How to check iPhone history. What does the serial number of iPhone, iPod, iPad mean?

The cost of Apple gadgets does not always allow you to purchase a device in a store from an authorized dealer. Therefore, it is often practiced to purchase an iPhone from hand at a more affordable price. Against this background, in addition to real sellers, a lot of scammers have appeared who sell stolen or completely fake devices. Let's figure it outhow to check iphone for authenticitybefore the completion of the purchase and do not become a victim of a scammer.

Checking on the official Apple website

As a rule, when buying a smartphone in a store, the risk of acquiring a fake is zero. But buying a gadget from your hands is a risky venture, no matter how you look at it. Therefore, before you complete the purchase and transfer the 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.

Checking by serial number

The serial number of the device is indicated on the packaging and in the device settings. The first thing to learn is that it should come 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 against the information on the box. If the data does not match, then you should refuse to purchase.

If the numbers match, then you should check it on the official website of the manufacturer http://www.apple.com/en/ . In the upper right corner of the page, find the "Support" section and go to it. Locate the "Warranty and Repair" tab and open the "Check Warranty Status" link. In the form that appears, enter the serial number of the gadget and 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 “Valid date of purchase” item, there should be a checkmark in a green circle, this is a confirmation of the originality of the smartphone.

If the site reported that the number is incorrect, check the dialing again. If the combination of characters is correct, but the resource does not recognize the device, you have a fake.

Check by IMEI

Few people know about 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 just being repaired.

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

CNDeepInfo is another service that allows you to check iPhone by IMEI. In addition, it gives an understanding of the quality of the hardware of the gadget. 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. As well as 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 fraudsters to sell.

upon visual inspection

It is best to buy an iPhone with hands in a complete set: in a box and all related accessories. But sellers are not always able to provide a complete set, and often selling at a low price is the result of a 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 fake, the latter, by the way, do not always have obvious differences from the original.

1. Support for multiple SIM cards. The original iPhone works with only one chip, which is removed from the smartphone using a special needle.
2. A removable battery is a sure sign that you have a fake. The battery and iPhone are a single design.
3. The presence of a retractable antenna. Chinese craftsmen, for unknown reasons, supply all fakes with this device. The original gadget does not have any antennas.
4. 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 graininess of the image is noticeable on the display, then it is worth abandoning the deal.
5. Solve a problem, how to check iphone for authenticitylogo will help. Chinese masters of fakes apply the “Apple” with paint or even use a sticker. If this is noticed, then you are guaranteed to be dealing with a scammer.
6. The stylus included with your 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.
7. A heavy sensor will also be a sign of a fake. The original smartphone has a very sensitive sensor, any difficulties in 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 from the capture.
8. The presence of touch buttons is permissible only for crafts. The real iPhone has only one Home button and it is physical.
9. Open the device settings and in the main section, find the "Software Update" item. If not, feel free to give up your smartphone.
10. The voice assistant is a distinctive feature of the original, which has not yet been faked. Press the Home button and hold for a few seconds. If there was no response from the system and Siri was not activated, then, alas, you are being sold a copy.
11. Fake devices most often have an Android platform or even self-written software. Try opening the Device Market. In the first case, you will be redirected to Google Play, in the second, nothing will open.

When buying an iPhone with your hands, 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 original devices may have an expired warranty. The official website of Apple will help to verify the honesty of the seller, where you can check the purchased device by serial number in a few seconds.

In order to get additional information about the iPhone, we need the serial number of the device. 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 the serial number of iPhone?

Step 1. Go to the menu Settings -> Main

Step 2. Select an item About device

Step 3. Find the line " Serial number” and overwrite the value indicated in it

The serial number was obtained, it remains only to check it on the Apple website. How to do this is written in the instructions below.

Step 1. Go to a dedicated page on the Apple website to check iPhone by serial number (link)

Step 2. In the "Enter the serial number of the hardware equipment" line, enter the serial number of the device being checked and click " Proceed»

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 obtaining 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 go through activation.

Note: You can check serial numbers for other Apple devices this way, including Macs, iPads, Apple TVs, and even some accessories.

When buying an iPhone that was previously in use, you need to know how to check it by IMEI. This is a special device identification number that confirms its authenticity and originality. After checking, you can find out a lot of information about the phone, for example: the date of its purchase and activation, whether it is refurbished, its OS version, and much more. How to do it? The following describes a few basic and proven methods.

There are 4 main ways to do this. Let's consider them in more detail.

1. For the first option, you need to enter * # 06 # in the dialing line. The phone will automatically perform the combination and the IMEI code will be displayed in the window that appears.

1. Go to the settings menu and open "General" - "About this device". An information panel will open where the IMEI code, model and other individual data will be written.

1. On the back of the factory box. In addition to the IMEI code, on the reverse side there is a serial number of the device and brief information about it.

1. Take a look at the back of the phone.

IMEI information is required to check iPhone Activation Lock. If it is activated, then the new owner will not be able to enter their data and fully use the device. With the help of verification, you can make sure that the iPhone is really new and has not been used before. If the phone is bought with hands, then you will definitely know the date of its initial activation.

Compare the code on the box and phone

First of all, after the iPhone fell into your hands, you need to compare the information indicated on the box and in the device settings. If all numbers, including IMEI, serial number and model, match, then you can proceed to the next step of verification. If differences are noticed, then this indicates that the box is “non-native” and taken from another device.

Attention! Do not purchase an iPhone if the IMEI code on the box does not match the one specified in the device settings.

In this case, it is worth thinking about the origin of the device and the reasons why they are trying to slip you a completely different box. There can be a variety of options here, for example, the real owner had his iPhone stolen or he lost it, and an outsider is trying to sell the found or stolen item. In this case, the real owner will contact the police and the device will be wanted. This situation can bring you a lot of trouble, so avoid such dubious deals.

Verification through the official Apple website

There are many diverse services for checking IMEI, but first of all, you should contact the official website. There you are guaranteed to receive reliable and free information. This instruction will not cause difficulties if you follow the step-by-step guide:

1. Find out the IMEI code of the device. How to do this is described above.
2. We open the corresponding section on the Apple website for verification - https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/. In the designated column, enter the IMEI, which we learned earlier, and a special code for checking for spam. Click "Continue".

1. We study the received data. Under the picture of the iPhone, its model and IMEI number are displayed.

Under the first paragraph, information about the actual date of purchase is indicated.

Attention! It is important that the first paragraph has a green checkmark. If this parameter is not present, then your device is not original and has nothing to do with Apple.

The following shows a notification about the technical support period for the device. If there is an orange exclamation mark to the left of the inscription, then the warranty period of the phone has expired and the device is not subject to factory service and telephone support. The third paragraph stipulates the possibility of repairing the phone in official service centers.

Thus, you have received reliable information from the official Apple website about the originality of the device, as well as the timing of its maintenance and support. You can also make sure that the case has not changed, since the color on the site and “in real life” will be different.

Using this instruction, absolutely all Apple devices are checked, including iPad, iMac, MacBook, iPod, etc.

Enter the code on the International Mobile Equipment Identity website

This resource is no less popular than the official Apple website, and provides the same reliable information, but in greater detail. Consider step by step instructions.

1. We enter the site http://www.imei.info/ in the browser line.

1. On the main page, in the appropriate column, enter the IMEI code. Below we go through a quick check by clicking on the "I'm not a Robot" mark. Click the "Check" button to the right of the entered code.

1. After that, detailed information about the device will be displayed on the monitor screen. You can find out the phone model, year of manufacture and other technical parameters. If this information seems not enough, click on the "Read More" button for more data.

Both of the above methods are valid.

Attention! To get a complete package of information about the device, we recommend using several IMEI check services.

Consider a few more popular ways to check iPhone by IMEI code. All described web resources may differ in the amount and volume of information provided.

International mobile phone verification service SNDeepInfo

For more detailed information about the device, there is another popular service - SNDeepinfo. If the result is not displayed when entering the serial number, you should think about the originality of the gadget and postpone its purchase. Consider step by step instructions:

1. We go to the official website of the SNDeepinfo service.

1. Make sure that the “Apple” column is highlighted in the panel above the IMEI code entry line. Next, enter the personal code of the gadget in the appropriate line and put a tick in front of the inscription "I'm not a robot." This is a standard spam check. Click the "Continue" button.

1. A picture in the style of a warranty sticker will be displayed at the top of the page. It contains the model of the phone, its IMEI, as well as data on whether it is stolen.

On a free basis, this service provides information about the technical characteristics of the device, the decoding of the IMEI code, the color and the originally intended sales region.

To find out for which countries the iPhone is adapted, you need to enter the letters of the phone model on the same site, as shown in the screenshot below.

In order to find out the phone model, you need to go to "Settings" - "General" - "About this device". In the menu that appears, there will be a corresponding line "Model". On the site, you need to enter only two penultimate letters (circled in the screenshot below).

We enter the data and get the following result:

For a fee, on the same service, you can find out additional information about your iPhone:

• country of purchase;
• the name of the organization that issued the sale;
• estimated and registered date of purchase of the device;
• information about the status of the "Find my iPhone" function;
• information about iCloud.

Smartphone Back Cover Authentication

The authenticity of an apple gadget can be determined already by the first external signs. Immediately pay attention to the back cover of the device. In all models, starting with the iPhone 5, the IMEI code is written on the cover. In older versions, serial number information is printed on the SIM card slot.

There are 3 more main factors, based on which we can draw conclusions about the originality of the iPhone. You just need to look at the back cover.

1. There should not be any curves and blurry inscriptions, hieroglyphs, typos and other things. All letters are made very carefully and accurately. If you see that the words on the back cover are uneven or sloppy, then most likely you are holding a replica in your hands.
2. Mandatory inscription on the surface of the cover: iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China. Next comes the phone model and certification mark.
3. The lid cannot be removed simply by hand. On the original device, in any case, it will be fixed with bolts or it will be completely non-removable.

Attention! Even if the iPhone seems original by all external signs, do not forget to check its IMEI code on the relevant sites.

Summarizing

When buying an iPhone "from hand" be careful and carefully check the phone for all the above signs. It is better to spend a little more time on the verification procedure, but you will be sure that you have bought a high-quality and original product.

• Apple official site;
• IMEI website;
• Service SNDeepinfo;
• External view of the back cover.

The above describes several ways to check the iPhone for originality. Choose the one that is most convenient for you. There is another very simple and quick way to verify the authenticity of the phone. To do this, just go to the App Store. The problem is that no matter how good a replica is, it will still go to the Google Play store.

Video instruction

This video describes some of the ways you can get detailed information about the originality and condition of your Apple device.

Apple technology has recently been increasingly used by scammers as a powerful brand name for making money. The thing is that almost every second person dreamed or dreams of getting a beautiful and multifunctional iPhone for himself in order to show off with it in front of friends and create beautiful photos in the style of a selfie. But such gadgets in Russia are too expensive due to the high exchange rate of the ruble, and therefore desperate "dreamers" are trying to buy used options on the Internet, for example, in the same Avito.

Due to the fact that even those users who have already used the iPhone are often deceived, it’s not worth talking about beginners at all. This article is written specifically so that anyone who wants to buy an iPhone for themselves can thoroughly check it and make sure for themselves that it is original. A similar procedure can be compared to buying a car, but since some iPhone models are sometimes more expensive than the Russian auto industry, you need to be very careful. We have described all the ways to check the iPhone for originality.

The first thing you need to start checking is an external inspection of the iPhone. If the user has never owned an Apple device before, we recommend that you look at several reviews with the model that you decide to buy before buying. This will help you understand how the device being sold matches the original in appearance.

Apple takes the security of its smartphones and trademark protection seriously, so it tries its best to label the products it releases.

The first step is to inspect the device visually. On the back there should be a logo with an apple core, and under it at the bottom of the smartphone there will be inscriptions in the following form:

• Designed to be Apple in California;
• Assembled in China.

Yes, many craftsmen have been forging such markings for a long time, but sometimes very lazy scammers come across who rely only on the inattention of the buyer.

It is also necessary to inspect the body of the device. All Apple products are famous for their quality, so in most cases on the iPhone, all edges will be smooth, without any gaps or bumps, roughness.

Another important tip is to look on the Internet in what colors this or that model was produced. If the seller shows a device of a completely different color - 100% fake. Apple does not release any separate batches with other colors, it does not change the panels to other colors for specific users.

Particular attention should be paid to the inspection of the camera, side dividers, latch for silent mode. All these details have their clear colors, borders, shapes, so in many cases they may differ from the original.

It is also worth trying to remove the back cover from the phone. If it is removed, it is 100% not original. The batteries cannot be removed from the iPhone just like that, the flash card is not inserted, therefore the cover cannot be opened with one click, but you need to unscrew it with special small screwdrivers.

Also, all devices up to the iPhone X have only 1 slot for inserting a SIM card and are opened with a special needle, which is provided with the gadget.

Reconciliation of iPhone data and packaging

When buying iPhones, you must ask the seller for the original packaging in which it was originally placed. If the seller was the first to purchase this iPhone, in most cases the box is kept.

The data on the packaging must be compared with the information in the phone itself. To do this, just turn the box over and find information such as:

• Part No - batch number;
• Serial No - serial number;
• IMEI/MEID is a unique phone identifier.

The same information will be provided in the smartphone. If it matches the data on the box, you can proceed to the next step. To view this data on iPhone, follow these steps:

If all the data converge, go to the next step. If the information does not match the one on the box, then this is the packaging from another smartphone or the data in the device is simply interrupted.

iPhone Authentication at Apple

On the official Apple website, you can check any smartphone and get information about it if the data is correct, and it doesn’t matter how new the user’s model is. Data is available for all versions, and this is a story from 2007!

To once again make sure that the original device is being purchased, we recommend that you go to the site and enter the serial number of the iPhone, which will be in the purchased gadget.

1. To find the serial number, go to "Settings", go to the "About device" tab and scroll down;
2. Find the "Serial number" item and enter this data on the site, confirming the operation by entering the captcha.

If the iPhone is original, a photo of it will appear, and information will be provided on what services are still active for it, for example, the provision of technical support, the right to service or repair.

Sometimes, when checking, it asks to enter the date of purchase. This indicates that the phone is new and has not been activated before. The fact is that after activation, all iPhones connect to the Internet and transmit information to the official Apple servers, where the activation date is assigned to them. If an error appears, but the serial number was entered correctly, we can say with full confidence that the seller is cunning and is trying to sell a fake.

Attention! We recommend that you check any purchased iPhone through the official Apple service to see if this device has been restored or not. Sometimes retail outlets, after returning and repairing smartphones, sell them at the same price as new ones, although refurbished iPhones should be sold at a price several times lower.

Phone check by IMEI

Checking is possible not only by serial number, but also by IMEI. This is a unique identifier that is assigned to each smartphone. That is, in the world there are no identical IMEIs for different phones, and their history dates back to the 90s, when popular models of Nokia, Siemens and other phones were produced.

Check the IMEI of the phone you want to check. To do this, you can use several methods:

Service for verification No. 1

Now you need to check it on the official website of all unique identifiers. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Follow this link ;
2. Enter the IMEI in the field, enter the captcha and click Check.

If the data is correct, the system will show the device model and brand to which this IMEI belongs. For example, in our example, the site showed that the identifier belongs to the iPhone 8.

If the data is not displayed, it can be assumed that the specified IMEI was simply specified randomly, so you should not buy such a smartphone, as it is a fake.

Service for verification No. 2

Can't get information through the service listed above, but the owner claims that this is an original device? You can use another site that will show all the information.

1. Go to the site;
2. In the field, enter the serial number or IMEI of the device and click "Check".

Detailed information on the iPhone will also be provided here. Moreover, if it turns out to be stolen, and the owner has entered data about it, a special tab will be displayed on the site, which signals the theft of the device.

You can also request additional information, for example, whether the phone is locked, activation date, SIM status, etc., but it is paid and will cost about $ 2-3.

Checking through the Apple Store

Almost all iPhone fakes, although they have an identical appearance, similar to iOS, qualitatively copied under the current version, however, they do not know how to connect to the Apple Store service. And in principle, this will be impossible, since the service identifies each smartphone in the database, and only after authorization allows you to download applications.

To check your phone, follow these steps:

1. On the iPhone that you decided to check, go to the Apple Store and try using the search;
2. If there are no results, go to any category to try to find any application and download it;
3. Also go to Safari, type in any request with an application from the Apple Store in the search and follow the link that will lead to this service.

If the phone is not original, then in all cases you will not be able to download the application from the service, and the system will not even let you connect to the Apple Store.

If the iPhone is original, then no matter how you go to the download service, it will be successful, as a result of which specific information about the application from the search results or the main page of the Apple Store will be displayed.

Checking with iTunes

You can also check the authenticity of the iPhone through iTunes. This is a universal assistant for working with all Apple devices, which helps not only with restoring or transferring music, files, but also allows you to check whether you connected the original iPhone to the computer or not.

To check, just follow these steps:

1. Connect your smartphone with a USB cable to your computer;
2. If a notification appears on your phone about whether to trust this PC, click "Trust";
3. Open iTunes on your computer. It is advisable to use the latest version;
4. The system will automatically detect a new device and display it in the list;
5. If the phone was not detected, first check if your Windows or Mac sees it at all by going to the list of all connected devices.

In almost 99% of cases, the connection of original Apple devices is correct and no problems arise. If the iPhone is not detected by iTunes, this may already signal that you have a fake in front of you.

In general, the whole range of methods that we have listed will help determine with 100% probability whether you are holding the original iPhone in your hands or not. Remember that most fakes are sold with an identical appearance, similar to the iOS operating system, in which most of the tabs are the same as in the original. Carefully follow all the points and you can protect yourself from unwanted purchases.

If you didn't buy your smartphone or tablet from an Apple Authorized Reseller store, such as a classifieds site, this verification will be very helpful for you for a number of reasons.

Cases of fraud are not uncommon in the secondary market, therefore, by checking the IMEI and serial number, you can find out exactly where the iPhone was bought, find out the activation date, the remaining warranty (if any), find out if the device is new in front of you and check it for authenticity.

Let's go through each of these questions in more detail.

How to find IMEI and iPhone serial number?

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 items are circled in the screenshot. The whole sequence of actions is also valid in relation to the iPad.

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

Another way is iTunes. Run 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:

Check iPhone by IMEI

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

Going to the site, you will see only one field, into which you need to drive the received IMEI numbers. Just a few seconds and you get the information you need:

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

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

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

Checking by serial number

To check the warranty and get other useful information, as they say, "at first hand", go to the Apple website at this link. You will be taken to a page labeled "Verify eligibility for service and support" with a field in which you need to enter the serial number of the equipment, 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 in case the seller assures you that it is still valid. Thus, you will be able to verify this yourself.