How can we find out if the iPhone is New, Refurbished / Repaired, Replaced or Customized

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When we buy a "second-hand" iPhone, we want to know exactly what the history of the device we're paying for was. If it was bought new, if there is one iPhone repaired / reconditioned or if it was replaced by Apple at the request of a service.
There is a very simple method by which we can find this very important information about the iPhone we want to buy. The condition is not to buy it from the websites of exchanges and online sales and have our device open, so we can find out if it was bought again if it suffered reconditioning in service, replaced or personalized by engraving.

How do we find out if an iPhone is new, refurbished or repaired, replaced by Apple at the request of a service or customized by engraving

All this information about the state of the iPhone can be found from Settings →  General →  About.
In the list of information from "About" we find data about "Model". In the "Model" there is a serial number of form “MN8X2RM / A". The first letter of this series ("M" in our case) tells us if the iPhone was bought new, was refurbished or repaired, was changed by Apple or was personalized by engraving at purchase.

This model series can start with the letters: M, N, F or P. Each initial letter of the code tells us if the iPhone is new, repaired, replaced or customized.

M - if the "Model" series starts with "M", it means that The iPhone was bought new and has not gone through an authorized service.

N - it means that The new iPhone has been completely replaced, most likely following a service request. It happens quite often when you take your iPhone for service (during the warranty period), it has to be replaced.

F – refurbished device, which means that it arrived with a new serviced iPhone, where it was repaired. Either it was replaced display, touch the case, battery or other components.

P - Personalized iPhone with engraving, which means that it was personalized by engraving on purchase. Either it was bought to be offered a gift, or the one who bought it has failed to grab something on it.

If you click on this series from "Settings” → “General” → “About” → “Model” the series of the device (ex. A1778) will appear, which varies from one model to another. Do not consider this series to determine if an iPhone is new.

I am happy to share my experiences in the field of computers, mobile phones and operating systems, to develop web projects and to bring the most useful tutorials and advice. I like to "play" on the iPhone, MacBook Pro, iPad, AirPort Extreme and on operating systems macOS, iOS, Android and Windows.

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