Published in: iPhone Updates

How To Check If Your iPhone Is Brand New Or Used

Author Dr Idris Fesomu

Published on: December 27, 2023

Do you know how to check if your iPhone is brand new or used?

Many people often wonder if their Apple device is truly brand new as claimed by the seller, but so many people have been deceived without ever knowing the truth. Here, at applestore.ng, we’ll teach you the tricks you can use to detect if your iPhone is brand new or if any of your Apple devices is repackaged.

How to know if an iPhone was bought brand new or used

1. Click on the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Navigate to General
3. Click About.
4. Pay close attention to the model number because this will reveal the origin of the iPhone.

• • If the model number starts with M, it was purchased brand new from Apple.
  • If the model number starts with F, it was refurbished by Apple or a carrier.
  • If the model number starts with P, it was sold as a personalized iPhone with an engraving.
  • If the model number starts with N, Apple provided it as a replacement device for a malfunctioning iPhone.

But how do you know if that new phone is really brand new?

The most important technique for determining if your iPhone or Apple device is brand new is to check the activation status on websites like applestore.ng or sickw.com. You’ll need your IMEI or serial number to run the check. To get that, go to your iPhone settings, click on General, and click on About, you will see your serial number or IMEI on this page. 

Copy the IMEI or serial number and proceed to any website that offers the service of checking your device activation status. A brand new unactivated Apple device should still have an Apple warranty, and you should be able to see the estimated purchased dates on those websites.

There are other secondary methods to check if your device is truly brand new and they are listed as follows

How To Check If Your iPhone Is Brand New Or Used

1. Check for any sign of use – Your device shouldn’t have scratches, dents, scuffs, or other signs of use. It should be in a mint condition, with a plastic cover.
2. Check the box to see if the IMEI and serial number at the back of your box match with the one you find under settings.
3. Check if your iPhone battery health is 100%, or zero count but kindly note that it’s possible for your iPhone battery health to be boosted and the best way to figure that out is to use software like 3utools.
4. If you are using a physical sim of iPhone 14 series models and above, your phone region should never be the USA, as the USA region for these iPhone models only supports ESIM. The model number on your iPhone often ends with LL/A for the USA region and sometimes Canada but the best way to differentiate between the two countries is to use a website that offers IMEI or serial number check like applestore.ng or sickw.com.

It’ll be difficult to get brand new iPhone models that are below the 13 or 14 series, so don’t get scammed with your obsession for brand new. At applestore.ng, we provide a service that helps customers inspect their devices before purchasing. You can either have it delivered to our office for inspection or our field agent would inspect it at the seller’s location. You can also sell your brand-new and used Apple devices on our website.

Now you know how to check if your iPhone is brand new or used.