Are you on the lookout for buying an iPhone? Not sure if the iPhone you are looking at is new or refurbished? When buying a used iPhone, you might think about its history. Whether it was purchased new by the person you are buying it from or if had it been refurbished before are two you should find out before purchasing according to Cellect Mobile, who sells refurbished iPhones.
To find out if your iPhone is refurbished or new is relatively easy, and anyone with a little knowledge can do this. All you have to do is;
- Check out the state of your phone and see if there are any nicks or scratches
- Compare the model number of your phone with the list below
- Look up the serial number using Apple’s Check Coverage website
Lucky for you, these are the easiest and working ways to find the history of an iPhone and to see if it is refurbished or not. Here’s how you can see if your iPhone is refurbished or new.
General Signs of a refurbished iPhone
When buying a used iPhone, you should have a thorough look at the phone for the following signs;
- Nicks or Scratches
- Worn-out accessories
- Dents on the sides of the iPhone
- Lack of box/packaging
These will give you a general idea if your iPhone is refurbished or new.
For detailed statistics, there are other simpler ways to tell if the iPhone is refurbished or not. Continue reading to find out more.
Look up the Model Number of your iPhone
The model number of your phone can tell you a lot about the history and status of your iPhone. To find the model number of your iPhone, observe the following steps;
- Open the Settings app
- Navigate to general
- Tap on about and from there, you can find the model number of your iPhone.
- If the model number begins with M, it indicates that it was purchased brand new from the Apple store.
- If the model number begins with F, it indicates that it was refurbished by Apple or third-party authorities and then re-sold.
- If the model number begins with N, it indicates that it was provided as a replacement device for a malfunctioning iPhone.
- If the model number begins with P, it indicates that it was sold as a customized phone with an engraving.
If you find out that your iPhone is refurbished, there’s no need to worry. When Apple sends out a refurbished iPhone, it is thoroughly inspected and goes through various quality checks.
They clean each iPhone thoroughly, replace any broken parts if any. All refurbished iPhones are installed with a new healthy battery and a new outer shell. Apple also includes a one year warranty, just like any new Apple product.
Check the Serial Number of your iPhone
If you’re buying a used phone, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is refurbished. Still, to cut any doubts, you can always look up its status using Apple’s Check Coverage website.
As the model number, the serial number of your iPhone can also show the usage, warranty status, and repair status of your iPhone. To find the serial number of your iPhone, observe the following steps;
- Open the Settings app
- Navigate to general
- Tap on about and from there, you can find the serial number of your iPhone
After you find the serial number of your iPhone, head on to the website in any web browser. Type in your iPhone’s serial number to see if it has been activated before or not.
You can also check the model number and the serial number of your iPhone by having a look at the box it came with. Flip the box over and look at the bottom, the model number and serial number is always printed on the box.
Another way to tell if the packaging belongs to your iPhone is to compare the model number of the phone with the box.
Did you know, the serial number of your iPhone is not just a number? The serial number contains a lot of information about your phone. It is essentially the first thing you should be looking for when buying a phone.
Understanding the Serial Number
The serial number of your iPhone is an essential factor when it comes to buying a used iPhone. It can tell you a lot about the iPhone you’re buying. Like its factory id, manufacturing year, week of production, unique id, the color of your iPhone, and the storage size.
The serial number on your iPhone appears as AABCCDDDEEF. For better understanding, I’ve broken it down for you.
- AA here shows the factory and machine id
- B represents the manufacturing year
- CC represents the week it was manufactured in
- DDD is the unique identifying id
- EE is the color of the device
- S represents the Storage of your device.
Concluding all this, the condition of your iPhone hints its status. Apart from the condition, looking up the model number is the easiest way to tell if an iPhone is refurbished. In one way, a refurbished phone is better than a new phone –you get a decent discount and get a certified refurbished phone that is as good as new.
