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Gazelle Certified iPhone 5 Review

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The iPhone 5 is still a very popular device and even though Apple doesn’t sell it anymore, many users buy used or refurbished iPhone 5 devices. One option is to buy a Gazelle Certified iPhone 5 which lets you skip the unknowns of buying on Craigslist or eBay and get a guarantee that you get a working iPhone in great condition.

We can’t offer Gazelle Certified reviews of every device that they offer, but after testing out a Gazelle Certified iPhone 5 we can offer a look at how well this device performs and how it holds up in 2015.

If you want a cheap way to upgrade to an iPhone that works with the Apple Watch and that will likely get an iOS 9 update later this year, you’ll want to see what we think about the Gazelle Certified iPhone 5.

This Gazelle Certified iPhone 5 looks like it just came from the Apple Store.

This Gazelle Certified iPhone 5 looks like it just came from the Apple Store.

Gazelle Certified Review

You can buy many refurbished and like-new iPhone 5 units from a variety of sellers, and you can buy a used iPhone 5 from Craigslist.

When you buy a Gazelle Certified device, like this iPhone 5, you can choose the carrier you need and what condition you want to pay for. Gazelle Certified devices are like new or good and the prices start at $219 for an iPhone 5 off contract.

In this Gazelle Certified review we use a Certified Like new device and it does indeed look like it just came out of the original Apple box. The Certified Good option includes a screen in very good condition, but there may be scratches or scuffs on the sides or back.

There is no visible wear on the iPhone 5. Quite a feat considering the age of the iPhone 5.

There is no visible wear on the iPhone 5. Quite a feat considering the age of the iPhone 5.

Part of the Gazelle Certified promise is a smooth touch screen, all features fully functional and an iPhone that is restored to factory settings so you don’t end up buying a stolen iPhone that is locked to some other user.

Gazelle sells iPhones and other devices that are compatible with Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. The unlocked models will also work with pre-paid carries like Straight Talk or Red Pocket Mobile. Gazelle offers a 30-day return period for the Gazelle Certified devices, in case you don’t like what you end up with.

Gazelle Certified iPhone 5 Review

The iPhone 5 is an older device, first released in 2012, but it still holds up as a viable option in 2015. You can read our iPhone 5 iOS 8.2 review to get a better idea about how it performs with the latest software and below you’ll learn more about what it’s like to use the iPhone 5 in 2015.

iPhone 5 Design

The iPhone 5 design is recent enough to work with many accessories and cases.

The iPhone 5 design is recent enough to work with many accessories and cases.

The iPhone 5 is a small iPhone compared tot he iPhone 6, but it is the right size for many users who want a 4-inch display and who don’t like the look of the new iPhone 6. With chamfered edges and straight sides the iPhone 5 is easier to hold than the iPhone 6, and the smaller size makes it easier to carry in a pocket.

The iPhone 5 doesn’t support Apple Pay, but if you pair it with an Apple Watch you can use the Apple Watch to make payments with Apple Pay. This is the last iPhone to feature a standard home button without fingerprint technology, so you’ll need to enter a pass code on the screen.

The headphone jack is on the bottom, where it works out great for most users and there is a Lightning port to charge so you can use the latest iPhone accessories. With the same design on the iPhone 5s that Apple still sells there is no shortage of great iPhone 5 cases either.

iPhone 5 Display

You can buy a bigger and better display, but for some users this is the perfect size and fit.

You can buy a bigger and better display, but for some users this is the perfect size and fit.

The iPhone 5 offers a 4-inch Retina Display that looks very nice. It’s not as big or as high-resolution as the iPhone 6 or most Android smartphones, but it is still a good-looking screen. If you want a budget iPhone, you’ll still get a good overall display.

Many users are hoping for a 4-inch iPhone 6s model later this year, but it’s not clear if that will happen. This is the same display that is in the iPhone 5c, so you can check that out in a local store to see if it meets your needs.

There is a lot to like about bigger, higher resolution screens, but the iPhone 5 screen still manages to deliver a good experience several years after it was first introduced.

iPhone 5 Camera

The iPhone 5 offers a 8MP camera on the back, but it is capable of delivering the same performance as the 8MP camera on the back of the iPhone 6. the iPhone 5 can take good photos, but it lacks the speed and features found on newer iPhone models. The iPhone 5 camera performance is one reason that Gotta Be Mobile Editor Adam Mills upgraded to the iPhone 6 last year.

Camera performance on newer iPhones is much better, and users will want to think about what they plan to take photos off. A Gazelle Certified iPhone 5s or iPhone 6 is more expensive, but if you plan to use this as the main camera for taking photos of your child, the extra $60 might be worth paying.

iPhone 5 Performance

The iPhone 5 performance is not as speedy as the iPhone 6, and that is something that we expect on an older phone. If you don’t need to use the iPhone for shooting and editing movies every day, playing the latest graphically intense games and other resource intensive tasks the iPhone 5 is likely fast enough for you.

The iPhone 5 runs iOS 8.2 if you update to the current shipping version. You can read our iPhone 5 iOS 8.2 review to learn about how that software update handles. The unit Gazelle shipped runs iOS 7.1.2, which is a nice surprise because it allows for jailbreaking and lets users decide if they should upgrade from iOS 7 to iOS 8. There is no guarantee that you will get an iPhone with iOS 7 on it, but it is a possibility.

Is Gazelle Certified a Good Deal?

You don't need 100 Gazelle Certified reviews to figure out that this is a good deal.

You don’t need 100 Gazelle Certified reviews to figure out that this is a good deal.

 

The iPhone 5 is not my first choice for a new phone, but there is enough performance to meet the needs of many users, there are still a number of iOS updates coming to the device and there is a healthy ecosystem for apps and accessories.

Gazelle Certified offers a good value to buyers with big savings over buying on a contract, a known seller and a return policy that lets users test the device, see the condition and buy with confidence.

Gazelle certified is the best way to buy a used iPhone without worrying about who you are buying from, if they left out the condition of the device or if they are trying to pull a fast one on you with hidden defects or other problems.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. hritvik

    04/11/2015 at 3:00 am

    i am having a htc desire 816g n planning to take an ihone ,under budget i am only 5 should i take

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