Consoles are for people who like gaming and would rather spend $500 than upwards of $1,000 for a gaming PC. Sadly, even the cheaper $500 option can be a bit much for some, and prefer to buy used ones. There's no shame in being frugal, but one must be cautious in buying used electronics. Here's what to look out for.
1. Physical Condition
The first thing you can inspect is the unit itself. Look for scratches, cracks, or other forms of physical damage and ask the seller how it happened. A simple crack from carelessly removing the console covers might be harmless, but it could've been acquired from dropping the device. Of course, it's likely that the seller will not admit it, so you should test the unit.
2. Check the Ports
Take a close look at the ports included in the console such as the HDMI, USB, power, and Ethernet ports. A little dust would be normal, but you shouldn't disregard any dents or lodged debris inside the ports. If you can, test out each and every connection you can, especially the HDMI port and the power port as the console would be useless without them.
3. Wireless Connections
This absolutely requires you to turn on the PS5. Consoles heavily rely on wireless connections, particularly Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Without them, you won't be able to download games and updates or use controllers wirelessly. Try to connect to a network first, and then test the Bluetooth out using the controller that comes with the console.
4. Controllers
Sellers seldom exclude controllers when selling a console, and you shouldn't take such deals as brand-new controllers aren't that cheap. To test the controllers, you'll have to turn on the console and open a game. You should pay attention to the joysticks especially since they are the most prone to damage like stick drift.
5. Console Noises
Consoles have built-in fans to help dissipate the heat generated by the device. You'll be able to hear the sound of the fans faintly, but it should not be too loud. If the unit's fans are suspiciously audible, then there might be some internal damage that could shorten the lifespan of the console since the cooling system is already struggling.
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6. Console Cooling
Unfortunately, a console could sound normal but might still have overheating issues. Plus, you can only determine the problem with ventilation when you've already spent hours on the device. If the console easily overheats despite being in a perfectly cool environment, you should try to contact the seller and resolve the issue with them.
7. Warranty
If the seller is indeed the first owner of the console, then they probably have a warranty for the device. It could depend on the store, but most warranties last for about a year. If the seller's ownership has gone past the warranty, then you're going to have to do without. If it's still valid, then ask if they did any sort of tampering that could void the warranty of the device.
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