If you have or want to purchase and iPhone, then, checking if the iPhone is original or refurbished can be very important to know what kind of device you are actually purchasing.
Both iPhone and iPad are becoming the norm in the mobile device industry. A rapid growth in the number of iOS devices was recorded in recent years and this figures keep on increasing. Not all iPhone you purchase out there are original as you may think as there are refurbished ones among. Both original and refurbished iPhones can be new and distinguishing both without iOS detective skills can be really tricky.
There's another category of iPhone devices known as "replacement" which is issued by Apple to consumers who aren't satisfied with the device they purchase. However, we all want to use an original iPhone device isn't it?
It can be difficult to know exactly what you're receiving when purchasing a smartphone. Refurbished devices and gadgets are available from both retailers and manufacturers, such as Amazon's Renewed program and Apple's official refurbished store.
In some situations, parts of the phone (such as the battery) have been changed, while in others, traded-in phones have simply been categorized into different groups based on their condition and level of functioning.
As a result, it's a must you master the skills to tell if an iPhone is new, original, refurbished or replacement.
To check if an iPhone is original or refurbished, you need to first start by checking its modem number and from that number, you will be able to tell if it is an original or refurbished iPhone.
That said, if you want to know how to acquire this detective skills continue reading because in this article, I will show you how to check if an iPhone or iPad is original or refurbished.
Can I Check if and iPhone is Original or Refurbished Myself?
Yes you can. However, the easiest way to check is by first getting the device model. From the model, you can tell if the iPhone is original or refurbished.
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How to Check if iPhone is Original or Refurbished
iPhones are quite popular in the used market, owing to their high initial purchase prices.
If you're buying from a private seller, consider the phone has been used and that any references to "like new" or "refurbished" mean the seller has maintained it in good state or has opened but not used it. Assume there is no warranty unless they can provide a receipt from an Apple store or another retailer.
Refurbished devices are plainly identified when purchased from Apple (which is why they're a little cheaper). Visit the Apple Refurbished Store, where you'll find a lot more than just iPhones at a discount.
Look for Amazon's Renewed Devices program, as you can save a lot of money if you don't mind getting a phone in excellent condition that has already been used by others.
If you're wanting to save money, another option is to look through Amazon Warehouse, which often offers new phones with damaged boxes and other problems that don't impair the phone itself but prevent it from being sold at full price. It's usually a case of a customer returning an item. You won't want to give them as gifts, but they could be a great way to save money on a new phone for yourself.
If you want to purchase an iPhone physically at a local store you can check the iPhones to see which one is original or refurbished. However, if you've already purchased an iPhone, you can check to see if it was sold as refurbished or original by Apple by checking its model number.
That said, here's a step by step guide to check if iPhone is original, refurbished or replacement.
Step 1: Get iPhone or iPad Device Model Number
It doesn't matters if you are using an iPhone or iPad device because both of them are products of Apple Inc. The first thing you will need to do is to get your iPhone device modem number.
Here's how to get your iPhone device model number:
- Open your device Settings and navigate to "General".
- From there, click on "About".
- From here, you'll be able to see your model number which comprises alphanumeric characters which indicate the type of device you have.
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Step 2: Identify Your Device Type if Its Original, Refurbished, Replacement or Personalized
After you've gotten your Model number, the next thing will be to check the status of your iPhone or iPad. You have a string or alphanumeric letters as model number. The first letter in this string is the most important and is used to know if your iPhone is original, refurbished, replacement or personalized. So get the first letter of your Model continue reading.
Here's how to know under which category is your iPhone classified.
- M — If the first letter of your Model is M, then, this means the device is New or Original from Apple.
- F — If the first letter of your Model is F, then, this means the device has been Refurbished
- N — If the first letter of your Model is N, then, this means the device was issued as a Replacement for a malfunctioning iPhone/
- P — If the first letter of your Model is P, then, this indicates the device was initially sold with a personalized message engraved on the chassis, which you can check by looking on the back.
As shown the the screenshot above, my iOS devices' (iPad) model starts with M which means, it is a new or Original device from Apple.
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How to Check if iPhone is Original or Refurbished Using Serial Number
You can check if your iPhone is original by using your serial number to check your service support coverage on Apple website. First you'll need to get your serial number. To get this, navigate to Settings >> About >> General and you'll see your device Serial number.
Now Check Your Service and Support Coverage on Apple's website using your serial number. If there are details there about your device, then your iPhone original if not, then your iPhone is refurbished or a fake.
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How to Find Serial Number on iPhone That Won't Turn On
You may be in a situation where your iPhone won't turn on and you need the serial number. You can check your serial number online. Here's how to get the number.
- In a browser, log into appleid.apple.com.
- On your Apple ID page, scroll down to Devices and find the iPhone you need the serial number for.
- Click the icon for the device. The serial number will appear in the pop-up window.
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How to Check if iPhone is Original Using IMEI
Every phone will have its own IMEI number. Enter *#06# on the keypad to find out your iPhone's IMEI number. You may also retrieve the IMEI number by going to Settings >>About >>General. It will also be printed on the box's backside. (To find out where your IMEI number is located for different models, go to Apple Support Page.)
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a number that identifies a piece of mobile equipment. Whenever you buy an iPhone, make sure to check the IMEI number first.
The IMEI number is also printed on the SIM tray on older iPhone models. On the backside of the majority of iPhones and other iOS devices, the IMEI number is also printed. If you don't see the IMEI number on any of the above-mentioned locations, then, your iPhone isn't original.
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Final Thoughts on How to Check if iPhone is Original or Refurbished
Knowing under which category your iPhone is classified is important. There are many iPhone devices in the market and the percentage of refurbished devices are higher than that of original ones.
If you're buying from a private seller, consider the phone has been used and that any references to "like new" or "refurbished" mean the seller has maintained it in good state or has opened but not used it. Assume there is no warranty unless they can provide a receipt from an Apple store or another retailer.
As from now, you wouldn't buy any refurbished device without knowing. With the detective skills you've acquired from this article, you will be able to check and know which iPhone or iPad device is original or refurbished.