Teaching you 6 practical methods to distinguish refurbished phones

As more and more users switch to Apple phones, many older models are becoming second-hand phones. However, due to varying demands from salespeople regarding the condition of the phones, refurbished second-hand phones have emerged. So how can you identify a second-hand iPhone? If you lack experience in this area, you could suffer significant losses by purchasing a "reconditioned" second-hand phone.

First, you need to understand what a refurbished phone is:

If a second-hand phone on the market looks just like a new one, it has been refurbished. The problem is that refurbished phones are usually sold at the same price as new ones, so if you buy one, you'll be ripped off. Refurbished phones are basically second-hand phones that have been cleaned with chemical liquids, had their outer casing replaced, and been fitted with a battery, charger (counterfeit), and packaging to be resold as new phones. iPhone refurbished phones are mainly divided into two types:

Non-official refurbishment: This type of refurbished phone is usually a second-hand iPhone collected by second-hand dealers who perform comprehensive refurbishment on the casing and other details. They look almost new, but it is unknown whether there are any issues with the components such as faults or aging.

Official Apple refurbishment: These refurbished phones are not sold in the Apple market or App Store, but they can still be found on the market. Officially refurbished phones undergo formal refurbishing and quality inspections and enjoy Apple's warranty replacement policy. The warranty period is the same as that of new phones and the accessories are also brand new and authentic, making them more reliable.

Next, we will teach you 6 tips on how to identify a second-hand iPhone:

1. Identify from the phone model

Go to "Settings - General - About" on your phone to check the model number. Generally, the first letter of a new retail phone is "M," while an official refurbished phone is "N" and an unofficial refurbished phone is "F".

2. Check the battery usage time

Go to "Settings - General - Battery" on your phone to see the battery usage time. If the battery has not been used, it's a brand new original phone; if the battery usage time is long, it has most likely been refurbished. Third-party plugins can also be used to check the battery usage records.

3. Check the phone activation status

A new original phone will not be activated or will only be activated for a very short time. If the activation time is too long, it may be a second-hand refurbished phone. You can go to the "Check Warranty Status" page on the Apple official website (https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do?), enter the phone's serial number, and check its warranty status.

4. Charge test

Charge the phone for more than 10 minutes. If it turns off, be careful, it may be a refurbished phone.

5. Check the appearance

Check if the USB port is severely worn or has turned a white, oxidized color. If it has, do not buy it. Check carefully to see if there are wave-like watermarks on the screen edge, which indicates the screen has been replaced.

6. Judge from price

Nothing is too good to be true. Before buying an iPhone phone, it is necessary to inquire about the latest price to prevent buying a refurbished or problematic phone at an unbelievably low price.