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Counterfeits are a big problem, especially when you are buying smartphones online. If you are buying a new Apple iPhone, you may want to know how to check if iPhone is original, refurbished, or fake.
How To Check If Iphone Is Original
Here are some short techniques and strategies to help you determine whether your new iPhone is authentic, reconditioned, or, worst of all, counterfeit.
1. Check if your iPhone is blacklisted
To check if your phone is on the blacklist, all you need to do is dial the code *#06# on your dialer to display your iPhone’s IMEI number. On the phone, go to Settings, choose General, and then click on About. This will give you the IMEI number.
You will need the IMEI number to check if your phone is blacklisted. Enter your number below and check.
2. Check memory capacity
There is no way to increase the capacity of the first iPhone. A memory card is needed to increase the storage on fake iPhones. Don’t even bother purchasing a phone if it has a memory card port on the side or back of it.
3. Check Siri.
Probably the easiest way to find out if you are dealing with a fake iPhone is to check the Siri application. You can only run it on the original iPhone. Siri doesn’t work on a fake iPhone at all.
4. Check the operating system
If you see a non-iOS app, it’s 100% fake. Apple uses a proprietary iOS system as the official operating system, so there is no need to wonder if this is a fake iPhone.
5. Check the built-in applications.
A number of Apple apps, including Calculator, Music, Photos, Settings, Compass, and Compact should have been included with the original iPhone. You may have jailbroken your phone if one of them goes missing. Try restoring the original firmware to confirm that you own the original phone. You may tell that it’s an iPhone clone if, even after restoring the original software, some built-in apps are still missing.
6. Visible External Clues
The unique hardware elements of the iPhone help to identify it. Examining your iPhone should reveal a “Home” button positioned in the center beneath the screen, a “sleep/wake” button in the top-right corner, and volume and ringer switch buttons on the upper-left side. The back of your iPhone should also bear an impression of the Apple logo. Your iPhone is probably a fake if any of these parts are missing or present in a different place.
7. Connecting to the Carrier
The AT&T network was the exclusive source for the original iPhone, iPhone 3G, and iPhone 3GS. Only two GSM networks exist in the nation, the other being T-Mobile. AT&T is one of them. It is not an original iPhone if you buy one of these older models and it is made for a CDMA network, like Verizon or Sprint. A CDMA network is intended to use an iPhone 4 without a SIM card slot, while GSM networks are intended to use an iPhone 4 with a SIM card slot on the right side. Later models of the iPhone, like the 4S, are made to work on both kinds of networks. Inconsistencies between the iPhone’s hardware and connectivity suggest that it is not an original device.
8. Network Connectivity
It should be possible to connect to Bluetooth, EDGE, and Wi-Fi with any model of iPhone. All versions are able to connect to the 3G data network, with the exception of the original iPhone. Near Field Communications (NFC) is supported by the iPhone 6 and subsequent versions of Apple Pay. If the iPhone you buy isn’t able to connect to one of these networks, it’s probably fake or was made for a different nation. If the feature is functional after restoring your iPhone, you can confirm that it’s not just a malfunction. After restoration, if it still doesn’t function, it’s probably a fake iPhone.
9. Syncing Your iPhone
It may be a fake iPhone if you buy one, and it cannot be detected by iTunes or connected to the network. Be sure that the iOS and iTunes applications are up-to-date before making this decision. Try restoring your iPhone using iTunes if you are unable to sync data between it and your computer. After being restored, an iPhone that isn’t able to connect to iTunes or the app store is either phony or broken.
10. Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider
Bring your iPhone to your nearest Apple store or Apple authorized service provider if it has passed multiple of these checks but you are still suspicious that it is a fake. To confirm the authenticity or unauthenticity of your iPhone, a store expert can perform diagnostic tests on it.
How To Check If Iphone Is Original Using Imei
An original Apple iPhone model will always have an IMEI number. If there is no IMEI number, it is likely that the model is fake. To check the IMEI number of your device, go to Settings on your smartphone, tap on General, and then go to the About section. Here, scroll down to see the IMEI number.
Check on Apple support website to validate purchase
You will need the serial number of your iPhone in order to complete this check. Navigate to Settings on your iPhone, select About, and then scroll down to view the 10-digit serial number.
Will you be purchasing a new iPhone? Perhaps swap it out for a more recent model? Read this post to learn how to tell a fake iPhone from an authentic one before making such a decision. You’ll discover what to look for and how to tell a genuine model from an imitation. How can I make sure that my iPhone is real? Later in our guide, you will discover the answers to this and other queries.
You will discover the distinctions between a fake iPhone and an authentic iPhone, as we indicated at the outset of this piece. In order to fool potential customers into thinking they are getting a real product, counterfeit iPhone producers frequently pull off a number of con games. Regrettably, police efforts to remove counterfeit iPhones from the market have proven effective. Thus, the only thing that can be done is to inform consumers about the dangers of falling for these dishonest producers and not purchasing an iPhone from them. Use this tutorial to verify that the phone you are purchasing is a real iPhone if you intend to buy or replace yours from a non-Apple retailer or from a used market.
How To Check If iPhone Is Original Using Serial Number
Validate the Serial Number
Each iPhone has a serial number that identifies it. By looking up the serial number, you can verify whether or not it’s in Apple’s database. Locate the serial number on the iPhone by tapping “Settings,” choosing “General,” and selecting “About.” Scroll down to “Serial Number,” and keep the screen open or write down the number. Visit “https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do” and input the serial number. The system lets you know whether or not your iPhone is still within the warranty period. If you receive the message “We’re sorry, but this serial number is not valid,. Please check your information and try again.” It is likely that the iPhone is a fake.
Hidden code tells if your iPhone was new or refurbished
Some sellers offering “new” phones that were really used
So you just spent $800 or $1,000 a new Apple iPhone.
Or perhaps your provider sent you a replacement one because your old one broke.
But how do you know if that new phone is really brand new?
It turns out there is an easy way to find out, thanks to a hidden code in your settings.
Recent reports in the Daily Mail, How-to-Geek, and other sites say every iPhone has a code in the model number that will instantly tell you if you are holding a previously-owned phone.
To find out:
- Go to “Settings.”
- Then go to “General.”
- Then click on “About,” which tells you all about your phone.
- That is where you will see the code.
- Look for “Model,” and specifically the letter in front of your model number.
- “M” means it was a brand new phone when you activated it.
- “F” means it was refurbished, and that someone else used it first.
- “N” means it is a replacement device, for a phone that broke.
1. Check the screws
The original iPhone uses a pentalobe lock screw while the counterfeit one uses regular Phillips screws. The pentalobe security screw, from its name, has five lugs that provide the iPhone’s tamper-proof system. This is a good indicator for the consumer to ensure that he or she is buying an original iPhone.
2. Check the buttons
Another physical feature to note is that on a real iPhone, buttons like sleep and wake are on the top-right corner, and the volume switch and ringer switch are on the top-left corner. If the switch or buttons aren’t where they should be, then the phone you’re looking at is definitely fake. Some fake iPhones have buttons in the right positions, however, feel them by sliding your fingers over them. To make sure, press the buttons several times to check that they are not loose and not correctly fitted. Clone iPhones have poor button quality.
3. Check the screen
The original iPhone screen should be clear and pixel-free. The screen uses the iPhone Retina display, which has a higher pixel density, making it look more crisp, vibrant, and full of colors. Fake iPhones have a dull color screen because of the low cost of their parts.
4. Check the Apple logo
The iPhone logo must be visible on the back of the phone. If you can’t find the logo, it’s not a real iPhone. Some clone iPhones are so good at mimicking the originals that they also have a logo on the back. However, you can rub your finger over the logo. You will feel the transition from phone casing on the Apple logo if you have a fake.
5. Check the splash screen
Examining the splash screen is also essential, particularly if physical qualities are insufficient to distinguish the fake from the real one. Try turning your iPhone off and back on. The text “Welcome” will appear on the fake iPhone’s splash screen, whilst the real one will feature the iPhone logo. The iPhone store icon is located on the home screen. Click on it if you can. You already know what to think of it if it takes you to the Google Store.
