How to check a new iPhone 6. Do you need to check a new iPhone before buying? Parameters that distinguish an original smartphone from a fake one

Advanced technologies, as well as the impeccable quality of Apple products, along with the highly professional work of marketers, have made the iPhone the most popular smartphone in the world. It is in great demand among users from all over the world.

This success led to the appearance of pirated copies on the market. Companies involved in the counterfeit production of Apple equipment have done everything possible to create obstacles to verifying originality. Doubt the authenticity of your device?

Then use the instructions to check it.

How to check an iPhone for originality from Apple

Every smartphone that was not manufactured at an Apple factory is considered a fake. Due to the fact that original products are made from expensive materials, counterfeits are not completely copied, which is why they are quite easy to recognize.

This can be done using the following criteria:

First of all, you need to find the serial number. It must consist of 11 or 12 digits. It is located at the bottom of the package and on the body of the smartphone. The number can also be found in the smartphone menu (“Settings” – “Basic settings” – “Device information”). Make sure that all numbers are present and correspond to each other.
Original smartphones have only one SIM card slot, while Chinese copies can support two or more cards. In the 1st generation iPhone, the slot is located at the top of the case, in more modern models - on the side. Also, the slot can only accommodate micro-sim cards, the size of which is significantly smaller than classic cards.
You can check the screen dimensions by measuring it. After which they should be compared with the characteristics indicated on the official Apple website.
You can check the authenticity of your smartphone using the special service SNDeepinfo. If this software cannot determine the serial number, or does not establish that it does not match the smartphone, then it is a copy.
The presence of an Android system instead of iOS is guaranteed to be a Chinese fake.
When you open the App Store, Google Play should not launch.
The original iPhone has a non-removable battery.
The SIM card must be inserted from the outside, while the installation of flash memory is not provided at all.
The envelope, which contains instructions (included with the purchase), has a color flyer with two stickers, each of which is made in the form of a company logo.
The body must be solid, monolithic and made of high-quality materials.

External signs

By appearance:
The original Apple logo features a bitten apple. The bite is on the right
Check the model name
Genuine products do not provide the ability to remove the back cover
The smartphone body should not have non-original shades. Today, the iPhone is available in gold, white or black.

One of the most effective ways to determine the authenticity of your device is to check the IMEI code. It is a unique identifier that the manufacturer assigns to each phone. The code is located on the SIM card slot, as well as on the back cover of the smartphone. It is also located in settings and on the barcode.
To check your phone by IMEI, you need to go to the official website of international mobile device identifiers. There you should enter the number in a special line. Next, the user will be presented with information about the phone.

Equipment

First of all, you should pay attention to the presence of an interface in Russian when you first turn on the smartphone. The branded iPhone package consists of:

Genuine packaging (without hieroglyphs, third-party inscriptions and defects)
Data cable
Set of documents
Headphones with remote control and microphone
Installed Apple Store and iTunes software
Power device
Warranty card from the operator.

There should not be any additional accessories or anything else included.

Workmanship

The manufacturer even pays careful attention to packaging. He never saves, which applies even to small things and all kinds of paraphernalia. Even a used device is characterized by high speed and responsiveness to requests.

The original packaging is made of thick cardboard, which in its structure resembles high-quality plastic. The bottom of the box has a sticker that provides all the data about the smartphone. The charger and headset must be soft. They are also rubberized at the factory.

Cost plays a big role. It is important to research the pricing carefully before purchasing. The cost of the device should not be significantly lower than the average. If the discount is too large, there is a reason to think about the authenticity of the device.

When purchasing, try to find out from the seller where the phone was brought from, as well as when it was purchased (all this data can be easily checked on the official Apple website).

Note: iPhone copies often work using a stylus. This is a cause for concern because original Apple products are operated exclusively with your fingers.

In addition, copies, even the highest quality ones, often have problems with translation and localization. It may be erroneous or inaccurate, and there are often misspellings in words.

Copies never install the original iOS. This operating system is also counterfeited. It can be given by menu items and interface.

Only genuine products make it possible to feel and fully appreciate all the advantages and functionality of a smartphone. A copy, even the highest quality one, is a waste of money, so everyone needs to know the methods of checking an iPhone for originality.

Reading time: 6 minutes. Views 97 Published 01/09/2018

The cost of Apple gadgets does not always allow you to purchase a device in a store from an official dealer. Therefore, it is often practiced to purchase an iPhone second-hand at a more reasonable price. Against this background, in addition to real sellers, many scammers have appeared who sell stolen or even counterfeit devices. Let's figure it outhow to check iPhone for authenticityb before completing the purchase and avoid becoming a victim of a scammer.

Check on the official Apple website

As a rule, when buying a smartphone in a store, the risk of purchasing a fake is zero. But purchasing a gadget second-hand is a risky undertaking, no matter how you look at it. Therefore, before completing the purchase and transferring money to a private seller, you should carefully check the smartphone. A respectable seller will not resist and will allow the buyer to verify the quality and authenticity of the device.

Check by serial number

The device serial number is indicated on the packaging and in the device settings. The first thing to understand is that it must be sold complete with the original box. This condition is mandatory since the future owner will need the packaging in case of contacting technical support.

So, turn on the device, go to the settings menu, open the “General” section and open the “About this device” tab. In this section, find the serial number and check it with the information on the box. If the data does not match, then you should refuse the purchase.

If the numbers match, you should check it on the manufacturer’s official website http://www.apple.com/ru/ . In the upper right corner of the page, find the “Support” section and go to it. Find the "Warranty and Repair" tab and click on the "Check Warranty Status" link. In the form that appears, enter the serial number of the gadget and the captcha. Click “Continue” and if the serial number matches the original device, the user will see information about the owner’s rights to service and support. Opposite the item “Valid date of purchase” there should be a checkmark in a green circle, this confirms the originality of the smartphone.

If the site reports that the number is incorrect, double-check that you dialed it correctly. If the combination of symbols is correct, but the resource does not recognize the device, you have a fake.

Check by IMEI

Few people know by IMEI. Moreover, not everyone knows where to find the right number. There are several options for this case.

This code is a combination of 15 digits. Mention that the number must match everywhere. If, for example, the SIM tray has different data, this does not necessarily indicate that you have a fake in your hands. Most likely, the gadget was simply being repaired.

You can check the authenticity on the website http://www.imei.info/ . To do this, you need to enter the combination into a special form and click on check. After this, the page will open data about the gadget to which this number belongs. Therefore, if a smartphone is found in the database, then this means that this is the original.

CNDeepInfo is another service that allows you to check your iPhone by IMEI. In addition, it gives an understanding of the quality of the gadget’s hardware. Enter the number in the field and click "Check". As a result, the system will issue a certificate confirming that the gadget is original and is not on the list of stolen ones. In addition, the user will receive a transcript of the number itself. There is also a block of additional information, but it is available for a fee. In case of theft, the owner can add his device to the list of stolen devices on this resource and make it much more difficult for scammers to sell it.

upon visual inspection

It is best to buy an iPhone in its entirety: in the box and all the accompanying accessories. But sellers cannot always provide a complete set, and often selling at a low price is a consequence of the lack of packaging and components. In such circumstances, it is worth carefully examining the appearance of the device. In addition, we will tell you a few tricks on how to be sure to distinguish a Chinese counterfeit (the latter, by the way, do not always have obvious differences) from the original.

Supports multiple SIM cards. The original iPhone only works with one chip, which is removed from the smartphone using a special needle.
A removable battery is a sure sign that this is a fake. The battery and iPhone are a single design.
The presence of a retractable antenna. For unknown reasons, Chinese craftsmen supply all fakes with this device. The original gadget does not have any antennas.
Screen quality. The original device has a display created using a special technology with very dense pixels, which ensures high clarity and image quality. If the image graininess is noticeable on the display, then you should refuse the deal.
Resolve a question, how to check iPhone authenticitya logo will help. Chinese counterfeiters apply the “Apple” with paint or even use a sticker. If this is noticed, then you are guaranteed to be dealing with a scammer.
A stylus included with a smartphone is a sure sign that you are being fooled. Not only Apple, but also other manufacturers have not used resistive displays in production for a long time.
A heavy sensor will also be a sign of a fake. The original smartphone has a very sensitive sensor, any difficulties with use are excluded. As a test, you can grab the shortcut of one of the applications and drag it across the screen; the icon should move freely around the entire perimeter and not break off the grip.
The presence of touch buttons is permissible only for crafts. A real iPhone only has one Home button, and it's physical.
Open the device settings and in the general section, find the “Software update” item. If you fail, feel free to give up your smartphone.
The voice assistant is a distinctive feature of the original, which has not yet been counterfeited. Press the "Home" button and hold for a few seconds. If there is no response from the system and Siri is not activated, then, alas, they are selling you a copy.
Fake devices most often have the Android platform or even home-written software. Try opening the device Market. In the first case, you will be redirected to Google Play, in the second, nothing will open.

Unfortunately, today counterfeits of Chinese manufacturers have flooded the market. This is primarily due to the fact that our compatriots strive to save money, not always understanding that a quality product cannot cost several times less than the average market network. Even if you decide to save a little and buy a used smartphone, compare prices and do not rush into offers with extremely low prices. And read the above recommendations carefully.

Sometimes it happens.

Most people are accustomed to thinking that when purchasing an iPhone from authorized Apple retailers, there can be no problems with smartphones. And this seems quite logical, since iPhones come to stores from Apple itself, having previously undergone many verification procedures and certification.

However, as it turned out in October, it is mandatory to check “white” iPhones as well. After reading about the iPhone user story in this material, you will not have any desire to leave the store without making sure of the condition of the device you are purchasing.

Background

Many people know that since the end of September, thousands of iPhones around the world have been blocked error 0xE8000013 after resetting or restoring to a backup copy. The error reports a failure during activation and prevents you from even accessing the main screen of the iPhone, not to mention normal use of the smartphone. Thousands of users ended up with “bricks” that were completely unusable, even in the form of an iPod.

In discussions of the problem situation on the forums, it turned out that the error in most cases occurs on iPhones intended for other markets (i.e., “gray”) or on refurbished iPhones. We are not talking about iPhones “like new”, officially restored by Apple, but about those repaired by folk craftsmen. The latest iPhones are most often sold at significantly reduced prices, sometimes under the guise of being officially refurbished.

The cause of the error was also determined. Apple technical support said that the iPhones subject to blocking were previously sent for recycling or restoration, but somehow did not get there. Instead, the smartphones went to private specialists (most often Chinese), who restored the iPhone on their own to new condition and sold it.

These iPhones retained the same serial number, which Apple assigned to another, officially refurbished device. So it turned out that the privately repaired iPhone became a “dead soul.” It has a serial number, but it does not belong to him, but to another iPhone, perhaps located on the other side of the planet.

Having someone else's serial number, such an iPhone simply cannot be activated. Because of this, after a complete reset or restoration to a backup copy, the device turns into a “brick”.

But there are also misfires

The reason for the blocking is clear, as are the types of iPhones that fell victim to Apple's activation system. But in all this “autumn massacre of iPhones” there are also many extremely surprising cases.

One of them is associated with a similar blocking error 0xE8000013 of the “white” iPhone 5s! A user of the 4PDA forum with the nickname koma_nik found himself in an unpleasant situation. He bought his iPhone 5s two years ago from a large network that is an authorized Apple retailer in Russia. During the entire time I used the smartphone, there were no problems with it.

What a surprise the user was when, in an attempt to speed up iOS 11.0.2 ( how to do it), he did a full factory reset of the iPhone 5s and encountered an activation error. On a “white” iPhone 5s purchased from an official Apple reseller in Russia!

A contact with Apple support made it clear only one thing - this iPhone 5s really should not have been sold in principle, not to mention the showrooms of authorized retailers. This was also indicated by a check through the Apple service, which returned the message “Unfortunately, this serial number corresponds to a product that has been replaced.”

“The phone was bought from Beeline about 2 years ago, all the documents are there, it’s like junk on the website. I chatted, then they called (St. Petersburg number) I talked for a long time, in the end they sent me to the store like go ask where they got it... in general they sent it...” - user koma_nik.

How did such an iPhone get into the store of a large retail chain? Mystery.

It is noteworthy that this is not an isolated case. On the official technical support forum we encountered two similar cases. Users claim that they bought new iPhones, but they were blocked by an error that there is no way to get around. At least for the moment.

But really, what iPhone did they sell/gift to you? Brand new from the factory or once broken and later restored by Apple? To find out the answer to this question, you do not need specialized software or equipment.

In contact with

Video review

All we need is the iPhone model number from the settings. How to find it:

1. Open Settings your smartphone.

2. Select a section Basic → About this device.

3. Scroll down to the line Model.

Note: The iPhone model ID is also found on a label located on the back of the original box.

And now let's look at the first letter of our number. It can only begin with Latin letters M, F, N and P. In addition, there is a variant that begins with a number, for example - 3 .

And here's what each symbol means:

M - new device.

F - refurbished at Apple factories (ref). Repairers eliminate the cause of the breakdown, be sure to change the case and glass on the display, and put it in a new white box along with new headphones and a charger ().

Russian consumers are familiar with such Apple smartphones under the name “Like New” or “Refurbished” or “CPO”; their prices are usually 20-30% lower, and the quality does not suffer at all.

N - iPhone issued under Apple warranty to replace a broken gadget.

3 (or other number) - Demo version (demo). For example, 3D035RU. A smartphone designed for display at stands in Apple retail stores and authorized resellers. The main difference is a special version of iOS (regular custom iOS can also be installed). In addition, there is a “demo” mark on the back of the box. The specifications (technical characteristics) of Demo devices are no different from regular ones ().

P - personalized (engraved). When purchasing an iPad and iPod Touch (less commonly an iPhone) in the Apple online store, the buyer is offered a free engraving and gift box service.

Now, if you're about to pick up a new iPhone or just want to know more about the origins of the smartphone you already have, you know what to do.

Also, before you buy an iPhone, be sure to check out how to check if the new Apple smartphone you're buying is indeed the one you're buying.

I often find myself on Avito looking for goodies at low prices. Yes, I haven’t leveled up my luck yet, so I wasn’t as lucky as our editor-in-chief. But a couple of times we managed to profitably exchange smartphones.

It is important to understand that any platform with advertisements is a field of action for various scammers and, in general, unscrupulous people. It’s easy to run into an unpleasant surprise here.

Therefore, any equipment must be inspected in detail before purchasing. I bought an iPhone several times - I’ll tell you how to check them.

The easiest. Is he untied

A smartphone can pass any test with flying colors, but if the seller finds it difficult to disable “Find iPhone” - goodbye, nothing will work.

For those who are not in the know: this tightly ties the iPhone to the owner of the Apple ID, and, in fact, gives him the keys to control the device. For example, he can remotely lock your newly purchased iPhone and demand money to unlock it. He will know where you are. That's another pleasure.

The required item is hidden in the settings, in the “iCloud” section, but it is much easier to type “Find iPhone” there in the search.

How to check iPhone by IMEI

IMEI is a unique international identifier for mobile equipment. This 15-digit number must match within the same set. We check:

IMEI on the back of the case
IMEI in “Settings - General - About this device”
IMEI on request *#06#
IMEI on the SIM card tray (not relevant for iPhone SE and “fives”)
IMEI on the box (if available)

The box is the last thing we care about. If everything matches except for it, it’s okay, the seller just brought the device in non-original packaging. Another question: why didn’t he warn you about this? This is another reason to double-check everything.

How to check iPhone on Apple website

There, in “Settings - General - About this device” the serial number is written. It can be used too. Go to the Apple website and check the status of the device.

This is how you can understand that this is not Frankenstein with the body of a conventional 6s and the filling of a six. The page will show the device model, the expiration date of the limited warranty and information about the date of purchase.

No locked iPhones

Nowadays such devices are becoming less and less common, but suddenly you are a retro lover in pursuit of an iPhone 3G. There is a possibility of running into a locked smartphone. These iPhones were purchased overseas on a contract basis. Such tubes can cause a lot of inconvenience, for which, moreover, you have to pay.

Here are a few signs by which you can understand whether a smartphone is locked or not.

There is a substrate chip in the SIM tray.
The device is not updated to the highest possible OS.
In Settings - General - There is an operator about this device that is different from the one in the status bar.
After a reboot, the device takes a long time to catch the network or requires a call to a specific number.

Such smartphones cannot be updated without the necessary manipulations; I see no reason to pay for them.

Swimmer or not?

Buying recessed smartphones is extremely dangerous. You don't know how they dried it after falling into the water. Perhaps the iPhone was in the hands of adequate service providers, or maybe it was simply put in the rice. At the same time, the oxidation of the components is still ongoing, and the smartphone will “move its horses” at any moment.

It’s a pity that this only pops up after opening the device. However, one marker is visible from the outside.

For iPhone 5 and later: Open the SIM card tray and look inside.
For other iPhones: look at the 30-pin connector and the headphone port.

Here you can see what a triggered marker will look like in a specific iPhone model. If there are no red dots in the designated places, then everything is in order, the iPhone did not flood on this side. More precisely, only a service center can clarify the situation.

Classic. Battery status

It is clear that when buying a smartphone second-hand, you will have to endure all the problems of a worn-out battery. But the wear and tear of a one- to two-year-old battery is insignificant.

Typically, an iPhone will last up to 500 charge cycles, at a minimum. In this case, the loss of battery capacity is not felt. Don’t think about it, the device continues to work after that, it’s just that the time “without a socket” is reduced.

The number of full charge cycles can be checked using the free utility coconutBattery. If you are too lazy to take your laptop with you, you should discuss in advance with the seller the possibility of installing the appropriate utility on your iPhone. Here, Battery Life, for example.

Plus, in the latest iOS, it became possible to see the percentage of battery wear in the settings. Saves time.

Studying the screen

The display is simply a storehouse of weak points. What you need to pay attention to.

Press the screen in different places with little force. Here nothing should crunch, creak or dangle. Otherwise, the smartphone was dropped or opened.

The backlight should be uniform. Open an image with a white background and a black one and notice the glow around the edges. There should be no obvious spots or too bright areas. If there are no such images, open any application with a suitable background. Well, or take a photo, for example.

On the screen there should be no yellow spots. Those that appear after the smartphone. The fact is that under the influence of temperature, the glue between the touchscreen and the display changes color. Similar jambs appear if the device is constantly squeezed, for example, kept in the back pocket of jeans and sat on hard surfaces.

We check with the same set of pictures for stripes and dead pixels.

All sensors must work

Few people want to discover a couple of dead zones on the display after some time. So check everything at once.

The easiest way is to go to the menu, turn on the icon arrangement mode (hold one of them for a long time) and drag it across the screen. It should move evenly, smoothly, not stop, and not twitch.

Open the keyboard, click all the keys. Pull down the shades of notifications and Control Center in both portrait and landscape modes. Everything should work.

Don't forget to check Touch ID. Ideally, stick your finger in there and unlock the device a couple of times, but you can also watch the owner of the smartphone.

Necessarily. Test call

Don't miss this moment: you need to insert your SIM card and make a test call to a friend's number. This kills two birds with one stone; We check the operation of the speaker and the cellular communication module.

As a last resort, if you don’t have a SIM card at hand, you can dial 112, listen to the answering robot, and then reset without waiting for the connection. Better than nothing.

Need to go online

At this stage, your own SIM card with the Internet will also come in handy. It is enough to go to any page to understand that the smartphone works in LTE networks.

It’s also worth finding a Wi-Fi point nearby, or distributing one yourself. Nobody needs problems with wireless Internet.

It would be a good idea to go to Maps and determine the current location of the smartphone to make sure that everything is in order with GPS.

Don't forget the buttons

Dumbly click each button. Nothing should crunch, dangle or sink. The silent mode rocker should vibrate, just like the Home button on the new iPhones. By the way, do not try to press this button on the iPhone 7 and 8 - it will not move a millimeter.

Don’t give in to persuasion; a broken Home button is almost impossible to fix. After replacing the part, you will be left without Touch ID.

Checking the camera and microphone

Make sure there is no debris or condensation in the camera eye. Check the flash, take a couple of photos and videos. There should be no artifacts in the frames. Don't forget to play back the video you shot with sound - this is how the rear microphone is checked.

It is also easy to check the microphone in the standard Voice Recorder application. Leave a couple of recordings and listen to them. There should be no extraneous noise.