Have you just purchased a brand new iPhone 16, but due to some details, you suspect that it is not actually new? Well, worry not, because in this guide, we will tell you how to find out or check if your iPhone is new or infact a refurbished device. Many times, from a purely aesthetic point of view, in fact, you cannot easily distinguish a phone just out of the box from a refurbished one, but in this tutorial, we will tell you how to make out the differences.

Steps to Check if Your iPhone is New or Refurbished

You will be glad to know that there are several ways if you want to know how to recognize a refurbished iPhone. Let’s see what they are in the list of steps given below, because a refurbished iPhone has a lower market value, in addition to presenting some differences in terms of warranty.

And if when you turn to Apple for a replacement the company could send you a product of this type, in other situations you may have a doubt. Especially if you bought the phone from an unreliable source, or second-hand from a private individual.

Check Apple warranty

This process doesn’t actually tell you if the device is refurbished, but it can help you figure out if someone is trying to sell you a used iPhone as new.

1. To proceed, always go to the phone Settings, then tap General and About.
2. Now write down the code next to the Serial Number, which you will find immediately below the model number.
3. Open any browser and go to the Apple site that allows you to check the coverage of the device.
4. Now enter the serial number in the center of the page, then immediately below enter the characters displayed in the verification image in the appropriate field.
5. If they are unreadable, you can click on New Code to get a new one or on Audio Code to have it read to you.
6. Finally, click on Submit and you will be shown the data relating to the phone in question, namely the purchase date and the warranty end date.

If your phone is new, you will see something like “This phone has not been activated”, which means it is a new device.

Check the model number

The best method to find out if an iPhone is refurbished is to check the phone’s Settings, and follow the steps below:

1. Tap the gear icon on the Home screen or App Library, then tap General.
2. Now tap Info at the top and find the Model Number entry.
3. Next to it, you will see a code, for example, MU773QL/A.
4. The first letter of the code is the one we are interested in, in this case “M“.

Apple, in fact, uses a system that allows it to recognize this character in the model identifier to determine if this device is new, refurbished, replacement, or customized.

Here’s what the different letters you might come across stand for:

• “M” means this is an iPhone purchased at retail as new.
• “F” stands for a refurbished device, meaning it has been used before but has undergone Apple’s certified refurbishment process to make it look “like new”.
• “N” is a replacement device, so it is sent by Apple to a user to replace its own phone, which was probably defective.
• “P“, on the other hand, is a customized iPhone, meaning a device purchased as new but with a request for personalization via Apple’s laser engraving option at checkout.

How to Recognize a Refurbished iPhone

A refurbished iPhone is a phone that has been thoroughly inspected and repaired, completing a rigorous process with full functional testing.

Apple guarantees that the phones it refurbishes will be as efficient as other models purchased directly from the store, whether in terms of speed, storage, responsiveness, and operating system.

Any spare parts are original, and the battery and outer shell have been replaced. Accessories, such as the cable, will also be included.

Apple sells refurbished iPhones and other devices directly on its website, offering savings of up to 15% off the price. The warranty is limited to one year, and you are entitled to 90 days of AppleCare support included as well.

That’s all for now to find out if your iPhone is new or refurbished. For more how-to articles, check out our guides section.