When buying a smartphone in a store or ordering it via the Internet, the new owner begins to use a mobile device. At this moment, the person does not think whether the genuine iPhone is in his hands, and if someone else used it. After all, the owner is overwhelmed with emotions from the fact that he bought a new iPhone, which will surely please his performance and photo quality.
Why check iPhone after purchase?
It should be understood that choosing a phone in a store does not end there. After the purchase, it is recommended to check the iPhone to make sure its authenticity, as well as perfect condition. If at least in one of the directions a person suspects something is amiss, you can safely take the device back to the store, returning money to yourself.
In order not to fall for counterfeit, it is recommended to buy iPhone in well-known retail stores or order the device from trusted sellers.
Check the packaging and contents of the box
If a person buys a new iPhone at a store, device testing should begin with an inspection of the device’s packaging. The branded Apple iPhone box is made of thick cardboard and placed under a transparent film with a special tab for convenient unpacking.
The box has an embossed company logo. Also on the box must have a serial number and IMEI. The complete set itself consists of the following elements: Sticky smartphone. Company documentation. Warranty card.
- Stickers with the "apple".
- Headphones Apple EarPods in a carton.
- USB cable to Lightning with two cardboard clasps.
- Power adapter.
- Lightning to minijack adapter (for iPhone X).
- Envelope with a paper clip to remove the tray for the SIM card.
If at least one component is not enough, you have good reason to go back to the store to exchange a smartphone.
It is recommended that the unpacking process be filmed on video in order to subsequently present the record as evidence.
Visual inspection
After you have checked the package and its contents, you can proceed to a visual inspection of the device. In this case, we are talking about a new iPhone. If you bought the iPhone from your hands, skip this step and immediately proceed to verify its authenticity.
Damage
Of course, the first step in visual inspection of iPhone is to check the device for damage. Take a close look at the iPhone and especially the connectors. If there are chips on separate surfaces, then it is likely that the device has already been used or damaged in transit. Any deformation of the new gadget is a good reason for returning goods.
As soon as you inspect the back panel and wired interfaces, you will need to remove the protective film. Under it is the “bare” screen of the smartphone, on which there should be no dust and even less scratches.
Water contact
It happens that the iPhone during use fell into the water, and unscrupulous sellers put it on the counter with the goal of selling it as if it were a new device. You can understand if the iPhone has not been exposed to any liquid as follows:
- Check the device connectors with a flashlight. If liquid contacts the contacts, they will be coated with light gray oxidation.
- Start playing music. A hoarse speaker is a sign that particles of water could remain in the iPhone.
- Inspect the physical keys of the device, as traces of ketchup, cola and other saturated liquids could remain at the installation site.
The situation when the iPhone, having been under water, trying to put up for sale, is quite rare. But still, this option should not be ruled out. It happens that even on an externally perfect device it turns out to find traces of use.
Apple itself has provided a universal way to check iPhone for fluid. There are special tags in the SIM card tray (new models) and the 30-pin connector (old). If water has been inside, they will turn red.
Disassembly and Repair marks
We will not tire of repeating that some sellers are trying to sell used goods. So, for example, restored iPhones are sold. Reconditioned is one that has old iron, but a new case.
Such operations are often carried out clandestinely, which is why the build quality is poor. In addition, the iPhone may be on the counter, which was already under repair. It is possible to find out whether this is so, even at the stage of visual inspection. Traces of glue or backlash of individual parts of devices are a clear sign of reassembly.
Carefully study your iPhone “from” and “to”. In the original assembly there is no glue and backlash. All Apple devices are multi-stage certified, so the company manages to avoid the appearance of marriage. And if your iPhone looks like it’s not a device for several tens of thousands of rubles, but a cheap “china phone”, it’s time to sound the alarm and go to the store for a refund.
Now look at the bottom of the device. Near the Lightning connector, you can find 2 small bolts that hold the body. See the deformation? Contact the seller at the place of purchase of the smartphone to replace it.
Are the original parts
Earlier, we touched on the topic of restored iPhones. They are even sold officially, but the price of such devices is much lower than new ones. If you are trying to "fit" the refurbished iPhone as a product that has just left the assembly line, the seller clearly pursues the goal of cheating the buyer. As soon as the device is in your hands, be sure to check the originality of spare parts.
And here a reasonable question may arise. How to check the originality of the constituent elements if you are a beginner or just do not want to disassemble a brand new device? Do not be afraid. We do not offer to disassemble iPhone. To understand whether it is assembled from the original parts, it is possible without phased disassembly.
First, turn on the device and look at the screen. The original display is the standard of quality. And if the iPhone matrix has highlights in the corners, and the white color is close to purple - you are faced with a fake or defective fake.
Another sign of the use of counterfeit components is glue or protective rubber residues. Nothing should stick out of the device’s body, except for the camera module and physical buttons. The presence of excess elements confirms the installation of unlicensed parts.
And look at the back panel of the device. Not only the name of the model, but also certification marks are indicated here. Here, for example, looks like the cover of the original iPhone 6s:
If something is missing, then with a high degree of probability we can say that the iPhone is placed in a non-original case.
Battery Status
Apple iPhone, like any other modern smartphone, has a non-removable battery. This greatly complicates the possibility of external inspection of the battery for use. However, there are software tools that allow you to understand whether a new battery is installed on the iPhone or if the seller is trying to sell a used product.
To check battery wear you will need:
- Open phone settings.
- Go to the "Battery" section.
- Examine the information.
The new iPhone percentage of wear should be set to 0%. Perhaps a slight deviation from the norm to 1%, but no more.
The wear check function through the settings is available in iOS 12 and newer versions of the operating system. In other cases, it is recommended to use the Battery Life application available in the App Store for verification.
How to check if it is a new iPhone or used?
Earlier, most of the visual methods for detecting defects in the Apple iPhone and signs of use were considered. Now we suggest you familiarize yourself with two methods for determining whether a used iPhone is by checking accounts.
Check iPhone binding to iCloud
The new iPhone is a device that no one has activated before purchase. The exception is when a person purchases a used device or telephone from a store counter.
If you bought a packaged device, it makes sense to check whether it has been activated previously. This can be done the first time you start your smartphone. When you turn on the device, it should offer to create an account. If such an offer does not arrive, then the device has already been activated.
It is also recommended to open the iPhone settings and go to the section with iCloud. If the fields for entering the login and password are filled, it means that someone used the device before you.
Checking Apple ID Binding
Another way to determine device activation is to check your Apple ID. The Find iPhone feature will help. It is available through the phone settings and a special application, which is installed by default. Go to the “Find iPhone” section and make sure that no authorization has been made before.
Activation Lock Status Checks
The developers of the Apple iPhone have provided a special feature that allows you to determine whether someone has used the device before you. It is called Activation Lock. All that is required from the buyer is to find out the status of the function.A further action plan is as follows:
- At the bottom of the screen we set the English language for easier navigation.
- We indicate the type of device.
- Click “Repair & Physical Damage,” and then “Buttons not working.”
- Go to the “Send in for Repair” section and select the “Home Button” item.
- Enter the serial number and IMEI, which are indicated on the back of the iPhone packaging.
- Click the “Continue” button.
After completing these steps, a treasured screen will open before the user, allowing you to determine whether your iPhone was used by someone. The inscription “Sorry ...” should be displayed on the page that opens. If someone activated the iPhone before you, the system will offer to pass authorization by Apple ID
Activation Lock may come in handy for you in the future. So you can protect the device from activation by an outsider in order to protect personal data after the loss or theft of the device.
Verify operator binding
IPhones that are sold on the gray market are often tied to a particular operator. To find out if this is so is quite simple. You just need to get the SIM card tray and check for the presence of a substrate. It looks like this:
The licensed iPhone has an “empty” tray. If you see that the slot has an extraneous chip, prepare documents for returning the device. This iPhone can not be used.
Comparison of serial number and IMEI
At the very beginning of the material, when we looked at the appearance of the original packaging of the Apple iPhone, we talked about the serial number and IMEI. These are two digital values that allow you to 100% determine whether a mobile device is real. You can also find similar information about the device in other ways:
- IMEI and serial number are indicated on the SIM card tray.
- Information is presented in the "About this device" section of the phone settings.
- You can find data of interest through the Finder or iTunes application.
Now you have everything you need to determine the originality of the device. You can check at checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru. Here you need to enter the serial number and code from the picture. After confirmation, the screen will display information on whether the iPhone is real.
In addition, you can match IMEI, as it happens that one information is indicated on the box, and in fact the number of the smartphone is completely different. Compare the data from the device’s packaging, SIM card tray, and Apple iPhone settings. Everywhere must have the same IMEI.
How to check your iPhone before purchasing on Apple ?
You can protect yourself from acquiring counterfeit goods right in the store. It is much more difficult for those who order iPhone through online platforms. But, if you buy a device in a retail store, without leaving the checkout, check the IMEI on the box on one of the sites to check:
How to check the performance of iPhone?
The iPhone is such a popular smartphone that it has a huge number of fakes. Some of them even have the original IMEI, and it is completely impossible to identify counterfeit externally (the assembly is so unsurpassed in the device).
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