How to check the serial number of an iPhone. Reconciliation of iPhone data and packaging. Checking the serial number

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. You can check the screen dimensions by measuring it. After which they should be compared with the characteristics indicated on the official Apple website.
  4. 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.
  5. The presence of an Android system instead of iOS is guaranteed to be a Chinese fake.
  6. When you open the App Store, Google Play should not launch.
  7. The original iPhone has a non-removable battery.
  8. The SIM card must be inserted from the outside, while the installation of flash memory is not provided at all.
  9. The envelope that contains the instructions (included with the purchase) has a color flyer with two stickers, each of which is made in the form of a company logo.
  10. 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 entirely 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.

If you want to purchase a phone from an American manufacturer, it is important to know how to check your iPhone by serial number and IMEI on the official website. Currently, eastern manufacturers are quite close to very similar counterfeits of iPhone (4s, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus) and other brands.

When choosing a used iPhone for purchase, it is important not to buy a “pig in a poke” and know what the consequences may be. What could be wrong with the old iPhone model and what pitfalls are hidden in the long-awaited purchase?

It is practically impossible for an inexperienced person to distinguish an original from a fake by external signs. It is worth noting that iPhone phones are also produced by Chinese manufacturers, but in a specialized factory using high-tech equipment. They are trying to replicate counterfeits using lower quality equipment and, accordingly, the same software.

How to check the authenticity of an iPhone/iPhone (4s, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus) on the Apple website?

In order to find out if the iPhone you are purchasing is Apple, you can use two methods:

  1. Look at the number on the back cover of the phone (on previous versions of iPhone on the SIM card insert tray).
  2. Find out the number in the device menu " Settings» -> « Basic» -> « About this device» -> « Serial number"(pictures below).

If the lock function " Find iPhone" turned on by the previous owner, such a phone is useless. His Can't reset to factory settings And it is impossible to access or unlock your Apple ID account using normal methods, even after flashing. Also iTunes normal recovery mode is not possible, you will have to use the emergency method - DFU mode (Device Firmware Update).

When buying an iPhone on the secondary market, you should immediately check the function activation lock. It is required to personally ensure that the owner disables the function " Find iPhone».

The seller needs to sign in to an Apple ID account. If he refuses, citing ignorance of the password, Under no circumstances should you purchase such a mobile device. Perhaps the phone does not belong to him.

Checking a used iPhone for mechanical damage

When buying a used iPhone, it must be checked visually:

  1. Frame. No external damage (dents, stains, scratches).
  2. Control keys. Everything must be in good condition: do not jam, do not slow down. When you press any button, the response of the mobile device should be instantaneous.
  3. iPhone disassembly. This can be determined by the speaker grid and connectors. Everything must be in good condition, without any damage.
  4. Repair. Protective glass and buttons must have the same color. The colors of the mobile device must also match the charging port and headset jack. There are no blurring effects when the screen is touched mechanically, and there are no visible marks on the touch panel.
  5. Neverlock(unlocked or tied to a specific mobile operator). Any Apple device works with all mobile communication cards. The card tray must have no pads. Having connected your card, the connection of an unlocked (not tied to a specific operator) iPhone should happen almost instantly.
  6. Touchpad. After unlocking the device, press the screen until the application icons “dance” and slowly swipe any of them across the screen. There should be no “separation” of the pressed application icon from the finger.
  7. Microphone and speaker speech. It's easy to check the call quality by dialing any number.
  8. Wireless module. Connect to Wi-Fi, open the Opera browser and surf the Internet for about seven minutes to determine the operation of the module when heated. This is how wireless network faults on a specific iPhone model are determined.
  9. Proximity sensors. During a conversation, close part of the screen in the top panel (to the right of the speaker) and watch it fade out.
  10. Automatic camera focus. Using a special application, focus by tapping on an area of ​​the screen.
  11. Accelerometer. To check the function of “rotating” the screen to follow the phone, just open one of the standard applications, for example, Photos or Calendar.
  12. Headphones. To check their operation, first connect them and then play a song from a special application. Test the volume control.
  13. Moisture ingress. It’s easy to check whether the iPhone has been in contact with water - this will show the headphone jack. If a red marker is visible under the light of a flashlight, water has entered the iPhone.
  14. Speakers. Check the sound quality (purity, absence of extraneous noise).
  15. Protective films. When checking your iPhone, you should remove them to make sure there are no external defects.

Tips for buying a used iPhone device

Above we tell you everything about how to check an iPhone by serial number and IMEI on the official website. It is equally important to check the seller, because... There are quite a lot of scammers on the secondary markets. A few tips on how to check a seller’s “honesty”:

  • mobile phone. When looking through advertisements for sales of used iPhones, you need to pay attention to sellers who provide their phone number for consultation;
  • price. The lower the average market price, the higher the risk of purchasing a fake. An adequate seller will not give away an expensive iPhone at two or even three times lower than the cost of the original purchase;
  • prepayment. There is a risk that this is a scam, especially if the phone is sold much cheaper than the average market price and there is no contact information for the seller;
  • meeting point. If the seller agrees not to send the goods, but to hand them over personally, the meeting should be arranged in a place where there are many people and there is an opportunity to go online. This way you can check the locks, connect your account, erase settings and memory contents. A seller who is willing to sell an original mobile phone at a reasonable price:
    • does not refuse to meet in a crowded place;
    • will not refuse to check your iPhone.
  • full set. When purchasing a used mobile device, you should follow the factory specifications. It is advisable if the seller also offers a purchase receipt along with the phone number. You can contact Apple technical service with the check, for example, if you need to unlock your account or regain control over it.

iPhone equipment:

  • a paperclip to remove the card from the phone;
  • charger;
  • original USB headset (microphone, control keys);
  • connection cable;
  • factory packaging with barcodes and data about the phone (model, identifier, series and batch number);
  • mobile phone (smartphone).

However, if they offer an excellent model at a good price, but the package does not include paper clips, documents, or cables, you can take it. The main thing is that there is factory packaging required for technical support and all data about the mobile device is the same:

  • check that the data in the iPhone settings matches the original packaging;
  • the data on the factory packaging, in the main settings of the iPhone (the “About phone” function) and on the back panel of the mobile device are identical.

Compliance is checked as follows:

  1. Model.
  2. Series number. The series number is not indicated on the back of the cover.
  3. International identifier. Compare all the data: on the packaging, in the settings and where the card is stored. If anything doesn’t match, it means the mobile device was being repaired. This can be easily verified by the international identifier and series number.

Briefly about the most important things when buying a used iPhone

  1. Do not give an advance for a used phone.
  2. Check during a personal meeting whether the series and identifier numbers match.
  3. Check the functionality of all buttons.
  4. Be sure to disable blocking " Find iPhone».

If you did not buy your smartphone or tablet from an authorized Apple reseller store, but, for example, from an advertisement site, such a check will be very useful for you for a number of reasons.

There are frequent cases of fraud in the secondary market, therefore, by checking the IMEI and serial number, you can find out exactly where the iPhone was purchased, find out the activation date, the remaining warranty (if any), find out whether the device in front of you is new and check its authenticity.

Let's take a closer look at each of these questions.

How to find out IMEI and serial number of iPhone?

The most reliable option is to look in the settings of the device itself. To do this, launch the “Settings” application, go to the “General” section and select “About this device”.

By clicking on it, you will see all the necessary information, including the serial number and IMEI. For clarity, these points are circled in the screenshot. The whole sequence of actions is also valid for the iPad.

Similar data is indicated on the original box and the back panel of the device case. But, if we are talking about a used device, they could be replaced, but the system will provide 100% reliable information.

Another way is iTunes. Launch it and connect the device to the computer using a cable. Click on the name of your gadget, and on the “Overview” tab, its serial number will be displayed:

Checking iPhone by IMEI

Once you have found out the necessary information, you can run a quick scan of the device using a special service. Not all of them work correctly, therefore, we recommend using the proven iphoneimei.info

When you go to the site, you will see only one field in which you need to enter the received IMEI numbers. Just a few seconds and you get the information you need:

As you can see from the screenshot, this way you can find out:

  • iPhone activation date
  • date and country of purchase
  • presence of binding to the operator.

In addition to third-party services, similar data can be obtained on the Apple website. More on this later in the article.

Check by serial number

To check your warranty and get other useful, first-hand information, go to Apple's website here. A page will open in front of you that says “Checking your right to service and support” with a field in which you need to enter the equipment serial number, then the captcha, and click the “Continue” button.

As you can see in the screenshot above, this way you can quickly check the Apple warranty, which is important if the seller assures you that it is still valid. This way you can see for yourself.

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a mobile equipment control identifier assigned to each device by a special certified service (BABT - a British telecommunications organization) upon direct authorization on the network. And although IMEI was initially used exclusively when accessing mobile telecommunications, the powers of the identifier have changed greatly.

First of all, IMEI is used to verify the authenticity of smartphones and tablets (of different brands, including Apple). If you cannot visually distinguish a copy from the original, and you need to know everything about the device you are purchasing – from the warranty to blocked services – then you can safely arm yourself with an identifier and check the originality on the official website.

IMEI is usually marked in different places - on the packaging, on the sales receipt, in the settings, sometimes in the warranty, and is shown when the *#06# command is entered on the keyboard (it always works on the operating system). And yet sometimes questions arise during the search. How to check the authenticity of an iPhone using IMEI on the Apple website?

7 surefire ways to find out the IMEI of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

View in settings

Statistics and information about your Apple smartphone, tablet or player are stored in the “About this device” section.

There it is easy to find out how much free space is left on the internal memory, what version of the operating system is installed, and what serial numbers, and other numerical parameters, such as ICCID and SEID, are assigned to the device. In case of urgent need, it is easy to immediately understand legal documents and license agreements.

The section is interesting, and it’s always at hand - it’s worth repeating the short algorithm of actions.

Find out IMEI through the command

View IMEI on iPhone box

It’s worth sorting out the IMEI before purchasing Apple equipment if the smartphone or tablet is purchased not from a certified store, where each device is required to receive a “certificate from RosTest,” but from a third-party establishment where the devices are delivered from the USA or Europe.

The IMEI code found on the still-packed box will reveal a lot of information - for example, whether the factory warranty is available, whether the device was turned on, whether it went through a restoration process, and whether the SIM tray is unlocked for any operators or assigned to any mobile provider.

If for some reason the information received is not satisfactory or disagrees with the seller’s offer, then you can safely refuse the transaction!

The mobile ID is on the back of the box at the bottom, along with a barcode and serial number information.

After opening the iPhone, the numbers should be compared; if there are any discrepancies, you should contact the seller.

View IMEI via iTunes


Check IMEI in iTunes without phone

View IMEI on your smartphone, tablet or player

As with the box, all important information about the device is stored not on the front, but on the back, at the very bottom, where serial numbers and identifiers are listed.

This method does not work with all devices - but only starting with the 5 series models, and progressively. Most likely, the tradition will continue for many years to come.

View IMEI on SIM card tray

The last method is relevant for all Apple technology, but, unfortunately, it does not lie on the surface. You can only get out the tray using an iceclip, and you also have to remove the cover. But, if the other options didn’t work, why refuse?

Check through the official Apple website

If the IMEI code is found, then it’s time to move on to directly checking the purchased or not yet purchased device for originality and other parameters that facilitate further interaction with the service center, and for full information support from Apple. How to check iPhone by IMEI? Two ways:

Via the official website


Verification through a third-party service


How to find out Apple ID by IMEI?

Apple ID is an official “personal identifier” that provides access to Apple entertainment content, as well as to specialized services and support departments (iTunes Store, App Store, iCloud - the listed services never work with those who have not registered an Apple ID and have not passed authorization). In fact, Apple ID is a real passport that opens any door, provides security and at the same time keeps a lot of secrets.

The level of capabilities of the Apple ID, at least in the Apple space, is much higher than the same IMEI, and therefore you should not count on access to confidential information through a mobile ID (especially for free). The manufacturer keeps all important information under seal and will be trusted only to users who directly own the device.

Even through the official website, through the password recovery and personal account recovery menu, no one will tell who previously owned the device along with the IMEI, because the “passport” has long been seized. The only way to find out your Apple ID is to try to contact support and persuade technical support to reveal its cards. Most likely, nothing will come of such an idea. The Apple ID is either registered and assigned to the network, or belongs to someone else - along with a security question, important settings and confidential data (and recently two-factor authentication has appeared - it’s even worse there!).

How to check if the “find iPhone” function is enabled by IMEI?

As in the case of Apple ID, checking the “find iPhone, iPad or iPod” function works without any connection with IMEI - users will have to go through authorization in any case, but not on the official website, but in the iCloud.com service. It is there that the developers offer to check the current location of any of the devices attached to the Apple ID. If you do not receive information, or for some reason the search does not work, then the “Find iPhone” function is not activated in the settings.

Previously, additional verification of the “Find iPhone” function by IMEI was offered by third-party resources, and completely free of charge. The identifier also displayed other information - such as the status of “stolen and blocked” and even offered to contact support directly.

Recently, such services have stopped displaying such valuable information for public viewing. From now on, only data related to the warranty, access to technical support and other information is available, such as where the iPhone, iPad and iPod were supposed to be sold, or under which operators the device is blocked.

How to find out the country of manufacture by IMEI

When buying smartphones, tablets and players not in certified stores, you can stumble upon devices brought from different places - the USA, Europe, some Asian countries, and intended for sale in local stores, and not in Russia. As a rule, few people are interested in information about where Apple equipment came from (what difference does it make whether a smartphone is from the USA or from China, when the savings are obvious? Domestic retail offers exorbitant prices after paying VAT and RosTest services!), but sometimes you can figure out the place “ the birth of the technology is still worth it. And there are two reasons for this.

Firstly, sometimes the delivery package changes a lot (no, the classic Apple stickers are always in place) - we are primarily talking about chargers. If European analogues work with domestic Euro sockets, then chargers from the same Britain or the USA can be safely left until better times - for example, until a tourist trip in the indicated direction. Sometimes instructions are available in certain languages.

Secondly, the manufacturer often blocks in advance the ability to use different cellular operators (you can check using IMEI using the methods listed above). Accordingly, it will not be possible to insert a SIM card of a classic Megafon or Beeline even with a strong desire (even the option of using special repair services can be safely dismissed - blocking is not only at the hardware, but also at the software level).

And, since there is every chance of stumbling upon something incorrect, then it’s time to get checked using a third-party service.


How to find out whether an iPhone is “refurbished” by IMEI or not?

The instructions already described a third-party service from the official one, which allows you to find out whether the iPhone has undergone technical rehabilitation or whether the device is sold directly from the factory, in its original condition. But just in case, once again:

  1. Log in to a third-party service.
  2. On the main page, enter the IMEI number. Confirm “humanity”, wait for the procedure to complete.
  3. In the statistics that appear, find the item “Refurbished by Apple” (whether technical support was provided or parts were replaced). If it says “No”, then you can safely take it - everything is original, without any jambs.
  4. If “Yes”, and the user expected “No”, then the seller is being cunning and hiding important information about the device.

Friends, underground Chinese craftsmen have become very good at making copies of iPhone phones, counterfeiting them in such a way that an external examination sometimes does not allow a beginner to identify a clone in front of him or a real original iPhone. Moreover, today many Apple phones have been released and it can be problematic for novice users to understand the intricacies of the appearance and features of iOS firmware. In order to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake, several methods are used.


Today I will tell you - How to check iPhone on Apple website. This method is the most common, since you can check on the website not only an unpacked, but also a sealed iPhone, iPod player or iPad tablet, without opening the box.

This method has one more “plus” - it does not require iTunes. You can check the iPhone you are purchasing on the Apple website using a computer or using any mobile device (phone, tablet) with Internet access. To check your iPhone using this method, in any browser, go to: Apple.com/ru/
On the top right of the Apple website, select the section - Support


Scroll down the page to the “AppleCare and Warranty” subsection and select – Is my product still under warranty?.


A verification panel will launch on the site, where you will need to enter the serial number (aka Serial Number) of our iPhone, enter the captcha code and press the button - Continue. You can find the serial number of an iPhone or other Apple device in several places, both on the box and on the gadget itself. If you have problems finding the serial number, then read – and look at the pictures –. Serial, Serial No. – this is also a serial number.

If you entered all the letters and numbers of the serial number correctly, then the name of our iPhone should appear; in our case, the Apple database correctly recognized our iPhone 5S. This means the iPhone is original and officially released. Below the picture of the iPhone, model name and serial number you can see the warranty status, below we have looked at the possible warranty conditions that you may encounter when purchasing an iPhone:


Example 1. In the first example we see an iPhone 5S, which is in a sealed box, i.e. We checked it without even unpacking it and made sure that the iPhone was real and not a fake. The model is displayed, the Apple website does not yet display warranty information, which means that this model was never activated after leaving the production line, so we were convinced that no one had really used this phone before. If you bought a new iPhone, iPod touch or iPad and have not yet activated it, then when you check, the site should give you approximately the same thing as in our first example - You must confirm the date of purchase of the product.


Example 2. After 3 months, we decided to check our iPhone on the Apple website again. As a result, we see different warranty data. In addition, during these three months the free period of technical support by telephone has expired, but the right to service and repair is still provided. In example number two, we see that this model has already been activated, this phone has already been used, but the one-year warranty has not yet expired. While the warranty for repairs and maintenance has not expired, you can find out the date of first activation of the iPhone.


Example 3: In the last example, we see that not only has this iPhone been used, but the repair and phone support warranty has expired. The third example shows that the iPhone is also original, not counterfeit, but it has been used for more than a year.

Well, now you will know how to check the authenticity of an iPhone on the official Apple website. If you follow exactly the steps listed above, your warranty information will also be displayed in Russian. You can use the site check both when purchasing a new and used iPhone, iPad and iPod. If you are purchasing a used device rather than a new one, be sure to do this before purchasing and do not forget to activate the phone and call.