Common Mobile Phone Problems

Common mobile phone problems: the 10 faults UK traders should check first

Common mobile phone problems are not just “customer issues” — they are margin issues. If you buy, refurbish, or resell used devices in the UK, the fastest way to reduce returns is to spot predictable faults early, record evidence, and grade consistently. This guide covers the 10 most common mobile phone problems, what they look like in practice, and the quickest checks your team can run at intake and on the bench.

Why common mobile phone problems matter for UK resellers

Most disputes and chargebacks come down to the same thing: the buyer expected one condition, and you shipped another. The fix is not more effort — it is a repeatable workflow: identify the device, test it in a consistent order, record outcomes, and grade against a written standard.

Quick outcome: For each device, aim to produce (1) a short pass/fail test summary, (2) an A/B/C grade, and (3) a consistent photo set tied to the IMEI or serial.

The 10 most common mobile phone problems (with fast checks)

1) Battery health and power issues

Battery problems remain the most common reason devices fail resale expectations. You will see rapid drain, unexpected shutdowns, slow charging, overheating, or poor capacity.

Fast check: confirm it charges reliably, holds charge under basic use, and does not heat excessively.
Trade rule: quarantine swollen batteries or devices showing heat damage — do not ship them.

2) Camera faults (rear and front)

Common camera problems include focus hunting, blurry images, black screen in the camera app, lens dust, and stabilisation failure.

Fast check: test both cameras, zoom, flash, focus, and video recording.
Evidence: record one clear photo per camera in your device record.

3) Microphone faults

Mic problems cause poor call quality and voice note failures. Often the device “works” but customers complain immediately.

Fast check: record a voice note and play it back; test on speakerphone as well.
Tip: check for blocked mic grills and liquid ingress indicators.

4) Buttons and switches (power, volume, mute)

Loose buttons, inconsistent clicks, or stuck mute switches are common — and buyers treat them as major defects.

Fast check: test every button twice, including long press.
Listing rule: if a button is intermittent, disclose it clearly or route to repair/parts.

5) Speakers and audio faults

Distortion, low volume, crackling, or one speaker failing can make a device effectively unusable for many buyers.

Fast check: test ringtone volume, media playback, and speakerphone audio.
Tip: check for water damage and blocked grills.

6) Screen problems (cracks, dead pixels, touch issues)

Screen faults range from obvious cracks to subtle issues like dead zones, ghost touches, burn-in, pressure marks, and brightness flicker.

Fast check: test touch across the full screen, brightness, and colour uniformity.
Evidence: include a photo with the screen on (solid colour helps show defects).

7) Charging port and charging reliability

Loose ports and intermittent charging cause a high rate of returns because customers notice immediately.

Fast check: plug/unplug gently, test cable stability, confirm the device charges consistently.
Trade rule: if charging is intermittent, do not sell as “fully working”.

8) Network and connectivity issues

Network faults show up as weak signal, no service, random dropouts, or failure to connect even with a known good SIM.

Fast check: check signal, calls, SMS, and basic data where possible.
Note: connectivity issues are often mistaken for “customer error” — but they become refunds quickly.

9) NFC / contactless payment faults

NFC issues matter because buyers expect Apple Pay / Google Pay to work. Failures often appear only when trying to pay.

Fast check: confirm NFC toggles on, and run a basic NFC check if your workflow supports it.

10) Biometric faults (Face ID / fingerprint)

Biometrics are a high-sensitivity feature for buyers. If Face ID or fingerprint fails, disputes are common.

Fast check: enrol and test biometrics. If it cannot enrol, treat as a fault.
Listing rule: disclose clearly or route to parts/repair.

How to reduce returns caused by common mobile phone problems

Most teams already “test phones”. The difference is whether the test is consistent, recorded, and easy to train. To reduce returns, use one workflow across your business:

Test in a fixed order (same sequence every time).
Record outcomes once (avoid re-checking the same device repeatedly).
Take the same photo set (screen on/off, back, corners, any marks).
Apply a boring rule: clear / quarantine / repair / parts.

Simple policy example: If a device fails a core function test (charging, screen, network, biometrics), it cannot be graded A/B as “fully working”. Route it to repair/parts or sell as faulty with clear disclosure.

Where MobiCode fits

MobiCode helps UK phone traders, refurbishers and recyclers run consistent testing at scale. Instead of relying on manual, ad hoc checks, you can standardise your process and surface issues early — which reduces returns and improves grading consistency.

MobiONE – automated, managed mobile phone testing to detect the problems above.
Device testing tools – structured test workflows for teams.
Device check services – reduce inbound risk before you spend labour on a device.

Find out more about MobiONE®

FAQ: common mobile phone problems

What are the most common mobile phone problems?
Battery issues, camera faults, microphone/speaker failures, screen problems, charging faults, connectivity issues, and biometric failures are among the most common mobile phone problems seen in the used device trade.

What is the fastest way to reduce returns?
Use a fixed test order, record outcomes against the device, take a consistent photo set, and apply a clear rule for quarantine/repair/parts.

Should we disclose minor faults?
Yes. Buyers will tolerate faults that are disclosed. They rarely tolerate surprises.

Common Mobile Phone Problems