Thinking of buying a phone? How to tell if a phone is original or fake, new or old
After reading some subtle things in front of your eyes, many people get confused whether the newly purchased smartphone is really new or not. It is often seen that previously used devices are well repaired and put up for sale. Then, at first glance, they look brand new.
For some reason, long after buying a new phone, the buyer discovers that his phone is not really new.
That is why it is important to follow some strategies when buying a phone. Let's learn in detail some practical methods to determine the authenticity of a smartphone.
Phone packaging and seal test
Like any new product, a common feature of new phones is intact and well-sealed packaging. The packaging is quite sturdy, with labels containing important information about the phone, including model, color, and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity).
Products that have just hit the market after being manufactured often have a security seal. Once opened, even after resealing, traces of the previous broken seal remain. Therefore, it is important to check whether the phone box is unsealed or completely open.
For example, iPhone boxes are usually wrapped in seamless plastic.
Other devices also use brand stickers, which make the broken seal quite visible once opened.
Observation of the exterior of the phone
The easiest and most effective way to check the newness of the phone when buying is to do a body checkup of the phone. The body of the device, especially the screen, should be carefully checked for any scratches, dents or stains. Areas such as the charging port and speaker holes should be kept in mind. If it has been used before, subtle inconsistencies will be visible in these parts.
Fingerprints or light dust on the camera lens mean that the phone has already been opened once.
The metal frame of OnePlus and Oppo models is so smooth that small deviations caused by previous use are immediately noticeable.
Serial Number and IMEI Verification
Each phone has a single and unique serial number and IMEI. Both codes are available on the phone box. Apart from this, these codes can also be found in the phone settings or (in the case of Android devices) by dialing *#06#. These numbers should be compared with the numbers provided on the phone box.
For example, Apple's website has a verification tool, through which the activation status of the iPhone can be verified using its serial number. Similarly, Vivo and Realme have official websites to verify the warranty and activation date. If the information does not match properly, it should be understood that the phone has changed hands at least once.
100% charged battery
The battery of a newly purchased phone should naturally be 100% charged. Apart from charging it manually, the battery status can be checked from the phone settings. If the brightness is low when the phone is turned on, it indicates that the charge is below 20 percent. However, if it is above this, the phone's operating system (OS) can run with average performance. It is difficult to understand the matter at first glance. So it is better to know whether it is 100 percent or not and remove doubts.
Internal software test
Newly released phones have factory installed apps and the latest version of the OS. Third-party apps, incompatible settings or old software mean that the phone has been used once before. The most effective technique to see what apps are initially present is to do a factory reset.
After resetting some phones, only the necessary system apps will be visible. So in this case, the presence of social media apps beforehand indicates previous use. Apart from this, an unused phone will never have any software of the old version. Old apps mean that the phone was previously active and the app has not been updated in the meantime.
Warranty and activation date audit
You can find out when a phone was first used by following the activation date and warranty. Most phone manufacturers have their own online services to verify this information. The serial number of the phone can be used to find out the activation date and warranty coverage of the phone on those sites. Usually, the warranty of a new phone in the market will start from the date of purchase and will last until a certain period. If the end date is very close, then it should be understood that the device was in use a long time ago.
Check for signs of repair
Any kind of repair to any part of the entire body, including the casing, leaves an impression on the phone. If you look at the screws, you will see that there are small marks around them. Sometimes the screws are not installed properly after repair. On the other hand, the screws are installed properly without any scratches in new devices. Some phones use small bushes on the screws, which are connected to the holes in the same way. But in old phones, you will see that one of these is missing or if it is, its size is not the same.
In addition, the internal parts of the phone are often replaced with unofficial or substandard parts. This has a negative impact on the longevity of the phone.
Check the contents provided with the phone
It is essential to carefully check the other contents included with the phone inside the box. Leading brands like iPhone, OnePlus and Realme provide accessories that are compatible with the phone model. The brand logo can be seen on the charger, cable, adapter or earphones.
It is quite difficult to copy the specific charging adapters found in Vivo and Honor devices. Therefore, if a fake is provided, it is caught soon.
Diagnostic Test
Diagnostic tests are of immense importance to ensure that the hardware and software of the phone are working properly. Both iPhone and Android phones have their own diagnostic menus and tools to test the screen, sensors and battery. It is also necessary to pay close attention to the display, speaker and camera tests.
In the case of iPhone, first power off. Then, in this state, press the volume up and down buttons together and put the phone on charge. After a while, release the buttons when the Apple logo appears. Then, by tapping on ‘Start Session’ below the displayed message, the diagnostic mode will be activated.
For Android, you can know the latest status of the performance of the entire phone, including the battery, by dialing ‘*#*#4636#*#*’. Apart from this, there are several apps like ‘TestM’ or ‘Phone Doctor Plus’ that activate the diagnostic mode on the Android system.
Observation of necessary documents including purchase receipt
A reliable means of verifying the legitimacy of a product as well as its retailer is all related documents including the purchase receipt. Famous brands provide detailed invoices along with catalogs and, where applicable, marketing documents. Through these, the device activation status and other product-related history can be known. Unauthorized sellers sell unofficial phones. As a result, no supporting documents are seen with these.
It is worth noting here that relying solely on documents is not a wise thing to do. It is advisable to collect the appropriate information from the phone's official website and compare it with the information in the documents.
All in all, it is necessary to pay careful attention to all aspects of the phone to understand whether your newly purchased new phone is really new or unused. It is possible to find out the correct information about the phone by reviewing the packaging, serial number and IMEI, the phone body, and the warranty and activation date. The contents provided with the phone and the diagnostic check-up can identify whether the phone has been used in the past. In addition, the necessary documents, including the purchase receipt, confirm the branded quality of the device.