How to tell if an iPhone is refurbished (5 checks in Settings)
Bought an iPhone sold as new, or thinking about a refurbished one? Your iPhone can tell you a lot about its past. Here are five checks, and what each one can and cannot prove.
There is nothing wrong with a refurbished iPhone when you pay a refurbished price. The problem is paying new-phone money for one, or buying a “like new” phone that has a cheap replacement screen and a tired battery. Your iPhone keeps a surprising amount of its history in Settings, and you can read it in a few minutes.
How to tell if an iPhone is refurbished: 5 checks
The fix
Check 1: The first letter of the model number
- 1
Open Settings › General › About.
- 2
Find Model Number.
It looks like
MU663LL/A. If you see a number starting with A instead, such as A3090, tap it once. The line switches between the two formats. - 3
Read the first letter.
M: sold new. F: refurbished by Apple or a carrier. N: a replacement phone Apple provided under warranty or AppleCare. P: a personalized iPhone with an engraving.
The letters after the slash show the region the phone was made for. LL/A is the US version. A different code does not mean the phone is fake, but it can mean different cellular bands or a different warranty region.
The fix
Check 2: Parts and Service History
- 1
Open Settings › General › About and scroll down.
If any major part has been replaced, a Parts and Service History section appears. On a phone that was never repaired, it does not show at all.
- 2
Read each part's status.
Genuine Apple Part means Apple's parts and process were used. Unknown Part means a non-genuine part, a used part from another phone, or a repair that was not finished with Apple's tools. The screen, battery and camera are the most common.
A replaced battery or screen is normal on a refurbished phone. What matters is that the seller told you, and that the price reflects it. An “Unknown Part” screen can have duller colors or weaker touch response, and an unknown battery will not show a normal health reading.
The fix
Check 3: Battery health and cycle count
- 1
Open Settings › Battery › Battery Health & Charging.
A new iPhone shows 100% Maximum Capacity or very close to it. A phone sold as new that shows 92% has been used for a while. Our guide to reading iPhone battery health explains the numbers.
- 2
On iPhone 15 and later, check the cycle count and dates.
These models also show the battery's cycle count, manufacture date and first use date. A “new” phone with hundreds of cycles, or a first use date months before you bought it, has had a previous owner.
The fix
Check 4: Apple's coverage page
- 1
Copy the serial number.
It is in Settings › General › About. Touch and hold it to copy.
- 2
Enter it at checkcoverage.apple.com.
The page shows whether the purchase date is valid and how much warranty or AppleCare coverage is left. A phone sold to you as brand new should show close to a full year of limited warranty. Very little coverage left means it was activated long ago.
The fix
Check 5: Look at the phone and the box
- 1
Check the box and label.
Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones come in a plain white box, not the retail box with a photo of the phone. The IMEI and serial on the box label should match Settings. A mismatch means the box belongs to a different phone.
- 2
Look for signs of opening.
Uneven gaps around the screen, a slightly different screen color, missing or loose screws next to the charging port, and a Face ID or True Tone that does not work are all signs of a third-party repair.
Refurbished, renewed, used: what is the difference?
- Apple Certified Refurbished: sold by Apple. Apple says these iPhones get a new battery and a new outer shell, are fully tested, and come with a one-year warranty and eligibility for AppleCare+. They are the closest thing to new.
- Carrier refurbished: phones returned to Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile, repaired and resold. Often these are the F model numbers. Quality is usually good, and the carrier provides a warranty.
- Third-party refurbished or “renewed”: sold by Amazon Renewed sellers, Back Market sellers, Walmart and independent shops. Quality ranges from excellent to poor, and parts may not be genuine. Read the seller's grade, battery promise and return window carefully.
- Used: sold as is, often by a private person. No testing, no warranty. Do every check in this guide and also make sure it is not stolen.
Test these in the first few days
Whatever the Settings screens say, a refurbished or used iPhone should pass a quick hands-on test while you can still return it. Run through this list on day one, before you move your data over:
- Face ID or Touch ID: set it up and unlock a few times. Problems here often point to a third-party screen or repair.
- Screen: open a plain white page and a black one. Look for dead pixels, yellow patches or uneven brightness. Check that True Tone appears in Control Center under brightness.
- Cameras: take a photo with each rear lens and the front camera, and record a short video with sound.
- Speakers and microphones: play music, make a phone call, and record a voice memo.
- Charging: charge with a cable and, if you have one, a wireless charger. Watch for heat or a liquid detected warning.
- Cellular and Wi-Fi: make a call, send a text, and load a web page on cellular data with Wi-Fi off.
- Buttons and switches: test volume, side button, and the Action button or Ring/Silent switch.
If anything fails, contact the seller while you are inside the return window. Most reputable refurbished sellers offer at least 30 days, and Apple's own refurbished iPhones come with its standard return period and warranty.
Sold as new but it is refurbished. What now?
- 1
Take screenshots right away.
Capture the model number, Parts and Service History, battery health and Apple's coverage page. They are your evidence.
- 2
Contact the seller within the return window.
Retailers and marketplaces have to honor the condition they advertised. Most large sellers will refund or replace a phone sold as new that turns out not to be.
- 3
Escalate if they refuse.
Use the marketplace's guarantee (Amazon's A-to-z Guarantee, eBay Money Back Guarantee) or dispute the charge with your card issuer. For a store that will not help, your state attorney general's consumer protection office takes complaints about misrepresented goods.
Is a refurbished iPhone worth buying?
Often, yes. An Apple Certified Refurbished iPhone with a new battery and a full warranty is a sensible way to save money. The risk grows as you move away from Apple and carriers toward unknown sellers, mainly because of cheap replacement screens and batteries.
Before buying any refurbished iPhone, check three things: the battery (aim for 85% or higher, or a new battery), the return window (at least 30 days), and the warranty. Also make sure it still gets updates. iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and newer, so a very old model will soon stop receiving security fixes. And confirm it works with your carrier using our guide to checking if a phone is unlocked.
If your refurbished iPhone's battery is already worn, replacing it can make an older phone feel new again. See whether a battery replacement is worth it for your model.
Frequently asked questions
What does F mean in an iPhone model number?
A model number that starts with F means Apple or a carrier sold it as a refurbished phone. M means it was sold new, N means Apple gave it as a replacement, and P means it was a personalized, engraved iPhone.
Can I check if an iPhone is refurbished with the IMEI or serial number?
The serial number on Apple's coverage page shows warranty status and whether the purchase date is valid, which hints at the phone's age. It does not say “refurbished”. The model number in Settings is the clearer sign.
Is a refurbished iPhone bad?
Not necessarily. Apple Certified Refurbished iPhones get a new battery and outer shell and a one-year warranty. Third-party refurbished phones vary much more, so check the battery and parts history.
Why does my refurbished iPhone say Unknown Part?
It means a part such as the battery, screen or camera was replaced with one that is not genuine or was not paired to the phone by Apple's process. The phone usually still works, but that part may not behave exactly like the original.
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