How to Tell if an iPhone Is Refurbished or Used

A refurbished iPhone is not a bad thing — Apple's own certified refurb store sells them with a warranty. The real risk is a seller passing a used or replacement device off as brand new. Here is how to tell the difference.

Read the model letter

On the iPhone, open Settings → General → About → Model. The first letter tells the story: M means new retail, N means a replacement unit from Apple, and F means refurbished. A non-M model is not necessarily a problem, but it is not "new."

Check the warranty by serial

Apple's warranty lookup by serial reveals the purchase date and remaining coverage. Run the Apple Warranty by Serial Check to confirm the device age and whether it is still covered.

Activation lock still applies

A refurbished or replaced iPhone can still be tied to a previous owner's iCloud account. Always run the iPhone Activation Lock Check before paying.

Bottom line

Model letter + warranty + activation lock, checked together, reveal whether you are buying new, refurbished or used. Never rely on the seller's word alone.