vindje.com / Guides / Electronics
A two year old Samsung Galaxy S or Google Pixel costs about half of new and still has years of updates left. The big risk is a phone that is still locked to the seller's Google account or reported stolen. Check the lock, the battery and the screen before money changes hands.
Security updates matter more than speed. Google promises seven years of updates for the Pixel 8 and later; Samsung does the same for the Galaxy S24 and later. Older models like the Pixel 7 and Galaxy S22 have shorter promises, so check the end-of-support date on the manufacturer's site before buying. A cheap phone with one year of updates left is a short-term buy.
Mid-range Samsungs like the Galaxy A54 and A55 are popular and cheap, with good batteries. Pixels have the best cameras for the money but some older models (Pixel 6 especially) have a mixed reputation for modem and heat issues.
Android phones have Factory Reset Protection. If a phone was reset without first removing the Google account, it asks for that account at setup and is unusable without it. Samsung phones can also have a Samsung account lock.
Ask the seller to remove their accounts and do a factory reset in front of you. Then start the setup until you can reach the home screen. Dial *#06# to see the IMEI and compare it with the box and the SIM tray sticker if there is one. A missing box and receipt on a recent flagship is a reason to ask more questions.
On Samsung, open the Samsung Members app, go to Diagnostics and run the battery test: it reports the battery as good or not. Newer Pixels (8a and later) show battery health in Settings, Battery. On older Pixels, ask about charging habits and watch the battery percentage during your test. A replacement battery at a repair shop typically costs EUR 60-100.
Samsung and Pixel flagships use OLED screens. Open a plain grey or white image and look for burn-in from the keyboard or navigation bar, and for green or pink lines. Some Samsung models have had a green line fault that appears over time.
Shops selling refurbished phones use grades like A, B and C or words like 'als nieuw', 'zeer goed' and 'goed'. These describe the outside: grade C can have clear scratches but should work fully. Private sellers use the same words loosely. Ask for photos of the screen with the phone switched off, at an angle to the light, which shows scratches that normal photos hide.
Storage matters too: 128GB fills up quickly with photos and these phones have no memory card slot.
Refurbished phones from shops come with warranty and cost a bit more than private sales; that premium is often worth it for a flagship. Avoid 'parts only' phones unless you repair them yourself, and anything sold without a charger and box at a suspiciously low price.
If you know what you want, for example 'Galaxy S23 128GB, battery good, no burn-in, under 300 euro near Eindhoven', vindje.com can filter the listings that don't mention those details.
| Item | Typical asking price |
|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy A54 128GB | EUR 130-180 |
| Google Pixel 7a | EUR 150-200 |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 128GB | EUR 250-330 |
| Google Pixel 8 128GB | EUR 250-330 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 256GB | EUR 350-450 |
Rough Marktplaats asking prices in the Netherlands. Condition, age and season move them a lot.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
Samsung Galaxy S23 or Pixel 8, 128GB, battery in good condition, no screen burn-in, under 300 euro, within 20 kmSearch Marktplaats like this
Factory reset it and go through setup. If it asks for a previous Google account, it's still locked and you shouldn't buy it until the seller removes it.
Use the Samsung Members app, Diagnostics, Battery status. It tells you if the battery is in good condition.
Most phones sold in the Netherlands are not sim-locked, but some older carrier phones were. Test with your own SIM card at the pickup.
Pixels have cleaner software and strong cameras; Samsungs have more choice and better resale value. Both are fine if updates last long enough for you.