1. Activation Lock check · the absolute first thing
Ask the seller to sign out of iCloud in System Settings → Apple ID → Sign Out. Watch them do it. If they refuse: walk away. The Mac is either iCloud-locked to the original owner or stolen.
If they sign out successfully, also have them sign out of the Mac App Store (System Settings → Users & Groups → check no logged-in Apple ID). Then power off + power on. The Mac should boot to a fresh setup-assistant or login screen, not to an Activation Lock screen.
Pakistani OLX trap: many listings show a working Mac in photos but ship an Activation-Locked unit. Once you pay, the original owner won't unlock it. The Mac becomes a beautiful brick. Always verify in person.
2. Serial number + warranty check
Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report → Hardware → Serial Number. Note the 12-character serial.
Go to checkcoverage.apple.com on your phone. Enter the serial. The page tells you: model identification, original purchase date, AppleCare status, repair history (some).
Cross-check: does the model the website shows match what the seller claims? Is the original purchase date consistent with the year? Mismatch = walk away.
3. Battery health + cycle count
Apple menu → About This Mac → System Report → Power.
Look for: 'Cycle Count' and 'Maximum Capacity' (under 'Battery Information').
Healthy targets: Cycle count under 500 (Apple batteries rated for 1000 cycles). Maximum Capacity above 85%.
Used market in 2026 Pakistan: typical units sit at 200-600 cycles and 85-95% capacity. Outliers (over 800 cycles or under 80% capacity) need battery replacement soon · price the Mac accordingly or skip.
4. Every keyboard key
Open TextEdit or Notes. Type every key in order: row 1 (Esc + F1-F12), row 2 (numbers + symbols), row 3 (qwerty), row 4 (asdf), row 5 (zxcv), space, modifiers (Shift, Cmd, Option, Ctrl), arrows.
Test Touch ID (System Settings → Touch ID & Password → register a fingerprint, verify it works).
Watch for: keys that don't register, keys that double-register, sticky keys, soft / unresponsive keys. Even one bad key on Apple Silicon Macs means a top-case replacement (PKR 35-60k).
5. Screen uniformity + dead pixels
Open a full-white background (use a blank document or visit white.lol on Safari).
Look for: dark spots, pressure marks (often near hinges or corners), uneven backlighting, dust under the display.
Repeat with full-black background. Look for: stuck pixels (bright dots), light bleed at edges (slight is normal, significant is not), flickering.
Pro 14 + Pro 16 mini-LED displays sometimes show 'blooming' (slight halo around bright objects on dark background) · this is normal mini-LED behaviour, not a defect.
6. Speakers + microphone + camera
Play a YouTube video at 50% volume. Walk around the laptop · do both speakers fire? Distortion? Rattle?
Open Photo Booth (Cmd+Space → Photo Booth). Take a photo, record a 10-second video. Webcam clear? No green tint? Microphone picks up your voice clearly?
Test built-in mic with Voice Memos · record 30 seconds, play back, check for clarity + noise + dropouts.
7. Every port
USB-C / Thunderbolt: plug in a USB-C drive or charger. Both directions (cable flipped). Both ports test independently.
MagSafe 3 (M2+ Air, all Pro 14/16): plug in MagSafe charger. LED indicator should show charging.
HDMI (Pro 14/16): connect to TV or monitor. Display should appear within 5 seconds.
SD card slot (Pro 14/16): insert any SD card. Should appear on desktop within 3 seconds.
Headphone jack: plug in wired headphones. Both channels working, no static.
8. Wi-Fi + Bluetooth
Connect to a known Wi-Fi network. Run speedtest.net or wifispeed.com. Speed should match what you get on your phone on the same network.
Open System Settings → Bluetooth. Pair with your AirPods or any nearby BT device. Should pair within 5 seconds.
Pakistani buyer-specific: ask the seller to enable Personal Hotspot on their iPhone. Connect the Mac to it. Confirm tethering works · some used Macs have a fault in the Wi-Fi module that intermittently kills hotspot connections.
9. Trackpad + force touch
Move pointer everywhere on the trackpad. No dead zones. Click anywhere on the surface, hear the click, feel the Force Touch press.
Try a three-finger swipe (Mission Control), two-finger pinch (zoom), four-finger pinch (Launchpad). All should respond.
Battery swelling first manifests as a trackpad that feels 'harder' than normal · the swollen battery pushes the trackpad up from underneath. Critical check.
10. The 'walk away' signs
Seller refuses to let you boot from your own USB or won't unmount their Apple ID.
Mac arrives with macOS unsupported version (probably to hide what System Report shows).
Significant cosmetic damage at the screen-hinge area (often hides a cracked display ribbon).
Battery info missing or 'Service' status under About This Mac → System Report → Power.
Serial number on the bottom case doesn't match the serial in software (this is fraud · the case has been swapped or the unit is stolen and re-cased).