When purchasing an iPhone, many buyers turn to friends who know Apple technology for help, which is true in principle and allows them to avoid annoying mistakes. However, not everyone has such a useful companion, and in this case, Apple’s own services will come to the rescue.
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Naturally, the high cost of smartphones, compared to other countries, stimulates the growth of the “gray” market, which has its own rules. When importing devices from abroad, unofficial resellers (in other words, resellers) are often forced to activate the iPhone in order to unlock it (unilaterally terminate the contract with the mobile operator) or transport it through customs as a personal gadget. At the same time, the smartphone is further positioned as new, which is not entirely true.
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Can I delete or hide my activation data?
The activation process is irreversible. If the device is activated, then it is impossible to delete information about it, even if you resort to resetting the iPhone to factory settings or the Restore procedure in iTunes.
In fact, the iPhone activation procedure is for Apple the starting point for using the device. That is, the company believes that you have been using the smartphone not from the date of purchase, but from the moment it was first activated. Naturally, Apple's warranty begins to expire from this same date.
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How it works?
Synthetic performance tests have migrated to the mobile platform from personal computers. Since smartphones began to be massively equipped with a powerful computing component, there has been a need to compare different models.
The models are different, but they need to create the same testing conditions for the sake of the purity and reliability of the experiments. A certain test time, a clearly defined load on each component: video accelerator, system memory, processor. By analogy with PC software (CPU-Z, GPU-Z, 3DMark), mobile devices have their own applications that provide the required hardware load under specific conditions. Well, in essence, a benchmark is any process occurring under the same conditions on different hardware platforms.
The load on the processor, RAM or graphics chip does not have to be extreme, but to reliably estimate the hardware capacity, a rather heavy and resource-intensive process is launched within the acceptable norm. There is no need to worry: the filling will not burn, the back cover will not fry. All that is required from the user is to download the appropriate application and launch it on the device. For the purity of the experiment, it is better to close other applications.
Based on the results of tens and hundreds of smartphone tests, each benchmark application has its own database, where the results of synthetic tests passed by each device are stored. Based on them, unique performance ratings are compiled. Getting to the top position in such a ranking from a reputable benchmark for any modern device is very prestigious.
How to find out the iPhone's first activation date and remaining warranty period
1. Go to the section of the Apple website to check your rights to service and support (link);
2. Enter the iPhone serial number, which can be found on the box, case or in the Settings → General → About this device menu;
In addition, IMEI and serial number information can be found on the Welcome screen when you turn on your iPhone for the first time - click on the “i” icon in the lower right corner.
3. In the third paragraph “Right to maintenance and repair” the status should be “Provided”;
4. Subtract 365 days from the warranty expiration date indicated below - this will be the date of first activation of the iPhone.
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3DMark
The 3DMark utility is known, perhaps, to all avid gamers. The program can simulate real gameplay on a PC, thereby allowing you to intelligently load the entire hardware of your computer and determine its real performance.
Having caught the trend in time, the software creators released a mobile version of their development. Depending on the component being tested and the class to which your device belongs, 3DMark will offer to download and install the appropriate test; there are seven available in total. The utility initiates loading of the central and graphic processors as close as possible to the real situation, and as a result makes its own verdict and offers to compare the results with other devices that have been tested.
Examples of information received about the right to iPhone service and support after verification
New non-activated iPhone (this should be indicated if you are buying a new Apple smartphone):
Recently activated iPhone (no more than three months) under warranty:
Activated used iPhone. Warranty expired:
What can you check?
It is enough to launch the TestM application to conduct a full test of iPhone components. The check is performed both in individual categories (Screen, Sound, Motion, Camera, etc.) and comprehensively - in the form of a quick and complete check.
Quick check includes:
- Screen test
- Earpiece speaker test
- Checking the motion sensor and accelerometer
- Checking the camera and microphone
If you wish, you can get by with a quick test, but if you want to learn as much as possible about the phone, it is better to use the full testing kit. This includes testing all sensors and checking all interfaces, including GPS, analysis of the vibration motor, 3D Touch, cameras and more.
Warranty coverage for iPhone in Russia
It is no coincidence that Apple only indicates the estimated expiration date of the warranty. If the user causes critical damage to the device, the owner will lose the right to service. This fact can only be established at the service center, but until then the client will be considered innocent, and his device will be considered to have failed naturally.
It is interesting that the warranty period specified in the “Settings” item, limited to a year, does not correspond to the realities of servicing Apple equipment in Russia. The fact is that the peculiarities of local legislation oblige its official partners in the country to service devices for two years from the date of sale .
Geekbench 3
Geekbench 3 is another popular cross-platform benchmark. The utility creates artificial but realistic loading conditions for the device's hardware platform to reveal the true performance capabilities.
A distinctive feature of the program is a processor test. The benchmark not only loads each chipset core individually, but also demonstrates real results in single-core and multi-core operating modes.
What TestM is missing
I conducted a full test of the smartphone and analyzed the quality of the smartphone test using TestM. As expected, almost all tests allow us to accurately confirm the serviceability of the device components.
You still have to use a little ingenuity. TestM does not use flash or light sensor when testing the camera, so it must be tested in good lighting. Flash and sensors are separate tests, separation is necessary for accuracy.
A similar situation can arise when testing interfaces: it is worth checking whether they are enabled. And listen to the prompts correctly, otherwise nothing will work!
One more note: the “volume” of the battery in TestM is estimated approximately. An accurate test requires special equipment and several charge-discharge cycles.
Important nuances
If you still don't understand the seriousness of checking before purchasing Apple products, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with a number of tips that we have published below. They will help you understand why inspections are so important and what exactly needs to be considered.
The difference between activation and turning on the iPhone for the first time
You must understand that activating the phone is not the first time it is turned on, but identification on the network. This is only possible if the user turns on the iPhone, installs a SIM card and connects to the network during the initial setup of the device. But at the same time, of course, it could be turned on and off a certain number of times, but you cannot use such a device until you activate it.
Is it possible to bypass activation?
Since a large number of fakes appear, users are wondering if they can somehow bypass activation? No! This is impossible! Any Apple device will not work without initial setup, and that, in turn, is only possible if you connect to the Internet and identify the device on the network. This date is the starting point for the warranty period.
Device with replaced serial number
Sometimes sellers claim that this is an official Apple product purchased some time ago, but when you check on the website, the following notification may appear: “This serial number corresponds to a product that has been replaced.” And if you witness such a phenomenon, immediately abandon this device, otherwise after the next activation attempt it will turn into a “brick”! This is not a new device, but a restored one, and not officially. If you are interested, you can read our separate article on this subject.
As you can see, you can check any device through the official Apple resource, and this is a very important point that allows you to reduce the risks of any buyer. Indeed, now even in official partner stores they sometimes manage to sell refurbished devices under the guise of new ones, so you need to independently check all purchased goods, especially apple products.
Why do you need to check your iPhone?
Apple gadgets cost an order of magnitude lower than a similar alternative - officially “refurbished” devices, marked on the price tag with the word “Refurbished” and standing on the shelves in electronics stores. Even if such devices are reassembled in “Apple workshops” (most often such gadgets are handed over due to malfunctions and manufacturing defects identified during the warranty period and are also considered used), however, there is no noticeable discount at all - rarely when the cost of such an iPhone is less than two to three thousand.
Used gadgets can be found for half the price of the market value! Especially if the former owner was a neat person, it will be almost impossible to visually distinguish a smartphone “out of the box” or a slightly worn one “out of hand.”
Why not blindly believe the beautiful words of the seller? Let's look at several reasons:
- To get possession of an original gadget;
- Use a working smartphone that won’t break in a couple of days;
- Don't overpay for a cheap replica;
- Do not pay fabulous sums for a device completely replaced with Chinese parts;
- Do not pay for a model that is actually lower than stated (for example, by mistake purchasing an X instead of an XS).
And this is not a complete list of reasons why you should carefully check the device. Actually, now we move on to the procedure for checking our smartphone.
Camera check
This is worth noting as a separate point, because most future iPhone owners obviously do not check or simply forget to do so.
First, evaluate the appearance of the rear camera. The eye should be level, and if it is loose or crooked, it means the module has been replaced. There should not be a lot of dust inside both chambers. This may also indicate that this part was disassembled with careless hands.
Next, launch the front and rear cameras and take a few pictures. In the gallery, check that there are no stripes or dots in the pictures. Check the HDR and flash functions - everything should work fine.
Instead of conclusions. The app everyone needs
Sean Tell, co-founder of TestM, believes that this utility will help simplify the sale and exchange of smartphones in the secondary market:
“Field selling platforms such as eBay often allow sellers to hide the shortcomings of their smartphones and sell them above the market price. TestM is an excellent verification and reporting tool for buyers and sellers."
Despite its apparent simplicity, the utility very accurately identifies real faults. I'm especially pleased with checking the sensors and touchscreen. Without TestM, it's easy to miss a screen with dead zones and a failing accelerometer. Seems like little things? Repairs will require money and time.
Is your interlocutor hard of hearing during a conversation?
What is it - a microphone or an operator? False screen unlocks? Is the sensor faulty or does it need to be calibrated? Button in the app doesn't work? Developer error or faulty touch? Try TestM. This seems to be the best app for quickly checking your smartphone.
