Pointing out the differences between new and refurbished phones is becoming challenging day by day due to advanced refurbishing mechanisms. In this blog, we will list some of the ways you can apply to find out whether your phone is a new or refurbished one.
We do want you to buy refurbished phones. Because it serves your present and saves your future. But we don’t want you to be deceived into buying one!
The Face Says it all!
The most typical way to check whether a phone is refurbished or new is to check its physical appearance. Grade A refurbished smartphones can look nearly indistinguishable from brand-new ones. In this case, the slightest scratch can indicate its used status. For Grade B or lower, you have to minutely scrutinize every nook and corner of the body to identify signs of any scratch or any other form of imperfections.
Do Judge the Book by its Cover!
A brand-new phone typically comes in sealed and untampered packaging. Refurbished mobiles may come in packaging that differs from brand-new ones. Critically scrutinise the packaging for any kind of irregularities like resealed stickers, loosely held or torn box flaps, scruffs, dents, or other signs of use.
Verify the genuineness of the labels or logos imprinted on the packaging with key attention to minute details like their placement or arrangement. Check the specifications on the packaging. They should match the ones provided under the settings application.
Verification of the Paperwork
Check the documentation, manuals, or invoices included. New phones usually come with pristine, untouched, and unedited manuals, while refurbished phones may have documentation that shows signs of use.
Don’t Spare the Accessories!
The quality and condition of the accessories you get with the phone can also tell whether your phone is refurbished or not. The ones that are brand-new have untouched and not meddled packages, while refurbished phones can have some signs of previous usage.
Lifespan of the Warranty!
New and refurbished devices often have different warranty terms. Search for the warranty period offered by the brand of your phone, match it with your warranty period, and check and tally the registration date of your purchase.
Apple-branded iPhones are backed by a one-year warranty when brought brand new or refurbished by Apple themselves. Thus, any alteration in this warranty period of 1 year can hint towards a phone that has been used before.
The health of the Battery!
A brand new phone is a phone that has never been used before. Hence, such phones will have a battery health of 100 percent. If the battery health is below that standard, then it is very likely to be refurbished.
Software Check-Up!
You can go through the device information provided under the phone’s settings application. Verify the model number and serial number and tally the data with the ones given by the seller. Any inconsistency can suggest that the phone is refurbished. You can also contact the manufacturer to inquire about the inconsistencies or mismatch of your device information with records provided by the manufacturer.
See that all the default applications are already installed, and no other additional applications apart from those are there. Navigate through all the possible software systems to scan the functionality and accessibility of all the options. The version of the software must match the latest release of the software product. If the software requires any update immediately after your purchase, it may not be a new one.
Examine the call logs, any records of social media accounts, contact information, or email or message history. Any traces of these can indicate prior usage.
IMEI Number
To tell if your Android is new or refurbished. First, you have to check your phone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number, a 15-digit code allotted to each and every phone during production.
How do you check the IMEI number?
- Open the Settings app.
- Select “About Phone”.
- Scroll down to find your IMEI number.
- Compare the IMEI number on the phone to the one on the packaging box.
How to know if your iPhone is Refurbished or not?
To know this, follow the given steps:
- Open Settings
- Select “General”.
- Tap on the About section
- Look at the “Model” number
The model number will consist of a string of letters and numbers, which identify the status and type of device you have. The first letter is the main determinant. This will tell you if your phone is new, refurbished, or a replacement for an original item that was returned.
If the first letter is:
- M – The phone is new
- F – The phone has been refurbished.
- N – The phone was issued as a replacement for a malfunctioning iPhone.
- P – The phone was sold as a personalised iPhone with an engraving
The aforementioned steps can help you to find out whether your phone is actually new or refurbished because, due to rapid advancement in refurbishing techniques, judging a phone by its pristine appearance is not enough anymore. But if you are interested in actually buying refurbished mobile phones, laptops or other devices, explore XtraCover.
