3 Ways to Verify Your Smartphone is Refurbished or New 

So, you are in the market looking for your next smartphone that checks all the boxes in terms of features, looks, and software support.

Great. But before you knew you could potentially end up buying a refurbished phone.

No idea what a refurbished phone is and how it’s different from a brand-new phone?

No worries. In this blog, we will explore what a refurbished iPhone is, how to verify if you have one, and whether you should buy a refurbished device or not.

Let’s dive right in.

What is a Refurbished Phone?

A refurbished phone is a pre-owned device that has been restored to its original perfect working condition and is sold at a lower price. These phones are different from used phones which have been under use for many years and are sold at much reduced cost since their physical condition and functioning have deteriorated due to continuous use. 

How To Buy the Best Refurbished Smartphones in Australia?

Suppose you are in the market looking for a reliable online store for buying new and refurbished Apple iPhones, tablets, and other gadgets at the best market prices in the Australian market. In that case, Skyphonez Australia is your go-to place to shop. 

You will avail of free home delivery across Australia along with the benefit of sourcing your device from a 100% Australian marketplace. You can get the best prices for Refurbished iPhone 10, refurbished iPhone 14 Pro Max, refurbished iPhone X Series phones, and other phones. This will save you a lot of money on flagship features.

How to Tell if Your iPhone is New or Refurbished?

So, now you know what a refurbished phone is, how can you tell instantly if your iPhone is new or refurbished?  This is a pretty simple process and you can do this inside the settings app.

Here’s how:

• Open ‘Settings’
• Then go to General
• Then press About Phone

You will see the device’s serial number. Have a look at the first letter of the serial number. Here are four letters you might see here;

M -It shows you have a brand-new device in your hands

N -The device was issued as a replacement for an iPhone that developed issues

F –It’s a refurbished device

P – The iPhone was originally sold with a personalized message engraved on the chassis.

If you want the latest and greatest iPhone, then you should go for the iPhone 15 phones. The iPhone 15 Series price starts from AU$ 1342 and goes up to AU$ 2543. Here are three methods you can use to verify if the phone you are buying is new or refurbished.

Method#1: IMEI Method

The first method we will explore is the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) method. While it is not a simple task to identify a refurbished device, here is how it works;

Step 1: Find the IMEI Number

Every device that is connected to the internet is assigned a special code that is unique to that particular device. Here are a few different ways to find it;

• You have to dial *#06# from your phone’s keypad. You will see the IMEI number of your phone on the screen.
• Another way is to go to the ‘About Phone’ in the Settings app.
• And the third way is even simpler. You will find the IMEI number on the device itself or on the box.

Step 2: Use an Online Tool to Check Phone’s Status

• Now that you have found the IMEI number of your phone, the next step is to verify the status of the device using this number. To do this, you have to use an online tool like IMEI24, IMEIPro, or imei.info. You have to write the IMEI number in the type section and hit search. You will get all the information about the phone including whether it’s new or has been used.

Step 3: Decide about the Refurbishment

• If the results from the above step reveal that the phone is brand-new and has never been used before, then you may go ahead with the purchase. If, however, the results indicate the device is a refurbished phone then you may need to get it refurbished from a trusted and certified service provider. Keep in mind that a refurbished phone should be sold at a much cheaper price than a brand-new phone.

Step 4: Verify the Phone’s History

• Suppose you have a refurbished phone in your hands and you are comfortable with moving forward with the purchase, you need to do certain things. 
• You should coordinate with the seller of the device and get all the information about its refurbishing or service history, whether the device is under some kind of warranty, what parts will be eligible for replacement if they become damaged in future, how many times it faced functioning problems before, and what were the replacements made then.
• Another option is to get the device thoroughly inspected and checked for perfect working condition by a professional. He will be an authority in telling you whether you should buy the phone or not.

Method#2: Using a Dial Code Method

The second method to check the device’s condition is called the Dial Code method. You can follow these simple steps;

• Unlock your phone and open the phone dialer app.
• First, enter this code: ##786# (##RTN#). You can dial this alternative code if it does not show the result: ##786#*#. Copy the exact codes without adding any extra characters or space.
• Once you have entered the code, your phone will automatically navigate to a screen with information. Scroll down to see “Reconditioned Status”. Check if it says “Yes” or “No”. If the answer is “Yes,” your phone has been refurbished. If the answer is “No,” your phone is new.

Method#3: Using a Third-Party Tool

The final method is to use a third-party tool to find out if the phone is new or refurbished. The app is called ‘Phone INFO+’ and it’s a reliable source to find accurate information about a phone. Here are the 4 simple steps to find out the refurbishment status of your smartphone;

Step 1: Installation of Application

Before you can do anything, you first need to install the app on your phone. Go to the Google Play Store and search for the app by typing in the name. Keep in mind that this is a paid application but the little price you will pay is worth the value you are getting. You can install the app and follow the instructions to proceed to the next steps.

Step 2: Navigate to Refurbishment Check

Once you have downloaded the app on your device, open the app and select the three-bar menu (hamburger menu) at the top-left corner. Navigate to the ‘Device & Diagnosis’ and click on ‘Refurbishment Check’.

Step 3: Wait for the App for Checks

The app will start the process of checks and thorough analysis after you have clicked on the ‘Refurbishment Check’. It may take a few minutes to get the process done.

Step 4: Check the Status 

You will see the message on the screen once the app has finished checking the device. The app will provide complete details about the refurbishment history of the phone if any.

Look For Physical Damage

This is quite obvious. A device can be judged as new or used by looking at its physical appearance. With the entry of refurbishment processes and techniques, refurbished devices have become a more reliable and valuable option for users who can’t afford the latest smartphone releases. 

That means a device may be refurbished but with physical appearance, you might think it’s a new device. So, assessing the device’s age from its physical appearance is not a reliable way anymore.

Check The Box

This is another straightforward way to tell if a phone is new or refurbished. Typically, whenever a new phone is shipped by the seller, it is packed in the company’s custom-made box and inside it contains the phone along with some accessories that are part of the package. If you get the phone in a non-branded box or there are some missing items, then that’s most probably a refurbished device. Also, if the box has scratches and dents or the company’s logo and printed material are faded, then it’s likely a second-hand device.

How to Check the Quality of Refurbished Android Phones?

Not everyone is an Apple fan. Android phones are loved by billions around the world and these users buy refurbished Android phones. Android phone prices tend to be lower than Refurbished iPhone prices. Typically, a refurbished phone is in excellent working condition just like a brand-new device.

Refurbished devices are thoroughly tested using the standardized procedures to ensure the top quality. These checks involve hardware and software. The hardware is checked against functioning and the damaged components are replaced by new spares. Similarly, software components are checked and rectified if required. 

To check your Android phone’s quality, open the Phone app and type #0#. When you 

To check the quality of your Android phone, you need to open the Phone Dialer app and type #0#. When you tap on the call button a screen will appear showing diagnostic information. You will see different buttons for different tests. You can use this screen to perform little tasks like checking the colours of your pixels, testing the audio and vibration features, and testing the accelerometer and other sensors.

Besides these, there are other things to consider, as well. First off, you need to check the physical condition of the phone. Check for marks of scratches or physical damage that may have been caused due to accidental falls or friction with hard surfaces. Also, you need to double-check if all the features and functions are working properly.  

At the end of the day, the health of your refurbished iPhone or refurbished Android phone depends on a number of factors. Close examination will reveal if the supplier has done great work before putting it up for sale.We have gone through different ways you can check a refurbished device if it’s good or not and even knowing that the device you are buying is new or refurbished.

Conclusion

A lot of people want to swap their existing phone with an upgraded model. Depending on the budget you may go with an older phone or a newer device with the latest features and modern design. It becomes extremely important that you pay for the right value when buying a phone. This blog has explored three different ways to verify if a smartphone is new or refurbished. We have also learned how to assess the quality of a refurbished Android phone. You can use any of the three methods before buying the phone to find the best value against every dollar you spend. Skyphonez is a leading Australian marketplace that sells new as well as refurbished phones and tech gadgets online with a 30-day refund guarantee and express shipping across Australia.