Settings. You can enter it on Apple's Check Coverage page or an IMEI lookup site to see the model, warranty and lock status.

Is a phone with 80% battery health worth buying?

It will work, but expect to charge it more often and to replace the battery within a year or so. Use it to negotiate the price down rather than as a reason to walk away.

Buying a Used Phone in Nigeria: 12 Checks Before You Pay

A used phone is the most common second-hand purchase in Nigeria, and the one where the most goes wrong. The phone that looks perfect in the photos can turn out to be locked to someone else's account, running on a dying battery, or stolen. None of that is visible from across a table, but all of it can be checked in ten minutes if you know where to look.

Here are the twelve checks we recommend before you pay for any used phone, whether you are buying on Cluttapp, from a shop in Sapon, or from a friend.

1. Match the IMEI

Dial *#06# on the phone. The IMEI number that appears should match:

the number on the box, if there is one,
the number in Settings (General → About on iPhone; About phone → Status on Android),
the number the seller quoted to you before you met.

A mismatch between the phone and its box means the box belongs to a different phone. That alone is not proof of anything, but it removes the box as evidence of ownership.

2. Look the IMEI up

Enter the IMEI on Apple's Check Coverage page for iPhones, or an IMEI lookup service for any phone. It tells you the exact model and storage, whether the phone is still under warranty, and on some services whether it has been reported lost or blacklisted. If the model that comes back is not the model you were told, stop there.

3. Check for activation lock

This is the one that turns a good deal into a paperweight. On an iPhone, go to Settings → tap the name at the top → Find My. Find My iPhone must be off, and the seller must be able to sign out of their Apple ID in front of you. On Android, the equivalent is the Google account: Settings → Accounts. The seller should remove their account before you pay.

If the seller says they will "send you the password later" or that the account "cannot be removed right now", walk away. A phone still tied to someone else's account can be locked remotely at any time.

4. Read the battery health

On an iPhone: Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. On Android the location varies, but most brands show it under Settings → Battery, or you can find it in the phone's diagnostics menu.

Above 85%: good.
80 to 85%: fine, but negotiate.
Below 80%: the battery needs replacing soon. Price that in.

5. Look at the parts and service history

On iPhones running iOS 15.2 or later, Settings → General → About shows a Parts and Service History section if the screen, battery or camera has been replaced. Replaced parts are not a reason to refuse, but they are a reason to pay less, and to check that the replacement works.

6. Test the screen

Open a plain white image or a blank note and look for dark patches, lines, or a yellow tint. Then drag an icon slowly across the whole screen to confirm touch works everywhere, including the edges. Press lightly near the corners; a screen that lifts has been opened before.

7. Test every camera and the flash

Take a photo with each camera, front and back, in both photo and video. Zoom in on the result. Blurry patches, dust spots and a flash that does not fire are all common on phones that have been dropped or repaired cheaply.

8. Make a call and play a video

Insert your own SIM. Make a call and check that you can hear and be heard, on both the earpiece and the loudspeaker. Play a video and turn the volume up. Check Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and mobile data connect.

9. Check the ports and buttons

Plug in a charger and confirm the phone charges. Press every button. Test the fingerprint sensor or Face ID by setting yours up. Plug in earphones if the phone has a jack.

10. Check the carrier lock

A locked phone works only with the network it was sold with. Your own SIM working is the simplest test, but try a SIM from a second network if you can. Apple's Check Coverage page and most IMEI services also report the lock status.

11. Compare the price with the market

A price far below every other listing for the same model is not luck. Look at similar phones under gadgets on Cluttapp and elsewhere before you meet. If the price looks like bait, it usually is. Our guide on avoiding second-hand scams in Nigeria lists the other warning signs.

12. Get a receipt and the seller's details

Even for a private sale, write down the seller's name, the phone model, the IMEI, the price and the date, and have both of you sign it. If a problem comes up later, that piece of paper is all you have.

Buying a phone on Cluttapp

Every phone listed on Cluttapp is reviewed before it goes live, and buying works differently from a group chat:

Choose the phone and tap Make Enquiry, or ask the WhatsApp assistant. Cluttapp confirms with the seller that it is still available.
Pay Cluttapp, not the seller. The money is held.
The handover is arranged by the team. You get to run every check on this list before the money is released.

That last step is the point. The checks above only protect you if you can still say no after doing them.

Which used phones are worth buying

The phones that hold up best second-hand are the ones that still get software updates: iPhones from the last five or six generations, and recent Samsung, Google and Xiaomi models. An older phone at a tempting price may not run the apps you need in a year. If you are choosing between a newer mid-range phone and an older flagship at the same price, the newer phone usually serves you longer.

For more on what the labels mean, read fairly used, UK used and brand new: what the terms mean.