If you want to purchase an iPhone, then your best option would be to buy a new model. This is the best guarantee that your phone will serve you for a long time to come. Especially given the fact that it’s an iPhone, one of the most resilient, most durable modern smartphones to date.

We’re not saying this to dissuade you from purchasing a refurbished iPhone. On the contrary, there are several benefits to owning a refurbished iPhone. For one, it will definitely be the cheaper option for you. You will save money. Moreover, you will still be able to use this phone for a long time. Chances are that it will serve you well.

What we’re saying is that you need to be careful about the iPhone of your choice. Sometimes, vendors may sell you a refurbished phone advertised as new. And this is why you need to arm yourself with knowledge on how to know which is which. This review will teach you to do just that.

How to Check if iPhone is Refurbished by Serial Number

One of the simplest ways in which you can check the condition of your phone is by serial number. All you need to do check the iPhone serial number is:

• Tap on the Settings button on your iPhone,
• Tap General,
• Tap About,
• Scroll down until you can see your iPhone model.

And it’s as simple as that, you will now know your iPhone’s serial number. Now you’ll need to learn how to interpret it in the context of finding whether the iPhone is refurbished. Don’t worry, it’s easy enough. The code system is simple – all you need to know is the first letter of the serial number. The code is as follows:

• M – if the first letter is M, it means that it’s a new iPhone;
• F – if the first letter is F, it means that the iPhone is refurbished;
• N – if this is the first letter, then it’s an Apple replacement iPhone;
• P – lastly, if the first letter is P, it means that your iPhone has been personally engraved.

By using the simple patterns above, you will easily be able to determine whether your iPhone is refurbished. The process is very simple and you’ll get all the data you need in no time.

How to Check if iPhone is Original

So, at the heart of the matter is checking whether the iPhone is original or not. If it’s a fake iPhone, then you may be in for a treat. It may start malfunctioning or it may break very easily as Apple is not behind it. So, what can you do to check whether your iPhone is original?

There are several approaches that you can take when it comes to this question. And below you will find all the information you need on the subject.

How to Check whether iPhone is Original Using IMEI

You can once again check the serial number for more information. Use the exact same process that we’ve outlined in the previous section. And once you check the serial number, be sure to write it down or copy it. Then, you can access the official Apple database of serial numbers.

And if your serial number checks out, you will get a confirmation that it’s indeed a genuine iPhone. If it isn’t, then you will be informed that the serial number doesn’t exist in the Apple database.

This is one of the simplest and easiest ways in which you can check whether your iPhone is original. And checking whether your iPhone is original is very important. It will tell you whether your iPhone is made with genuine parts or not.

The IMEI number stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. This is a 15-digit code that’s unique for the iPhone that you own. And knowing this number will help you determine whether your iPhone is original.

Difference Between Refurbished and New iPhone

As we have touched on the subject previously, there are some major differences between new and refurbished iPhones. Of course, the biggest difference here is that the new iPhone is… well, completely new. None of its parts have been previously used by another user on another iPhone. In a sense, you will be getting premium parts that have never been used before.

This helps you know that your phone will endure serving you for a long time to come. Alongside the Apple premium parts guarantee, this is the best way to get an iPhone that will serve you well in the future. However, you need to be prepared to pay extra for getting a completely new iPhone. As it stands, the newest iPhone models are some of the most expensive smartphones on the market. This is with good reason – but not everyone can spare the money to make this purchase.

Getting a refurbished iPhone means that your iPhone has already been used previously. But this doesn’t mean that you’ll be getting a broken-down mess of a phone. On the contrary, refurbished iPhones are made with quality parts. They need to be approved by Apple quality checks before they are relaunched for selling.

And the best part is that you will save up on money, given the fact that your iPhone isn’t new. Sure, a refurbished iPhone may not serve you as well as a new iPhone. But you’d be surprised to learn just how much a refurbished iPhone can indeed last. So, this may be a great option for you to purchase if you want to save up on money.

IMEI Refurbished Check

We’ve already talked about checking your unique IMEI number and determining whether your iPhone is new or not. For the sake of reference, we’ll talk about this process again. It’s, after all, the simplest way to check if your iPhone is new or not.

So, first of all, you will need to check your iPhone’s IMEI number. As mentioned before, this is very simple to do. And you don’t even need the whole number. You just need the first letter. If you want to check whether your iPhone is refurbished, then check whether the first letter is F. If it is, then it means that your iPhone is refurbished.

If the letter is M, then it means that it’s a new iPhone. And so on. You can check out the complete list of IMEI first letters and see what they mean above. The first letter will give you all the information you need on checking the status of your iPhone.

iPhone Serial Number Starts with F

By now you should be well aware of the meaning of the letters from your iPhone’s IMEI. As mentioned before, there are 4 basic letters that your iPhone’s IMEI can start with. These are “M”, “F”, “N” and “P”. It may seem like a random letter to you, but there’s meaning behind it.

And the “F” letter stands for refurbished. So, if you want to check whether your iPhone is refurbished, go and check the first letter of the IMEI number. If it’s indeed an “F”, it means that it’s most definitely a refurbished model. The rest of the implications hold true – like the fact that you can get it for a cheaper price.

How to Check if iPhone is Opened

There are some ways in which you can determine whether your iPhone is opened. Sometimes you may purchase an iPhone that’s advertised as new – but when it’s been, in fact, opened. The fact that an iPhone has been opened is almost never a good thing. It means that someone has tampered with the iPhone previously. It could be a certified Apple repairperson, or it could be anyone else.

The way to determine if your iPhone has been opened in the past is by looking at the signs. One of the most important signs in this way are the adhesives. If the adhesives are damaged in any way, then it most likely means that the iPhone has been opened.

Older models of the iPhone don’t have adhesives. So, a good way to check if they have been opened is to see whether there’s dust on the inside. If there is – it means that the iPhone has most likely been opened in the past.

There are other signs, as well. The easiest point of entry of the iPhone is usually found near the bottom left corner of the screen. So, it’s quite possible that there may be scratch marks in the vicinity if anyone has opened it. A definite tell is the quality of the iPhone parts. If there are third-party parts inside, then it means that the iPhone has definitely been opened.

The screws of the iPhone may be damaged or scratched in some way due to the use of third-party tools. Ribbons could be bent in an uncommon way. Screws could be missing on the inside. As you can see, there is a plethora of information on checking whether the iPhone has been opened. Of course, this information is immediately visible only to the trained eye. But even an untrained eye can detect discrepancies and determine that an iPhone has been opened and tampered with.

Conclusion

So, now you know all you need to know about refurbished and original iPhones. You know of definite ways in which you can check whether your iPhone is new or refurbished. And you know our guideline of determining whether your iPhone has been opened in the past. With this in mind, you will be able to estimate the quality of an iPhone with much better success.