How to Check if a Phone Is Refurbished or Not (iPhone, Samsung, Android)
To check if a phone is refurbished, start with the model number and the IMEI or serial number. On iPhone, a model number starting with F means Apple refurbished, while checkcoverage.apple.com shows if the phone was activated before. On Samsung and other Android phones, check the box label, warranty start date, battery health and signs that the phone was opened. Refurbished is not bad in itself; the problem is a refurbished phone sold as new.
Updated 26 October 2026
What 'refurbished' really means
A refurbished phone is a used, returned or faulty phone that has been checked, repaired where needed and resold. There are two very different kinds: - Brand refurbished: repaired and certified by the brand itself, such as Apple Certified Refurbished or Samsung Certified Re-Newed, with new battery and outer shell in many cases - Shop refurbished: repaired by a seller or workshop, often with non-genuine screens, batteries or back glass, and a fresh-looking box
In Pakistan, most 'refurbished' phones are the second kind. Some are fine; others hide replaced parts and are sold as box pack. The checks below help you tell the difference. Also see how to check a new or used phone (How to Check if a Mobile Phone Is New or Used).
iPhone: read the model number and serial
Open Settings > General > About and tap the Model Number field until it shows a code like MTXX2LL/A. The first letter tells you how Apple sold the phone: - M: new retail unit - F: refurbished by Apple or a carrier - N: replacement unit given by Apple under warranty - P: personalised (engraved) unit
Then enter the serial number at checkcoverage.apple.com. A truly new iPhone usually asks you to activate it. If it shows months of used coverage or 'expired', it was activated before. Make sure the model and colour on Apple's page match the phone. This is the most reliable refurbished iPhone checklist starting point.
iPhone: Parts and Service History
On iPhone XR and newer running iOS 15.2 or later, Settings > General > About shows a Parts and Service History section when parts have been changed. It can show: - Genuine Apple Part: replaced with an Apple part - Unknown Part: a non-genuine or used part from another iPhone
If there is no section at all, no tracked part was replaced. Battery, display, camera and back glass are the parts most often swapped in shop refurbished phones. Also check Settings > Battery > Battery Health; a new phone shows 100%, and iPhone 15 and newer show the cycle count in Settings > General > About. Our iPhone battery health guide (iPhone Battery Health: How to Check It and What Is Normal) explains what the numbers mean.
Samsung and Android: how to check if refurbished
Android phones do not have one universal refurbished code, so use several checks together: - Box label: Samsung Certified Re-Newed and other brand-refurbished units are packed and labelled as such; a plain white or poorly printed box is a warning sign - Warranty start date: an IMEI check on the brand's warranty page or account shows if the phone was activated months ago - First use date: many Galaxy phones show it in Settings > About phone > Status information - Diagnostics: run the Samsung Members app diagnostics, or the brand's built-in test, for screen, sensors and battery - Pixel phones: Settings > About phone and the repair and diagnostics options show useful details
If the warranty began long before you bought the phone 'new', it is not new.
Check by IMEI and serial number
The IMEI and serial number are the strongest evidence you have: - Dial *#06# and match the IMEI with the box and with Settings; refurbished phones are often put in boxes that belong to another unit - Enter the IMEI or serial on the brand's official warranty or coverage page to see activation and model details - Send the IMEI to 8484 to check its DIRBS status; a 'registered' result on a phone sold as brand new Non PTA means it was used in Pakistan before
If the IMEI shows a different model, colour or storage from the phone in your hand, do not buy. Our guides on how to check PTA status (How to Check PTA Status of Any Mobile Phone) and mobile warranty check (How to Check Mobile Warranty in Pakistan (Samsung, iPhone, Infinix and More)) go step by step.
Physical signs a phone was opened and repaired
Look closely in good daylight: - Gaps or glue lines between the screen and frame - Scratched or mismatched screws next to the charging port - Screen colour that looks slightly different, weaker brightness or poor touch - Camera glass that is loose or a lens that does not focus well - Back glass with a different shade or rough edges - Face ID or fingerprint that does not work, often a sign of a screen or parts swap - Body that looks too perfect while the charging port is worn
Ask to see the phone switched on, on Wi-Fi, before you pay, and test calls, cameras and charging.
Is it safe to buy a refurbished phone in Pakistan?
It can be, if you know what you are buying. Refurbished phones are cheaper because they were used or returned, may have replaced parts, and usually have a shorter or seller-only warranty. The disadvantages of refurbished phones include weaker batteries, non-genuine screens with lower brightness, poorer water resistance after opening, and sometimes problems with Face ID, fingerprint or cameras.
To stay safe: - Buy only when the seller says clearly that it is refurbished or used - Ask exactly which parts were replaced - Get a written checking warranty - Check PTA status, because a refurbished phone with a changed or patched IMEI can be blocked
Avoid any phone described as patched or CPID approved. Read CPID vs patch vs PTA approved (CPID vs Patch vs PTA Approved Mobile: What Is the Difference?).
Quick refurbished phone checklist
Use this short list before paying for any phone sold as new or nearly new: - Model number letter (iPhone): M is new, F is refurbished - Coverage or warranty start date matches the date you are buying - IMEI matches on the box, in Settings and with *#06# - Battery health close to 100% and a very low cycle count - No Unknown Part messages in Parts and Service History - No gaps, glue, marked screws or odd screen colour - Face ID or fingerprint, all cameras, speakers and charging work - No account lock, carrier lock or MDM profile - PTA status matches what the seller claims
If two or more of these fail, treat the phone as refurbished or used and pay accordingly, or walk away.
Our phones: box pack and honestly labelled used
We do not sell refurbished phones as new. Our Android phones are Non Custom / Non PTA box pack units, while all our iPhones are slightly used Non PTA units with 100% battery health. Every phone has its original IMEI and a 7-day checking warranty, so you can do every check in this guide at home. Browse slightly used mobiles (Box Pack Mobiles) or Non PTA iPhone (iPhone Prices) for current models and live prices.
