How should I go about buying a second-hand smartphone?

Robert wants to save some cash by buying a second-hand smartphone. What are the things to watch out for?

I'm thinking of replacing my Huawei Y300 smartphone, which is about three years old now. I was wondering about buying a second-hand phone. I believe you save a considerable amount of money buying hardware behind the curve. Until now, I've bought most hardware new. Are there any dos and don'ts when buying second hand? Robert

You can save money by buying new smartphones that are "behind the curve" - Amazon often has deals on new phones at close to used prices. Otherwise, the savings on second-hand phones may be offset by the extra work you have to do, and the extra risks. The savings may be wiped out if your phone fails, or turns out to be stolen.