When you purchase a refurbished iPhone, you may be worried about its history. Was it sold refurbished, or did it arrive at Apple as a brand-new device? There is a simple method to determine how Apple sold it, but checking if it was refurbished later on can be more difficult.
Check Your iPhone’s Model Number
Go to General > About after opening the Settings application. You will be shown a list of crucial details about the iPhone, such as its name, software version, and model number, after clicking on About.
The model number will tell you where the iPhone came from, so pay close attention to it.
- It was bought new from Apple if the model number begins with M.
- It was refurbished by Apple or an authorized carrier if the model number begins with F.
- It was marketed as a customized iPhone with engraving if the model number starts with P.
- Apple offered it as a replacement for a broken iPhone if the model number begins with N.
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You shouldn’t be concerned if you discover that your phone was refurbished. Apple undergoes a rigorous procedure to make its Certified Refurbished items like new. This procedure carefully cleans every device, swaps out any damaged components as needed, and replaces the battery and exterior shell.
Although Apple Certified Refurbished goods often function and appear like brand-new iPhones, Apple is not allowed to market them as such due to legal restrictions. These refurbished products might be a terrific bargain because Apple usually provides them at a significant discount.
Additionally, carriers like Verizon and AT&T refurbish iPhones and offer them for sale at a reduced price. In contrast to Apple, they might not replace the phone’s battery or offer a fresh one-year warranty. Entering your iPhone’s serial number on Apple’s warranty website will allow you to view the status of your warranty.
Third-Party Refurbished Devices
The iPhone might have been refurbished after the fact by a third party, even if the model number shows that Apple sold it as new. When looking for used iPhones, it is preferable to stay away from third-party refurbished devices as much as possible because few third-party dealers have the same strict refurbishing criteria as Apple.
Since the model number cannot be altered, it might be challenging to determine whether an iPhone was refurbished by a third party. Nonetheless, you might use the following methods to gain a sense of the phone’s history:
- Check the packaging: There’s less likelihood that the phone was refurbished after the fact if it arrived in an official Apple package that doesn’t mention “refurbished” anywhere.
- Check the history of the parts: Go to Settings > General > About to view a list of replaced parts if the phone is running iOS 15.2 or later.
- Bring your phone to Apple. If you schedule an appointment at an Apple Genius Bar, they might be able to examine the internal components or screen quality to determine whether your phone has previously had unapproved repairs or refurbishments.
While none of these methods are foolproof for figuring out whether an iPhone was refurbished by a third party, they will provide you with a wealth of additional details regarding the device’s quality and history.
The Final Words
Despite the fact that none of these techniques can guarantee that an iPhone was refurbished by a third party, they will give you a plethora of other information about the device’s quality and background.