What is a refurbished smartphone?
The term "refurbished" refers to various electronics that have been repaired or had a specific defect repaired. Moreover, such electronics can be restored in a completely new condition, when a defect is detected at the time of sale or before the start of sale, as well as after a certain period of use. For example, stripes appear on the screen, the device does not turn on or has stopped charging. If the device cannot be repaired, the buyer receives a new device, and the defective one is removed for restoration.
Typically, defective smartphones are repaired in the manufacturer’s specialized workshops on site or sent to the factory. After the defect is eliminated, the device is reflashed, packaged and put up for resale, but at a reduced price. Buying such a device is a lottery, since it is easy to purchase a previously unused smartphone at a discount or a phone that has worked for a certain time before the restoration process.
Useful tips
No one is safe from losing their phone. A person who is faced with a loss is advised to take into account several tips:
- remember where you last saw the device;
- check your home and call places where the phone might have been left behind;
- take advantage of the built-in search functions available on both Android and iOS;
- in case of theft, try to contact the police;
- do not try to use online services that offer to quickly find a smartphone.
If you follow all the recommendations, the likelihood of finding a mobile device will become much higher. But even if you can’t find your phone, it’s worth remembering that it’s just a gadget. Sooner or later it would still have to be changed.
Also, to understand how to track the location of an Android phone via Google, you must have a registered account.
Should you be wary of a refurbished iPhone?
An iPhone refurbished by the manufacturer receives a year of warranty service. The device is also tested before sale to eliminate defects. Therefore, such a device may be useful to users who do not have the funds for a new model. In addition, a phone refurbished by the manufacturer is better than a previously used device by another user.
Another thing is that some users buy iPhones refurbished by the manufacturer, and then resell them under the guise of a new one with an additional markup. Things are much worse when the restoration process was carried out by the previous owner or an unauthorized workshop. In this case, you can only guess what was repaired in the phone, what components were used, and how such repairs will affect its performance in the future. In addition, models refurbished by third parties are void of warranty. Therefore, in the event of a breakdown, all difficulties with restoration will fall on the shoulders of the new owner.
How to find a phone by IMEI yourself via the Internet
So, let's figure out how to track a phone by IMEI in case of theft or loss.
Finding a lost phone is easy if you know its identification number. There are many applications on Google Play that allow you to find your phone, for example:
- IMEI Tracker – Find My Device
- Find Lost Phone
- How to find a phone
- Geotracker phone tracking
- Find my android
- Find My Device.
Most of them can be activated using a sent SMS.
Let's look at one example.
- Find AntiTheft App & IMEI Tracker All Phone Location on Google Play. Install it on your smartphone.
- Once the installation is complete, launch the application. Agree to all permissions requested for IMEI tracking. The program will ask for access to contacts, calls, storage, SMS and location. If you want to track your phone in the future, all of these permissions will be required to fully take advantage of the app's features.
- Watch a short advertisement. This is a free app, so developers are forced to show ads in order to receive compensation for their work. Unfortunately, there is no option to skip ads. Until the video is completely downloaded, you will not be able to proceed to device tracking.
- Enter the IMEI of the phone you lost. Check that the entered data is correct and click on the button Track. You'll see a window showing locations near your phone.
By the way, having a number not only helps you find a phone via satellite for free, but also provides the opportunity to take advantage of other important anti-theft functions.
For example, you can set a PIN and save it somewhere. This way, you can monitor your phone if it is stolen by sending specific codes that trigger alarms from the smartphone, sending SMS messages about its location in real time, synchronizing data and other important functions.
How to identify a refurbished smartphone
Several visible differences indicate a factory restoration of the iPhone. In case of non-factory restoration, you need to carefully look at the details. Usually dubious sellers from various trading platforms try to sell a refurbished device. During a personal meeting, an evening is usually scheduled, so that in poor lighting the buyer has less opportunity to see the substandard device. In addition, a dubious seller will in every possible way interfere with the study of the smartphone, as well as distract and persuade in various ways to quickly buy the phone. Therefore, if you plan to buy a new device, you should not consider buying an iPhone second-hand; it is better to contact a large retail chain or a well-known store.
Package
New iPhone models are packaged in a light cardboard box with a picture of the corresponding phone. Models refurbished by the manufacturer are supplied in light boxes without an image of the phone, but only with an indication of the model. Phones refurbished by third parties are usually placed in the original box, which may have some scuffs and wear, or a plain, light-colored box.
Refurbished iPhone box.
Box of a new device.
Equipment
New or refurbished smartphones come with sealed accessories: EarPods, sync cable, AC adapter, help documentation and warranty card. Moreover, in the iPhone 7 and subsequent versions, the manufacturer abandoned the 3.5 mm headphone jack, so the headset in such models comes only with a Lightning plug. Therefore, missing or different accessories should be taken with caution. You should also be wary if the accessories are unpacked or look used - there are scuffs, scratches, dust or dirt.
Marking
iPhones refurbished by the manufacturer contain on the packaging the abbreviation RFB - Refurbished, or translated from English as “refurbished”. The corresponding mark is also available in the batch number on the packaging and in the model name in system properties. By the way, the batch/model marking will explain in detail the origin of the phone.
Lot number on the iPhone box.
The model/lot number begins with one of four Latin letters - M, N, F, P, as well as the number 3:
- M – New smartphone, example code MN942RU/A.
- N – The phone was issued for replacement under warranty, example code NTAH2LL/A.
- F – Factory restored smartphone, example code FE43RK/A.
- P – Personalized smartphone with engraving on the case.
- 3 – Exhibition sample.
To view the model number in the phone properties, do the following:
- Open system settings.
- Next is the “Basic” item.
- Then the item “About this device”.
- In the new window, look for a line called “Model Number.”
Model number in the smartphone settings.
IMEI number or serial number
The IMEI number or serial number will help you check the device status and activation. The relevant information is indicated on the box, on the smartphone body or SIM card tray, as well as in the “About this device” settings section.
Knowing the serial number, just go to the manufacturer’s official website, enter the data and get information about the availability of the warranty. If the smartphone was not restored by the manufacturer and has been activated for a long time, technical support and service are not provided. If the smartphone has not been activated, the website will display information about the need to activate the iPhone.
Imei number and serial number on the iPhone box.
You should approach the purchase with caution if the seller refuses to provide a photo with the serial number, citing various reasons and possible consequences. It is better to avoid such sellers.
It is also easy to determine other useful information from IMEI, such as color. If you are offered a model in gray, and when checking by IMEI the model is gold or another color, then they are trying to sell you a Chinese refurbished device. The sale of such devices is widespread due to a pleasant discount, up to 50%. The quality of such phones is influenced by the capabilities of the Chinese seller. Therefore, you can come across both devices assembled with “high quality” and with serious defects.
Activation status
The smartphone is considered activated the first time it is turned on, which cannot be hidden by resetting the settings. If the seller included a smartphone, then such a device can be considered used or refurbished. The status of the new phone is saved only until it is turned on for the first time. Even if the seller assures that no one has used the phone, the device was turned on once to check its functionality, or the phone is still under warranty, it is not advisable to buy such a phone. And if the seller is telling the truth, it is impossible to believe the authenticity of the words without a detailed analysis in a couple of minutes of inspection.
iPhone activation status on the official website.
Warranty service
For new and manufacturer-refurbished smartphones, there is a 12-month warranty. Warranty service status can be checked on the official website. If during the sale other terms are indicated or a guarantee is not provided, then you should refrain from purchasing.
Also, a smartphone officially purchased in Russia has an extended warranty of 2 years, in accordance with the laws “On the Protection of Consumer Rights”.
Appearance
When purchasing, be sure to visually inspect the phone. Dust, scratches, fingerprints and other signs of use are not acceptable. You should carefully check the mounting bolts on the base of the smartphone. If the slightest traces of use/tampering are detected, the purchase of the phone should be avoided. Since it is easy to get an opened device under the guise of a new and not activated phone, some original components have been replaced with cheap analogues.
Should you keep your IMEI secret?
Since IMEI is important information that helps in solving various problems, the question of keeping it secret arises. It is generally accepted that an attacker who knows the IMEI can add a smartphone to the database of stolen devices, and then the real owner can lose his gadget. However, this is a myth and nothing more.
Despite the fact that the presence of IMEI allows you to report the theft of a smartphone, in addition to the identifier itself, the applicant must present a purchase receipt to law enforcement agencies. Consequently, the option of possibly adding a smartphone to the database of stolen devices immediately disappears.
However, this applies only to the official bases of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. There are also a bunch of third-party resources where anyone can enter IMEI. They have no legal significance, but are often used by buyers of used equipment to check whether they are buying a phone from the real owner or from a scammer.
Therefore, if you plan to resell the device, you should refrain from showing IMEI to others. However, it is not a fact that a fraudster will take possession of the number, and certainly not a fact that one of the potential buyers will decide to use a specialized service like sndeep.info.
Conclusion
The article describes in detail how to recognize/distinguish whether an iPhone has been restored or not. Due to the popularity of the brand and popular demand, users often resell iPhones. And the high cost forces you to look for affordable offers, risking running into a previously used smartphone that has been repaired, often in a homemade way. Therefore, you should approach the purchase with caution, study the offer in detail, and also ask the seller about the origin of the phone and the reason for the sale. And in order to eliminate the risk and avoid unnecessary headaches, it is better to purchase a phone in trusted stores and retail chains, where upon sale they will issue a new device and a fiscal receipt.
What ways do you know to identify a refurbished iPhone? Share your experience in the comments below the article.
Searches using a cellular operator
A cellular operator can track the location of a mobile phone, but only if a SIM card is installed and active inside the device. Finding a device that was lost while picking mushrooms in the forest, or snatching it from the hands of criminals are completely different situations. In the first case, there is still a chance of even independent tracking through applications, iCloud, etc. And in the second, it is almost impossible, since any thief immediately removes the SIM card and gets rid of it.
The operator’s office will definitely require permission from law enforcement agencies. And the search report will also be sent to the police.
Display
For comparison, it is better to have the original iPhone nearby, not necessarily the same model. The replaced display will be much dimmer and may have a blue tint. It is worth checking the operation of the cameras. If the photos are not of high quality, this is a clear sign of replacement of spare parts with non-original ones.
The extremely low price should lead to some conclusions; it’s not for nothing that the phone is sold so cheaply. When buying a phone with a dubious history, you get only one advantage, a low price. However, problems may soon emerge that will be costly, difficult, or even impossible to solve. Original refurbished iPhones rarely break down. This is a great way to save money if it is not a used “refurbished” iPhone.
Why does Apple even restore iPhone?
Products sold on Apple's online refurbished store are used smartphones that have been returned to Apple by customers who encountered a defect, such as a faulty SSD on a Retina MacBook Pro or dead pixels on an iPhone display. These may also be products that customers choose to recycle through Apple's recycling program, or products that are returned.
Apple repairs these products and replaces any faulty parts before putting them back on sale. Refurbished products are only available on the Apple website and are not offered in retail stores.
Manufacturer repairs are usually preferred as they guarantee a higher standard, although they are harder to find.
Refurbished phones are usually rated by retailers. Trading Standards tells us that these grades are not independently established so quality may vary, but they are generally determined as follows:
- Grade A – Appears new or has only very minor signs of handling or wear.
- Grade B - May have scratches, chips or other minor cosmetic damage.
- Grade C – will show signs of wear; Expect the product to look used.
Have you bought a refurbished iPhone?
Not really
