How to check if iphone is refurbished by serial number

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If you are shopping for a used iPhone, you may want to know if the iPhone that you are trying to buy is New or Refurbished iPhone. You will find below the steps to check if iPhone is Refurbished or it was bought as a brand new device by the Seller.

How to check if iphone is refurbished by serial number

As you must be aware, Apple sells certified refurbished devices and many users prefer buying refurbished iPhones due to their lower prices and high quality of refurbished devices as sold by Apple.

While the quality of Apple certified refurbished iPhones is quite high, it is a fact that the seller who is now trying to sell you the iPhone bought it for a lower price, compared to a new device.

Hence, you can make use of this information to strike a good bargain while shopping for used iPhone’s.

Since a Seller is not likely to volunteer this information, you can take a look at the model identifier number to check if iPhone is Refurbished or if it was bought as new device.

Steps to Check if iPhone is Refurbished or New

Follow the steps below to find if iPhone is Refurbished or was bought as a brand new device by the seller.

1. Go to Settings > General scroll down and tap on About.

How to check if iphone is refurbished by serial number

2. On the About screen, take a good look at the Model Number.

How to check if iphone is refurbished by serial number

The very First Character of the Model Number indicates whether the iPhone is New, Refurbished, Replacement device or a Personalized iPhone.

Here is a summary of What the First Character in Model Number Indicates

  • M: New device, iPhone was bought as a brand new device.
  • F: Refurbished device, iPhone has gone through refurbishing process.
  • N: Replacement device, originally bought iPhone was replaced by this device.
  • P: Personalized device, the device was personalized with engraving.

Note: Tap on Model Number, if you see the Model Number starting with letter A. This will switch the Model Number to the usual one, starting with letters M, F, N or P.

Apple uses two numbering systems for its device. The first type of Numbering system starts with the letter “A” and is followed by 4 numbers.

The second type of Model Number usually starts with letters M, F, N and P depending on whether the device is New, Refurbished, Replacement or a Personalized device.

  • How to Find If iPhone Is Unlocked or Locked
  • How to Find IMEI Number of Your iPhone

How can I check my iPhone is original or not?

So, this is one of the easiest ways to find out if your iPhone is real or fake. To find the phone's IMEI number go to Settings, click on General, tap on the About option, and scroll down to see the IMEI number. If there's no IMEI or serial number, there's a high chance that the iPhone model is fake.

How do I know if my phone is refurbished?

How to Check if Your Android Phone is Refurbished or Factory-New.
Tap your Phone app and open up the dialer..
Using the touchscreen keypad, dial ##786# (aka ##RTN#). No need to press dial; the phone should automatically open up to the RTN screen. ... .
Scroll down the RTN screen to Reconditioned status..