The Best Diagnostic Software to Test Cell Phones in 2023

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Whether you deal in cell phone repairs only or sell refurbished phones too, investing in mobile diagnostic software is a very good idea to increase footfall for your repair shop.

Life without a Diagnostic Software

Without diagnostic software, for every phone that comes in with a repair or refurbishment request, you have to follow an extensive manual process to determine the possible faults. Manual processes have the following drawbacks:

• Slow and unsatisfactory diagnostic process
• Inaccurate and incomplete diagnoses based on guesswork
• Unknown eligibilities, validation requirements, Terms & Conditions
• Skipping Data Protection SOPs and Legalities
• Inefficient process of erasing phone data for refurbishment

Advantages of Having a Diagnostic Software

Having diagnostic software can really help address all the manual process drawbacks.

With repairs, knowing exactly what’s wrong with a device allows you to inform your customers about the real condition of their devices and helps you follow the best repair practices.

Refurbished phones, on the other hand, are usually bought in batches. Scanning their barcode to add them to your point of sale software might be easy but manually checking each takes a very long time and is much less efficient as well. So, using a diagnostic tool makes more sense.

If you offer trade-ins, having comprehensive diagnostic software for cell phones can save you from buying a phone at a high price. You will also find out how much work needs to be done on each device, if any, and price it accordingly.

RepairDesk has a dedicated section for trade-ins where you can easily add the cost of the repair of a trade-in if any and price them accordingly. 

This blog covers the five most recommended software for you to choose from so you can make the best decisions for your business. But first, let’s identify the common issues in cell phone repair orders.

Common Issues In Cell Phone Repair Diagnosis

When a phone comes in for repair, a visual examination helps identify physical repair issues but running a quick diagnostic check can identify everything that is wrong with the phone from the inside. The more information you have about the faults in the device, the smoother your following workflow will be.

On the hardware side, a broken screen is one of the most common repairs, which requires a screen replacement.

On the software side, doing a diagnostic check has many benefits, such as providing accurate quotes to customers, offering more comprehensive repair services, recording a device’s condition for legal purposes, etc. Filling out the pre-repair checklist – essentially a checklist for your diagnostics – and sharing it with the client helps bring everyone on the same page.

Some of the most common repair issues include:

• Screen issues such as dead pixels
• Battery charging and drainage issues
• IMEI issues and functionality errors 
• Screen and Keypad touch sensor problems
• Audio and microphone functioning troubles
• Front or back camera malfunction
• Software update or re-installation difficulties
• Bluetooth, wifi and other connectivity hitches

When identified, all these issues can be recorded if you have a POS system that offers a check list feature. RepairDesk offers an in-built checklist that you can use to keep all repair ticket records in one place and improve your job tracking system. It also has an inventory management feature which makes keeping track of your refurbished phone stock easy and simple.

Use the Built-in Diagnostic Tool in your Phone

Oftentimes, you’ll be lucky because the phone that comes in for repair will have in-built software for running diagnostics. Modern phones these days can help you run your diagnostics before you’ve fired up any specific software or put it under a magnifier. When these phones are manufactured and produced, a particular part of their software is reserved for diagnostic tests for repair purposes. This makes it easier for manufacturers and officially-licensed repair technicians to work on the repair of these phones since the self-check-up software can help them diagnose their issues easily.

While Apple is notorious for making it virtually impossible for users to perform self-check-ups on their phones, Xiaomi and other Android cell phone manufacturers come with their own hidden diagnostic apps. You can activate the test app by typing certain codes:

iOS

You can check battery level and performance by going into Settings > Battery

Android

• *#0*# for hidden diagnostics menu
• *#*#4636#*#* for usage information menu

Dialing the codes and finding the exact information you are looking for can be a little tricky. Moreover, the information and tests provided by these built-in diagnostic tools are quite basic. They can analyze the general health of the phone and run a few basic tests, but they will not be helpful if you need a detailed diagnosis.

To get a detailed diagnosis, opt for a purpose built software. Here are the most popular ones for 2023.

The Best Diagnostic Software for Cell Phone Repair Shops

A cell phone repair shop carries out a lot of diagnostic checks in a day. So, to save time and increase efficiency, subscribing to good testing software is quite beneficial.

There are multiple third-party diagnostic tools out there, some of which are compatible with iPhones and Android phones. Here is the list of the top 5 diagnostic multi-OEM software that are recommended by experts.

1. M360soft

M360soft is a specialized diagnostic software designed for the cell phone repair industry. It is compatible with both iOS and Android, making it ideal for third-party repair shops.

M360soft offers 26 tests to detect faults in mobile phone cameras, batteries, storage, connectivity, audio, sensors, buttons, and screens. These tests take only 2 minutes per device. It saves all history in the cloud and hence, data can be shared with multiple stores. This helps customers get their devices fixed from the closest location.

From IMEI to warranty, M360 instantly pulls out information on any device the moment it is plugged in. Its data erasure technique is quick, secure, and flawless. It also offers device labels to keep your repairs and buy-ins in order.

M360 has two primary packages that you can choose from and are available here. If you are a RepairDesk customer, you can get a 20% discount on your M360soft subscription.

2. FutureDial

Working for prominent companies like Sprint and Verizon, FutureDial is an automated software for the mobile device industry. The company proudly claims that it takes them less than 90 seconds to diagnose a cell phone device for repairs.

FutureDial provides accurate grading to determine the correct value of a cell phone device. Some of its multiple tests include model identification, stolen/lost verification, lock detection, battery health, data erasure, and more.

While FutureDial does offer a vast array of tests that can be performed, this option is on the pricier side and is more suitable for shops with bulk orders.

3. PiceaServices

From device diagnostics to providing accurate values for trade-in phones, PiceaServices offers a complete repair solution to cell phone repair shops. The PiceaServices suite offers various applications, each specializing in a unique feature. Some of its features include data transfer, data erasure, and device unlocking. The diagnosis takes 2-3 minutes per device and identifies both hardware and software issues.

PiceaServices can erase data from up to 32 devices at the same time. It has an automatic AI screen grading system that detects the condition of your screen and reports on whether a replacement is necessary. Post-repair check-ups ascertain if the issue has been properly resolved and if your technician hasn’t made any mistake.

For more information on pricing, you can check out their website.

4. NSYS Diagnostics

NSYS Diagnostics is a cloud-based system that is compatible with both iPhones and Android phones. It takes only 2-3 minutes for it to run a check-up and present a detailed report on a device. Moreover, it can analyze up to 60 devices at the same time. So, it is especially useful for repair shop owners who have contracts with schools, carrier stores, or other organizations and get bulk repair orders.

Some of the diagnostic services it performs include IMEI checks, data restoration, label printing, cloud databasing, and non-original parts detection. This software has more than 60 tests and provides a detailed error report. Since it can be automated, you can test a large number of devices quicker. This allows you, as a cell phone repair shop owner, to service more customers.

Since NSYS is a cloud-based system, it keeps a record of all your old data, which can be retrieved easily. Because human involvement is minimal throughout most of the process, there are lesser chances of diagnostic error.

For the price, you will have to contact the NSYS team directly. They sell their services in packages, for instance, a 20-device-check package, a 50-device-check package, and so on.

5. MobiTEST

MobiTEST is a diagnostic software designed to reduce testing times in repair businesses while improving the quality of repairs. It comes with a guided, customizable workflow that fulfills all kinds of business and employee requirements. With MobiTEST, you can set a consistent quality standard by fully testing multiple functions of your required cell phones in under 2 minutes.

MobiTEST also offers activation lock detection, providing an extra security layer for refurbished phone purchases. Moreover, you also get the guarantee of due diligence as the diagnostic software detects blocked devices instantly.

Apart from conducting hardware, connectivity, screen, sound, and battery tests, MobiTEST also provides comprehensive diagnostic reports that can be printed out for record keeping. 

Getting Started

Efficient diagnostic software allows you to get instant information on the actual state of the device for both yourself and your customer. Your customer will be able to know the kind of repairs required and the potential costs associated with it. Secondly, it saves a lot of time that would otherwise be spent on manually checking the phone for faults, a process that is prone to human error.

As your business grows and you get an increasing number of repair orders, incorporating diagnostic software will make your processes much more efficient.