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Journalism of Courage
Tablets are great for both work and play, covering the middle ground between smartphones and laptops. For those on a budget or looking for a deal that offers great value for money, buying a used tablet might be better than purchasing a new one. If you are thinking about buying a refurbished tablet, here are some things you should look out for.
One of the most important things when buying a used or refurbished product is to check it for physical damage and ensure that it is in good condition. Since tablets have huge screens, the first thing to inspect is the display.
While minor scratches won’t have any effect on functionality if the previous owner has installed a screen protector, if you spot a crack, ask them to remove it to check if the glass is cracked or if it is just the protector.
If the tablet is in a cover, remove it and check the back panel and the corners for any dents, deformations or scratches.
Buying a refurbished tablet instead of a new one will save you a ton of money, but before you do, make sure the model you purchase packs the hardware you intend to use it for.
You can do so by checking reviews of the tablet online, manually determining if the screen is crisp and bright enough for your needs and checking the software support from the manufacturer’s website.
Also, make sure that the tablet has been factory reset before you purchase it. Some tablets may still ask for the previous owner’s password, so if you are buying it from someone, make sure you remove that and set your password.
Before you decide to buy a second-hand tablet, make sure you have checked the device for hardware defects. If the tablet you are going to buy has an AMOLED screen, download an app to see if it has any dead pixels or burn-in. While spotting dead pixels may require a third-party app, screen burn-ins are pretty easy to spot.
Another thing to check is if the speakers are fine and working. Before purchasing the device, try to play music at the highest volume to see if the audio is cracking. If it is, chances are pretty high that the speakers are damaged. Most modern tablets come with a front and rear camera, so when purchasing a used one, open the camera app to check for any defects.
Tablets typically have an all-day battery life, but older ones may have a degraded battery that will barely last a day. If you are buying from an individual, you can ask them how long the battery lasts for them, but those purchasing from an online platform or seller should reach out to the refurbisher to learn more about the battery health.
Some tablets may have a loose or damaged charging port, so make sure you check it by inserting the charging cable and checking if the connector is working without a problem.
If you are purchasing the device from an online seller or a store that sells refurbished devices, make sure they either have a return policy or offer at least three to six months of warranty after making the purchase.
In most cases, this may not be as useful, but some hardware and software problems may take a few days to appear, so make sure you can return or ask the seller to repair the device in case it is acting up.
