Buying Used Technology for Your Business: 8 Checks Before You Buy

Zac Tassone

Published 30 April 2025 · Updated 22 October 2026

Used and refurbished laptops, phones and tablets can be a sensible choice for a small business. A good second-hand device can do the job well and keeps a working product out of landfill. But a poor choice can cost more than buying new, through lost time, security risks or a device that stops getting updates a few months after you buy it.

Before you buy, run through these eight checks.

1. Will it still get security updates?

This is the most important check, and the one most often skipped. A device that no longer receives security updates is an open door for attackers, no matter how well it runs.

• Windows computers: Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025. Only buy a used PC that meets the hardware requirements for Windows 11, including TPM 2.0 and a supported processor. Microsoft’s PC Health Check app can confirm this.
• Phones and tablets: check the manufacturer’s website for how long that model will receive updates. Support periods vary a lot between brands and models.
• Macs: check that the model supports a current version of macOS.

Keeping software patched is part of the ASD’s Essential Eight, and you cannot patch a device the manufacturer has stopped supporting.

2. Is it powerful enough for the next few years?

Think about how long you want the device to last, not just whether it works today. For a typical office laptop, look for enough memory and SSD storage to run Microsoft 365, Teams and a browser with plenty of tabs at once. A slightly newer model often gives more useful years of service for a small extra outlay.

3. How healthy is the battery?

Batteries wear out with use. A worn battery means a laptop that cannot get through a meeting off the charger or a phone that dies by lunchtime.

• On an iPhone, go to Settings and then Battery to see the battery health.
• On a Windows laptop, a battery report can show how much capacity is left compared with when it was new.

If the battery is tired, factor the cost of a replacement into your decision.

4. Is it locked to someone else?

A used device may still be tied to its previous owner, which can make it unusable.

• iPhones, iPads and Macs: Activation Lock means the device needs the previous owner’s Apple Account to be set up again.
• Android phones: Factory Reset Protection does a similar job with the previous Google account.
• Ex-corporate laptops and phones: they may still be registered to another organisation’s device management system, such as Windows Autopilot or Apple Business Manager, and will need to be released before your business can manage them.

Ask the seller to confirm the device has been removed from all accounts and management systems, and test it before handing over payment.

5. Has it been reported lost or stolen?

In Australia, a phone reported lost or stolen can be blocked by its IMEI number so it will not work on Australian mobile networks. Before buying a used phone, ask for the IMEI and check its status using the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) handset check.

6. Who are you buying from?

This makes a big difference to your rights. Under the Australian Consumer Law, consumer guarantees generally apply to second-hand goods bought from a business, taking into account the age and condition of the item. Most consumer guarantees do not apply to one-off private sales between individuals. For business purchases, a reputable refurbisher that offers a written warranty is usually the safer choice.

7. Check the condition and what is included

• Inspect for cracks, dents, swollen batteries, screen damage and signs of liquid damage.
• Test the keyboard, trackpad, ports, camera, microphone, speakers and Wi-Fi.
• Confirm the charger is included and is the correct type and wattage.
• Check that a genuine Windows licence is in place.

8. Wipe it and set it up as your own

Never use a second-hand device exactly as it arrived. Even a “refurbished” device should be reset before it holds business data.

1. Do a full reset to factory settings.
2. Install all available updates.
3. Enrol it in your business’s device management, if you use one.
4. Turn on encryption, such as BitLocker or FileVault.
5. Install your standard security software and set up MFA for the user.

Used or new? Think about total cost

The purchase price is only part of the picture. Add in setup time, a likely battery replacement, a shorter support window and any downtime if it fails. Sometimes a used business-grade device is clearly the better deal. Sometimes a new entry-level model works out better over its life. Compare both before you decide.

Quick checklist

• Still receiving security updates, and Windows 11 ready
• Enough performance for the next few years
• Battery health checked
• Removed from previous owner’s accounts and management systems
• IMEI checked for phones
• Bought from a business with a warranty where possible
• Reset, updated, encrypted and enrolled before use

If you would rather someone else handled sourcing, setup and retirement of devices, our lifecycle and asset management service does exactly that. If an existing device is the problem, our computer repairs team can tell you whether it is worth fixing first.