How to Tell if an iPhone Is Refurbished

To tell whether an iPhone is refurbished, the most reliable check is its model number: Settings → General → About. Here are 5 ways to know if a phone is refurbished, renewed or new — each verifiable in two minutes.

1. The model number (the definitive check)

This is the one definitive test — start here. Settings → General → About → Model Number. The first letter reveals the device’s origin:

• M — new, sold by Apple.
• F — refurbished by Apple (“renewed”).
• N — replacement device (Apple service).
• P — personalized (engraving).

A number starting with F or N isn’t a flaw — it just means the device has had a prior life. What matters is that it’s tested and warrantied.

2. The IMEI and activation date

A refurbished iPhone has been activated at least once — its original warranty date gives it away. Dial *#06# to show the IMEI, then check the warranty start date via Apple support. If it’s well before your purchase, the device has already been in use.

3. Original parts

iOS warns you itself if a part was replaced. Settings → General → About shows an “Unknown Part” warning when the screen, battery or camera was swapped outside Apple’s authenticated channel. A serious refurbisher uses recognized parts; also test Face ID/Touch ID and True Tone.

4. Battery health

A real refurbishment starts at 85% health or higher. Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80%, the device wasn’t fully “renewed” — not a dealbreaker, but negotiate, since the battery is the part that wears fastest.

5. Packaging and invoice

An honest seller writes “refurbished” in plain sight. A white or generic box instead of Apple’s sealed retail packaging, and an invoice that clearly says “refurbished” or “renewed” with the warranty length. No written mention = be wary.

Before you pay: the 10-minute test

A well-refurbished iPhone passes this test with nothing to hide. Before you pay, take ten minutes with the phone:

• Put in your SIM card and make a call: the other person must hear you clearly, and you must hear them, on the speaker and the earpiece.
• Take a photo with each lens, front and back, and a short video to test the microphones.
• Set up Face ID or Touch ID: a sensor that will not turn on is a red flag.
• Plug it in: charging must start right away, with no loose contact in the port.
• Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, then try every button and the ring switch or Action button.

If anything fails, ask for another unit rather than a discount: a unit with no fault is worth more than a discount on one.

Is a refurbished iPhone bad?

No — as long as the refurbishment is documented and warrantied. A refurbished iPhone from a seller who genuinely tests devices lasts as long as the equivalent used phone, with the upside of an often-new battery and real recourse if something goes wrong. We go through the real lifespan, the battery threshold to insist on and which models to prefer in 2026 in our guide are refurbished iPhones any good?

At SubSell (Beaubien metro), every refurbished iPhone is tested on 30+ points, its real battery health is shown on the device, it’s unlocked (not tied to any carrier) and covered by a warranty up to 2 years depending on the model — and you can redo all these checks in store before you pay. See the models at /en/buy/, get the full picture in the refurbished iPhone guide, or compare with used phones.