Find out where the iPhone was purchased by imei. Let's find out the iPhone release date simply

Apple devices annually bring huge profits not only to the company from Cupertino, but also to scammers around the world. How many “gray” Chinese are they trying to sell to fans of the Apple brand under the guise of the original iPhone!

However, it would seem, “seven troubles - one piece of advice.” If you bought your iPhone from a reputable retailer, there shouldn't be any problems. However, unfortunately, not everyone can afford a new iPhone, so you have to go to the used market, where every second person is a scammer. However, we have great news! The rule “seven troubles - one advice” also applies in this situation - only the advice will be different. No matter where you bought your iPhone, we will help you make the right choice!

There are a lot of articles on the Internet about how to purchase an original used smartphone from Apple with a million rules - where to look and what to find. However, give up this endless search, because by and large you can perform only one action to absolutely understand whether this is the original or not, and this action is checking the iPhone by IMEI or serial number. We will tell you how to check the authenticity of an iPhone using these codes in this article.

IMEI is an acronym that stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Translated, this means international mobile equipment identifier. Simply put, IMEI is a unique code for a mobile device; it is assigned to it at the manufacturer’s factory. For a mobile device, this code is like a fingerprint for a person. Now it’s probably starting to become clear to you why if you check an iPhone by IMEI it will become unambiguously clear whether it was made by Apple or not.

Where to check iPhone by IMEI?

It is likely that the question is now ripening in your head - how can an ordinary user check an iPhone by its IMEI for authenticity, since the number is assigned by the manufacturer. Where can I get the database of these codes and how can I find out the IMEI of my equipment? Don’t worry, there are a lot of special services on the Internet where you can specify the IMEI and check the authenticity of your iPhone, and you can do this completely free of charge.

How to find out the IMEI of an iPhone?

IMEI iPhone - be it iPhone 5S, iPhone 6S or any other model - can be viewed in two ways:

Settings menu

To find out the IMEI on an iPhone through the “Settings” menu, you need to find the line “About this device” in this very menu, and then find the IMEI parameter in the new window that appears.

Special combination

You can also view the IMEI of your phone by dialing the combination #06#, call - IMEI will appear on the screen.

How to check the authenticity of an iPhone using IMEI?

Well, we’ve come to the most important question - we identified the IMEI of our phone and found out that there are a lot of services where you can check its originality. Now, actually, let’s answer the question - how. Very simple! We follow the following instructions:

That's all! As you can see, it is very easy to determine the authenticity of any smartphone - iPhone 5, iPhone 5S and others by name!

How to check iPnone by serial number?

Any phone, in addition to IMEI, has another unique code - a serial number, and it also allows you to identify the authenticity of the smartphone. Moreover, Apple even has a special service for such verification. So if you don’t trust third-party IMEI checking services, you can check the authenticity of your iPhone by serial number on the official Apple resource.

Checking an iPhone by its serial number is done as follows:

By the way, you can find out more about the iPhone by serial number if you use a third-party service, for example, this one. Interested to know where your gadget was made? Using this service, you can even track in which factory it was “born”.

How to check if an iPhone is locked to work with one operator?

At the beginning of the article, we said that there is one universal way to check the authenticity of an iPhone - checking by IMEI or serial number. However, a non-original iPhone is not the only risk that exists when purchasing an Apple gadget secondhand. You can buy an original iPhone, but still get into trouble. In which case? That is, if you manage to purchase an original iPhone that is locked to work with one operator.

Yes, the operator can block the iPhone, and in America buying such an i-gadget is a very common practice. In this case, the user can only deal with one operator, but he gets the device for much less money.

But does a Russian user need a phone that is programmed to work with a single American operator? Of course not! But many scammers are not averse to making money by buying such a locked iPhone for next to nothing (they don’t even have to think about how to block the device, everything is done by the official operator) and selling it under the guise of a smartphone that can work with any operator.

How can you check if they are trying to sell you a locked smartphone? Ask the seller to allow you to insert your SIM card into the device and check if it will work with it. Are calls going through, are SMS being received? So everything is fine!

By the way, if the seller, when asked to insert your SIM, says that he is blocked from working with one operator, but unlocking an iPhone is a nonsense, but he is ready to give a discount, run away from this dishonest person! It’s not easy to bypass operator blocking - you need a professional and a special R-SIM chip. And even after the lock is lifted, you will not be able to update, or rather, you can, but for each version of the platform you will have to purchase a new R-SIM.

Let's summarize

As you can see, the IMEI and serial number of your smartphone, which previously seemed to you to be a useless set of letters and numbers, can be of great benefit. What can you track using these parameters? Not only the authenticity of the smartphone, but also its other characteristics, such as the obvious ones - color, memory capacity, model; and not really - the manufacturer's factory, for example.

When planning to purchase an iPhone or iPad, you need to be extremely careful. Still, there is a risk that instead of the original, they will offer you a non-original device, albeit at a lower cost. Today, “craftsmen” produce such high-quality copies of iPhones and iPads that at first glance it is almost impossible to distinguish them from the original iOS devices. In addition, when purchasing used devices, even if they are original, they may have an expired warranty or are simply often reflashed, so they may be tied to a specific mobile operator. The blocking can be removed, but this will result in additional financial costs for you.

You can verify the seller’s honesty and check the device for originality only by checking the mobile device by its serial number through the Apple offsite.

We check the iPhone by serial number, Have

If you need to find out reliable information about the iPhone, you need to get the serial number of the mobile device (iPhone, iPad). And you can do this in several simple ways, for example, look at the back panel of the smartphone, or at the SIM card tray in older models. The iPhone serial number can also be seen in the settings (Basic settings).

Advice! When purchasing a used iPad or iPhone, we recommend checking the compliance of the data in the settings of the mobile device and on the original packaging.

Check whether the information on the box matches what is displayed in the settings of the smartphone, tablet and on its back panel.

The following parameters must be specified:

Model. For example, ME805LL/AA.
Serial number.
IMEI. We definitely recommend comparing the identifier specified in the device information on the original box and on the SIM card slot.

If any of the above listed data on the box, in the smartphone settings and on the SIM card tray have any differences. this indicates that the iPhone has been repaired. This information will also be confirmed by serial number and IMEI.

How to find out the serial number of an iPhone

To find out the serial number of your mobile device, follow these steps in a certain sequence:

Go to the Settings -> General menu.
Select the “About device” tab.
Find the line “Serial number”. We rewrite the obtained values into a notepad.

Now you just need to check the serial number on the official Apple website.

Checking the iPhone serial number on the Apple website

To check the authenticity of your iPhone by serial number, you need to go to a special page on the Apple website.

In the “Enter hardware serial number” line, enter the serial number of the iPhone you are testing. Click Continue.
Wait until the page with the requested results loads and displays. Please read this information carefully.
On this page you can verify the originality of the purchased mobile device. The warranty expiration date and the possibility of receiving technical support by phone are also indicated here. If your iPhone has not yet been activated, you will be prompted to complete the activation here.

Important! Serial numbers for Apple equipment may contain the number “0” (zero), but not the letter “O”.

If you have an original iOS device in front of you, the system will immediately recognize it and determine the model. Warranty status information will be displayed. It is important that the “Valid Purchase Date” box is checked. This confirms that this is an original iPhone that was purchased at specialized sales centers from Apple.

If the device was purchased more than 12 months ago, the international warranty from the manufacturer no longer applies to it. This information will be displayed in the lines: “Telephone Technical Support”, as well as in “Repairs and Service Coverage”.

Note that this method will allow users of Apple devices to check the serial numbers of other digital devices of the Cupertino company, including tablets, Macs, and Apple TV set-top boxes.

Be sure to check the serial number of your mobile gadget Linking your mobile device to iCloud (Apple ID), that is, you need to check the activation lock status.

It is worth noting that find out the serial number of iPhone, iPad also possible through the iTunes utility. Launch the utility on your PC, find your device in the displayed devices, go to the Review tab. If you need to know the IMEI/MEID, ICCID code on your iPhone, click "Phone Number". On iPad models with SIM card support, select the “Serial number” item, where these codes will be displayed.

In order to enter the received data into the registration form, when contacting Apple technical support, select “Edit” > “Copy Serial Number”.

Checking iPhones by IMEI

Genuine, reliable information about an iPhone, regardless of model, can also be obtained using the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI). It must be engraved on the back cover of the mobile device, the SIM card tray, and also indicated on the label with a barcode.

Find out IMEI iPhone You can go to the menu “Settings -> General -> About this device”. In the Phone application, simply dial the combination “#06#”. After that Smartphone IMEI will appear on the display of your device.

When purchasing a used iPhone or iPad, in addition to the serial number, check the device for mechanical damage. Check if the Wi-Fi module, speakers, microphone are working. Test the device for stability. See if there are any lags, freezes, or glitches. Check if the camera and the “Power” and “Home” keys are working properly.

When buying an iPhone secondhand, you need to be extremely careful. The Chinese have learned to make almost perfect copies of smartphones, which can be difficult for an inexperienced user to distinguish, and the original devices may have an expired warranty. The official Apple website will help you verify the seller’s honesty, where you can check the device you are purchasing by serial number in a few seconds.

In order to get additional information about the iPhone, we need the device's serial number. You can get it in various ways, for example, look at the back cover of the device (or on the SIM card tray in older models), but the easiest way is to go to the settings.

How to find out iPhone serial number?

Step 1: Go to Menu Settings -> General
Step 2: Select an item About the device
Step 3: Find the stitch "Serial number" and rewrite the value specified in it

We got the serial number, all that remains is to check it on the Apple website. How to do this is written in the instructions below.

How to check an iPhone by serial number on the official Apple website?

Step 1. Go to the special page on the Apple website to check your iPhone by serial number (link)
Step 2. In the “Enter hardware serial number” line, enter the serial number of the device being tested and click “Continue”
Step 3: Wait for the results page to load and review the information received

What information does this page provide? Here you can verify the originality of the purchased device, determine the expiration date of the warranty and the possibility of receiving technical support by phone. If the iPhone has not been activated, then on the same page you will receive a notification about the need to complete activation.

Note: You can also check the serial numbers of other Apple devices in this way, including Mac computers, iPads, Apple TVs, and even some accessories.

Opening our eyes wider

No matter how high-quality the iPhone replica is, the creators of the clones are technically unable to do everything exactly like Apple’s. Therefore, even with a quick glance, without resorting to checking the serial number of the device, you can identify a fake.

You need to pay attention to the following details:

There should not be any hieroglyphs, misspelled words or other calligraphic errors in the system.
On the back cover of the device there should be the following inscriptions: iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China, model number, certification marks (as in the picture).
An iPhone cannot have an antenna.
The iPhone also cannot have two SIM cards, a built-in memory card and charging from USB and mini-USB.
The back cover of any iPhone model cannot be removed until the securing screws are unscrewed.

Another quick way to identify a fake

A very simple and easy method - take your iPhone in your hands and go to the standard App Store application. Any, even the coolest Chinese iPhone will be forced to transfer you to Google Play, an application store for Android devices.

In addition, you will not be able to find most Apple branded applications on Google Play. Try to search for applications such as Keynote, iMovie, Pages, Numbers, Apple Store - if they are not in the store, then this means that this is a fake, not an original iPhone.

Another sure way to identify a Chinese iPhone

Well, I would like to end this article with one more surefire method that will reveal even the most inveterate Chinese geniuses. To do this, you will need a laptop or personal computer (if the seller came to sell the iPhone directly to your home) with iTunes installed. You can download iTunes from the official Apple website.

The thing is that when you connect your iPhone to your computer and turn on iTunes, the program should detect the device and try to synchronize it. If iTunes is silent like a guerrilla, most likely they are trying to slip you a fake, be careful.

Refurbished iPhone

Another problem that buyers may encounter is purchasing a previously refurbished iPhone under the guise of a new one. A phone that previously had certain defects in use could be restored, which is called refurbished.

The serial code or IMEI on the device itself and on the box will not match. In addition, you can see small seals on the screws that secure the back cover, which are not on the original. This is a clear sign that the iPhone was previously redesigned.

The protective metal mesh that covers the speaker has wider holes than in the original gadget, and when you check the activation date of the iPhone on the official Apple website, which was described above, the Refurbished iPhone will be activated much earlier than it was in your possession.

How to check the authenticity of iPhone 7?

External defects

But if for some reason it is not possible to check the serial number, carefully inspect the gadget, some external changes will immediately reveal a fake, which are not provided for in the original models:

installing a memory card;
additional styluses;
or external additions.

No matter how they assure you that all these functions are designed for greater convenience, this is a fake.

In the originals:

one SIM card located on the side;
The back panel is not removable, so there is no access to the battery.

Now you know the features of the iPhone 7 and how to distinguish the original from a fake just by looking at it, but this is not enough for a full check, since there are very high-quality copies in which the external characteristics are as similar as possible to the original.

Internal specifics

To know how to distinguish an iPhone 7 from a fake, you need to study the internal specifics of the device:

Smartphones and other models from Apple work only on the iOS operating system; copies use completely different firmware.
In addition, applications from the App Store can only be installed on the original gadget.
Pay attention to the menu; the Russian-language interface is quite difficult to translate, so if you see a banal mistake in a word, you can be sure that you are holding a fake in your hands.

Buying a used iPhone. Seller's choice

If this is your first time buying a used product online, know that there are many times more scammers on the secondary market than honest sellers. Therefore, be careful when choosing a seller. Advice: don't trust anyone!

Seller contacts. Immediately close advertisements for the sale of iPhones in which the seller did not indicate a contact phone number - this is the “calling card” of scammers.
Price. If the price of a used iPhone is 20% or more lower than the market average (look at 3-5 advertisements for the sale of a similar model), you risk buying a Chinese copy on Android or an iPhone locked to Apple ID. For example, now in mid-July 2015, a one-year-old iPhone 5s in good condition costs approximately 15-17 thousand rubles on Avito.ru. Agree, the original device cannot cost 7 or even 10 thousand. Put yourself in the shoes of the seller - would you give away an expensive device for next to nothing?
Payment "after the fact". Don't even consider upfront sales offers. The risks described in the first two paragraphs are doubled.
A personal meeting. If the seller has agreed to a personal meeting, organize it in a public place (necessarily crowded so as not to break your head) with access to the Internet via Wi-Fi. This is necessary to check the activation lock status, erase content and settings, and connect your Apple ID in the device settings.

The model of a decent and sensible seller of a used iPhone looks something like this:

Doesn't hide his contact phone number.
Will not refuse a personal meeting.
Will not refuse to check the status of the phone.
Will not give away your iPhone at a price below average on the secondary market. Although you can always bargain on the spot.

Full set

Buy a used iPhone in the factory configuration and, if possible, with a receipt from the store. The latter will be needed when contacting Apple support to regain control of a hacked Apple ID, for example.

iPhone kit:

Smartphone.
Branded box with a barcode and information about the device (model, batch number, serial number and IMEI).
Charger.
USB cable.
Wired Apple EarPods headset with control buttons and microphone.
SIM card ejector.
Documentation.

It’s not critical if your used iPhone doesn’t come with a power supply, USB cable, headphones, a paper clip, or instructions. It is important to have the original box (for support).

Check that the data in the iPhone settings matches the original packaging

Check if the information on the box matches, in the iPhone settings in the “General -> About this device” menu and on the back cover of the device. The following data must correspond:

Model. For example, ME305LL/A.
Serial number (not indicated on the back cover of the device).
IMEI. Compare the identifier indicated in the device information, on the box and on the SIM card tray.

If any of this data on the box, in the phone settings and on the SIM card tray differs, the device has been repaired. This can also be checked using the serial number and IMEI.

Checking iPhone lock using Apple ID

The originality, external condition and performance of a used iPhone are important, but even an original, fully functional and externally perfect device can be absolutely useless if it is blocked by Activation Lock. An iPhone with Find My iPhone enabled cannot be reset to factory settings and restored in iTunes in normal mode (only in DFU mode), but most importantly, it cannot be activated after flashing. When purchasing a used iPhone, be sure (!) to check the activation lock status and, if it is enabled, ask the seller to disable the Find My iPhone feature. If he cannot do this, citing the fact that he does not remember the password for the Apple ID, refuse the purchase - the iPhone is stolen. Only the owner of the Apple account, which is connected in the device settings in the iCloud menu, can disable the Find My iPhone function and activation lock. You can easily change your Apple ID password if you need access to your primary email address or answers to security questions.

Never buy an iPhone with Find My iPhone enabled and Activation Lock active. It is impossible to disable it without an Apple ID password.

For peace of mind, connect your Apple ID in Settings -> iCloud or erase content and settings in the General -> Reset menu.

Conclusion

The most obvious differences between the original iPhone 7 and the copy:

Apple smartphones have never been equipped with a microSD card slot
There is no iPhone 7 with dual SIM support
On iPhone 7, the Home button is touch-sensitive, not physical.
There are no iPhone 7 models that are equipped with a stylus
Every iPhone comes pre-installed with the App Store, not the Google Play Store.
iPhone 7 doesn't have a 3.5mm headphone jack

A few tips to help you prepare before purchasing an iPhone 7:

Go to any large store in your city and pick it up to see it in action. If you later get your hands on a fake of the same device, you will immediately feel the difference.
We do not recommend buying iPhone 7 on message boards. Very often, such resources sell either fakes or refurbished iPhone 7s.
Copies are especially often sold on Chinese online stores, where the price is significantly lower than that of official retailers.
Watch reviews of Chinese fake iPhone 7s on YouTube. This way you will know all the necessary details and differences.

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:

Look at the number on the back cover of the phone (on previous versions of iPhone on the SIM card insert tray).
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:
Frame. No external damage (dents, stains, scratches).
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.
iPhone disassembly. This can be determined by the speaker grid and connectors. Everything must be in good condition, without any damage.
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.
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.
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.
Microphone and speaker speech. It's easy to check the call quality by dialing any number.
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.
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.
Automatic camera focus. Using a special application, focus by tapping on an area of the screen.
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.
Headphones. To check their operation, first connect them and then play a song from a special application. Test the volume control.
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.
Speakers. Check the sound quality (purity, absence of extraneous noise).
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 scammer, 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:
Model.
Series number. The series number is not indicated on the back of the cover.
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
Do not give an advance for a used phone.
Check during a personal meeting whether the series and identifier numbers match.
Check the functionality of all buttons.
Be sure to disable blocking " Find iPhone».