There is no doubt in the fact that Computer village in Ikeja area of Lagos is known as a hub for sale of UK used phones, especially iPhones.

For some reasons, this area seems to be a one-stop location for individuals who can barely afford to buy the brand new iPhones and other used phones.

Surprisingly, these phones, contrary to the name they’re called (UK used) are not necessarily imported from the United Kingdom alone. Rather, they also originate from other countries like the United States of America, Hong Kong, Dubai, Korea, China, among others.

Perhaps, the name ‘UK used’ was given due to the fact that the first sets of iPhones to be imported into the country came from the UK. The huge preference for UK used phones by most Nigerians is unconnected to the unstable exchange rate.

For some time now, the Naira has faced a long slump against the dollar and other currencies. In 2014, a dollar was exchanged for 148 naira, about 20 percent more than the price it was in 2009. Since then, the exchange rate has continued to soar higher, almost becoming a bottleneck for Nigerians. Currently, one US dollars is exchanged for 416.31 naira, over 100 percent increment from 2014.

Investors King gathered that the exchange rate has, among other things, led to the increment in prices of goods imported into the country, including gadgets. Hence, people opt for the less expensive, yet functional gadgets, especially iPhones.

It is important to note that these UK used phones, in some cases, do not come without hitches. While some might come with defective screens, others might have slight internal issues.

However, one has to be extremely careful when purchasing these UK used phones. Preferably, one should go with an expert in the phone business or a phone engineer when buying. This is because of the risk factors associated with it, some which are already highlighted above.

Also, people fall victims of stolen or refurbished phones. In most cases, these phones are sold ridiculously cheap, sometimes half of the price it should be sold.

Before buying a UK used iPhone, one should consider some of its features well. A good UK used iPhone, regardless of the model, is expected to accept SIM cards. In the case of refurbished iPhones, there might be a SIM slot but this doesn’t guarantee that the phone will work.

It is also importation to note, for the iPhone 6, 7, and 8 series, when the fingerprint on the home button does not work, it cannot be fixed again or might hinder some basic features in functioning.

Unlike the new iPhones, the UK used iPhones do not come with a warranty. This is one of the disadvantages in it. So, it is important to ensure that one is getting something worth its price and confirmed to be really UK used.

One way of checking if the iPhone is new or refurbished is by checking its serial number on the Apple website.

There’s also a way of checking if a UK used iPhone is stolen or not. Every cell phone has a unique serial number, which is used to identify that device. This helps to lock the stolen device as well when needed. The GSM carriers use the IMEI number and the CDMA service providers use the MEID number to identify the device.

One of the major reasons people opt for iPhones, instead of other brands of phone is because of its camera quality. Therefore, this is an aspect that should also be thoroughly considered when purchasing a UK used iPhone. If possible, to see the quality of images, take at least multiple videos and pictures before purchasing, to make sure the camera of the device works perfectly.

Some brands of the iPhone are already outdated and no longer in production. These include iPhones 5, 5C and 5S. These phones are however still sold by some vendors at the rate of about 20,000 to 32,000, depending on the volume of the memory.

It is usually advisable to buy the latest models, if one can afford them. These models include iPhone X, XS MAX, and others. This is because electronics that have been on the market for more than 3 years might be hard to maintain. Also, one might spend more replacing the battery and other parts on the gadgets because they might have worn out or expired or damaged due to improper use.

Prices of some UK used iPhones, according to Sellatease:

If one is on a low budget and still wants a nice UK used iPhone, iPhone 7 and 8 might be a good option.

The iPhone X, XR and XS were launched with modifications and presently, one can get a UK used iPhone X 64GB and 256GB for about 180,000 naira to about 190,000 respectively. The iPhone XR 64GB and 128GB is sold for 198,0000 and 210,000 respectively while the XS 64GB and 256GB is sold for about 195,000 and 210,000 respectively.

Check out a list of the iPhone X series and their prices below:

It’s not surprising that a lot of people prefer iPhones to Android phones.

According to a report by geeksmodo, the iPhone is more user-friendly. Even though most Android phone creators try their best in producing these phones, iPhones are perceived to be the easiest phone to use until now. The look and feel of iOS has not changed over the years.

The iOS (formerly iPhone OS) is a mobile operating system created and developed by Apple Inc, exclusively for it’s hardware. It is the operating system that powers many of the company’s mobile devices.

Another advantage of iPhone over Android phones is security. The US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), revealed that even with physical possession of someone’s iPhone, it takes the assistance of an exceptionally skilled hacker to break into it and access the data.

Apple does take security seriously, releasing updates to all iOS devices directly, which helps contain any breaches upon becoming aware of them, and disinfecting everybody’s devices, regardless of who their carriers are.

While further revealing the advantages of iPhones over Android phones, Geeksmodo noted that iPhones tends to hold their value pretty well. It’s easier to resell an iPhone than an Android phone if you want an upgrade. Though some Android devices also hold their value quite well, the cost of the upgrade is less painful for iPhone users.

Meanwhile, Apple is known for releasing newer models of iPhones. The iPhone 13,  was recently launched by the company with updated cameras, new colors, smaller notches, and faster A15 chip. There are however, rumours that the iPhone 14 models will be launched in a few month’s’ time. It is expected to be launched in India in October, 2022.

According to Macrumours, the 2022 iPhone 14 Pro models are expected to eliminate the notch in favor of a new design. Apple might likely go with some combination of a circular hole-punch cutout for the camera paired with a pill-shaped cutout to house to key Face ID components.