How to Check if a Mobile Phone Is New or Used
To check if a phone is new or used, start with the box seal and accessories, then match the IMEI on the box with *#06# and Settings. On iPhones, Apple's coverage page and battery cycle count show whether the phone was used before. On any phone, look for scratches, opened screws, a worn charging port and a battery that drains fast. This checklist works for iPhone, Samsung and other Android phones.
Updated 21 October 2026
Check the box and seal
A new box pack phone comes in a sealed retail box. Look for: - Clean, tight seal or pull-tabs, not loose or re-glued - Sharp printing and a label with model, storage, colour and IMEI - Accessories that match what the brand ships in that region - Protective film on the phone and no fingerprints inside the box
Remember that seals and boxes can be copied. A good box is a start, not proof.
Match the IMEI
Dial *#06# and note the IMEIs. Compare them with the box label and with Settings (About phone on Android, General > About on iPhone). All must match. A mismatch means the phone and box do not belong together, which is a common sign of a used or repaired phone being sold as new.
You can also send the IMEI to 8484 to check its PTA status. See how to check PTA status (How to Check PTA Status of Any Mobile Phone).
Check the activation or warranty date
Brand websites can show whether a phone has been activated: - iPhone: enter the serial at checkcoverage.apple.com; a never-activated phone usually asks you to activate it, while a used phone shows a coverage end date - Samsung and other brands: warranty check pages or the brand's support app may show a warranty start date
If a 'new' phone already shows months of warranty used, it was activated before.
Check battery health and cycles
Battery wear is one of the clearest signs of use: - iPhone: Settings > Battery > Battery Health; a new phone shows 100%. On iPhone 15 and newer, Settings > General > About shows the cycle count, which should be very low on a new unit - Samsung: the Samsung Members app has diagnostics, including a battery status check - Other Android: check the brand's battery or diagnostics section in Settings
A new phone may show a handful of cycles from factory testing, but not dozens or hundreds. Our iPhone battery health guide (iPhone Battery Health: How to Check It and What Is Normal) explains the numbers.
Inspect the body and screen
Use good light and look closely: - Micro-scratches on the screen, frame and camera glass - Dents or paint loss on the corners - Dust or wear inside the charging port and speaker grilles - Marks on the screws next to the charging port (on phones that have them) - Gaps between the screen and frame, which can mean the phone was opened - Screen tint, dead pixels or uneven brightness on a white and a black image
Check for replaced parts
On iPhones, Settings > General > About > Parts and Service History shows replaced parts and marks non-genuine ones as 'Unknown Part'. On Samsung phones, the Samsung Members diagnostics can test the screen, sensors, buttons and more. Pixel phones also show repair and diagnostic options in Settings. A screen that feels different, a camera that focuses badly or Face ID or fingerprint that fails can all mean parts were replaced.
Check accounts and locks
A used phone may still be linked to the previous owner: - iPhone: the phone should go to the Hello screen without asking for someone else's Apple ID - Android: after a reset, Google's Factory Reset Protection asks for the previous Google account if it was not removed - Check Settings > General > About > Carrier Lock on iPhone for 'No SIM restrictions'
Never buy a phone that is still locked to someone else's account.
Test the basics
Before you accept any phone, new or used: - Make a call with your SIM and test the earpiece and microphone - Record video with every camera, front and back - Test speakers at full volume - Charge with a cable and check charging starts - Test Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and the fingerprint or face unlock - Press every button and test vibration
Refurbished, open box and used: know the words
Sellers use several labels, and it helps to know what each means: - New / box pack: never used, sealed in the original box - Open box: the box has been opened, often for display or a return; the phone may be unused but you should check battery cycles and activation - Refurbished: a used or faulty phone that has been repaired and tested, sometimes with replaced parts; iPhones refurbished by Apple have model numbers starting with F - Used / second hand: owned and used by someone before
None of these is bad if the price reflects it and the seller is honest. The problem is when a refurbished or used phone is sold as new. The checks in this guide help you catch that. Also check the PTA status, since a registered used phone and an unregistered one are worth very different amounts.
Buying new phones from us
Our Android phones and iPhone 16 and 17 series are Non Custom box pack units, while our iPhone 11 to 15 series are used Non PTA units with 95–99% battery health and are sold as used. You pay a 50% advance, the remaining 50% goes to the courier on delivery, and delivery takes 48–72 hours across Pakistan. There is no cash on delivery and no installment plan. Every phone comes with a 7-day checking warranty, so you have time to go through this checklist at home. See box pack mobiles (Box Pack Mobiles) and our warranty and returns (Return & Refund Policy) page for details.
