Buying a used iPhone: battery, iCloud, IMEI checks and prices

When buying a used iPhone, check four things before the price: whether the phone has been removed from the previous owner's Apple Account, the battery's condition, whether the IMEI is registered in Azerbaijan, and whether the screen, camera and other parts are genuine. As of 27 September 2026, Prayk's Apple iPhone section has 4,496 listings; among the 500 newest, the median price of an iPhone 11 is 270 AZN, an iPhone 13 500 AZN and an iPhone 14 Pro 900 AZN.

Short answer: only buy a used iPhone after checking it in person with your own SIM card. In Settings, check that the Apple Account is signed out, the Battery Health (as of 27 September 2026, the median battery figure stated in Prayk listings is 83%), Parts and Service History, and the IMEI via *#06#; confirm the IMEI's registration status on my.gov.az. If the price is far below the model's median, ask why — copies sold as a "Dubai version" go for about a tenth of the genuine phone's price.

How much do used iPhone models cost?

The table groups the 500 newest listings in the Apple iPhone section by model. The median is the middle price when listings are sorted: half are cheaper, half dearer. The "middle half" column is the central 50%. We only show models with at least 15 listings.

The iPhone 13 (54) and iPhone 11 (49) have the most listings, so choice is wide and prices are easy to compare. The iPhone 15 Pro's lower quartile (768 AZN) is well below its median: that band includes phones with cracked screens, replaced logic boards or broken Face ID. Which models are listed most often overall is covered in our piece on the most-listed smartphones.

iCloud and Activation Lock: is the phone signed out?

This is the biggest risk. On an iPhone with Find My turned on, Activation Lock applies: even after a reset, the phone cannot be activated without the previous owner's Apple Account and password. According to Apple's official explanation, if the buyer sees "iPhone Locked to Owner" on screen, the phone is still linked to the previous account.

• Ask the seller to go to Settings → [name] → Sign Out in front of you, then run "Erase All Content and Settings".
• After the reset the phone should start with the "Hello" screen, and you should be able to set it up with your own Apple Account.
• If you see phrases like "it's stuck on iCloud, I forgot the passcode", do not buy: among the 500 newest listings on 27 September 2026 some sellers say exactly that.

What battery health should you accept?

Battery condition is shown as a percentage under Settings → Battery → Battery Health. According to Apple's official information, batteries in iPhone 14 and earlier models are designed to retain 80% of original capacity at 500 complete charge cycles under ideal conditions, and iPhone 15 and later at 1,000 cycles.

Of the 500 newest iPhone listings on Prayk, 130 state a battery percentage: the median is 83%, with the middle half at 78–92%. In 43 of those 130 listings the figure is below 80%. Below 80% battery life shortens noticeably, and it makes sense to deduct the cost of a replacement from the price. There are also 19 listings claiming 100% — on an older model this may mean the battery was recently replaced; check whether a genuine part was used via the history described below.

IMEI registration: what to check in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan the IMEI of a mobile device connected to the network must be registered. According to information from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport (formerly the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies), the IMEI must be registered no later than 30 days after the device connects to the network, and the state fee is set according to the model's market price. According to a notice on imei.az, registration services have moved to the my.gov.az portal, which also offers an IMEI check.

1. Dial *#06# — the IMEI on screen must match the number on the box and under Settings → General → About.
2. Ask the seller whether the phone is registered and verify the IMEI with the check service on my.gov.az.
3. Insert your own SIM card and test calls and mobile data.

The word "qeydiyyat" (registration) appears in 25 of the 500 newest listings; some sellers state openly that the phone is unregistered and the buyer will pay for registration. Factor that into your negotiation. This is general information — check the exact fee and procedure on the official portal.

How to check a "factory" phone and an original screen

The word "zavod" ("factory") is common in listings — it appears in 142 of the 500 newest iPhone listings (28%). Sellers usually mean "never opened, no parts replaced", but verify this on the phone itself rather than taking their word. On iOS 15.2 and later, if the phone has been repaired, Settings → General → About shows Parts and Service History, which states whether parts such as the display, battery and camera are genuine Apple parts ("Genuine"/"Unknown").

• Screen: no yellow patches, dead pixels or edge light bleed on a white background; True Tone and auto-brightness should work.
• Face ID / Touch ID: enrol a new face or fingerprint in front of you.
• Cameras: take photos and video with every lens and check focusing.
• Sound, microphone, speaker: make a short call and record a voice memo.
• Charging port and wireless charging, buttons and the silent switch.
• Model: the model name and storage under About must match the listing. Among the 500 newest listings, copies billed as a "Dubai version" were selling for 189–230 AZN as an "iPhone 17 Pro Max" — these are not genuine.

Meeting, payment and Prayk tools

Do not transfer a deposit before seeing the phone, and pay only after your checks. Meet in a public place or near a service centre. In Prayk chat, messages that demand payment or contain a card number are flagged automatically. You can check the seller's number on the "Check a phone number" page: how long it has been known, how many listings it has and whether there were complaints. To compare a specific listing's price with the market, use the "Check a listing" report, which shows a comparison with similar listings and the price history. All listings are in the Apple iPhone section. If you are about to sell your own phone, see our guide to selling a used phone.

Frequently asked questions

How much should a used iPhone 13 cost?

As of 27 September 2026, the median price of the 54 newest iPhone 13 listings on Prayk is 500 AZN, with the middle half at 428–635 AZN. Storage, battery percentage and whether the screen is original move the price within that band.

Should I buy if the battery is below 80%?

You can, but deduct a battery replacement from the price. According to Apple, batteries are designed to retain 80% of original capacity after a certain number of cycles under ideal conditions (500 for iPhone 14 and earlier, 1,000 for iPhone 15 and later); below that, battery life drops noticeably.

How do I know the phone is removed from iCloud?

The seller should sign out of the Apple Account and fully reset the phone in front of you. It should then start with the "Hello" screen and let you set it up with your own account. If "iPhone Locked to Owner" appears, do not buy.

What is IMEI registration and who pays for it?

In Azerbaijan the IMEI of a device connected to the network must be registered within 30 days, and the state fee depends on the model's market price. If the phone is unregistered, agree with the seller in advance on who pays, and check the status on my.gov.az.

What is a "Dubai version" iPhone?

It is the name used in listings for iPhone copies. On 27 September 2026 such listings were offered as an "iPhone 17 Pro Max" for 189–230 AZN. A genuine iPhone shows its model and serial number under Settings → General → About, and the App Store and Apple Account work.

Sources and methodology

Listing counts and prices come from Prayk's public catalogue API on 27 September 2026: the Smartphones → Apple iPhone section (4,496 listings) and its 500 newest listings. The model was read from the listing title and attributes; medians and 25th–75th percentiles use AZN prices only, and we do not publish a median for models with fewer than 15 listings. Battery percentages are values between 50% and 100% stated in listing text or attributes (130 listings); mentions of "zavod", "qeydiyyat" and "Dubai" were counted in titles and descriptions. Official sources: Apple — Activation Lock, Apple — iPhone battery and performance, Apple — Parts and Service History, the ministry's notice on mobile device registration, imei.az, my.gov.az — IMEI code check. This is general information; check fees and rules on the official portal.