The questions we get asked most about buying a used iPhone in South Africa.
Yes, provided the handset is checked properly before you buy. The two real risks are a blacklisted device that a network can block at any time, and one still locked to a previous owner's Apple ID. Both are checkable. Every iPhone we sell has its IMEI checked against blacklist databases, is confirmed free of Activation Lock, and is factory reset before it ships. Buying privately without those checks is where people get caught out.
Dial *#06# on the handset to display its IMEI, or find it in Settings under General then About. You can then check that number against a blacklist database, and against South African network records, to confirm it has not been reported lost or stolen. We run this check on every device before listing it, so anything you buy from us has already passed.
Battery health is the capacity your battery still holds compared to when it was new. At 80% it holds roughly four fifths of its original charge, which is the point Apple itself treats as the end of a battery's rated life. Every iPhone we sell is guaranteed above 80%, and the exact figure for that specific unit is shown on its listing so you know what you are getting rather than a vague promise.
A second-hand device is exactly what a previous owner used: never opened, never repaired, with its original screen, battery and internals. A rebuilt device has had parts replaced before resale, which means you cannot be sure which components are original. Everything iRenew sells is second-hand in that strict sense. We never open or repair devices, which is why our grades describe how a device looks rather than what has been done to it.
They describe cosmetic condition and battery health only, never function. Fair means visible scratches or wear. Great means light marks you have to look for. Best means close to new. Every device works fully whatever its grade, because each one passes the same functional checklist covering screen, battery, charging port, cameras, buttons, Face ID or Touch ID, and speakers.
Yes. Every device has a 7-day window from delivery to report a fault it arrived with, which gets you a free courier collection and then a full refund or a replacement of the same grade. After that, a 6-month functional warranty covers the screen, battery, charging port, cameras, buttons, Face ID or Touch ID, and speakers failing under normal use. Accidental and liquid damage are not covered.
We deliver anywhere in South Africa, including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria, and delivery is free. Orders arrive within 3 to 5 working days once payment is confirmed. We do not ship outside South Africa.
Yes. Every photo is of the specific unit you would receive, including its scratches and wear at whatever grade it is listed as. We do not use stock imagery or marketing renders, so what you see is what arrives.
Still unsure? Read how we test every device, our grading system, or the warranty terms.