my device iphone 7 32 GB mate black, in setting Model FN8X2LL/A & A1778..my qns is ..is it Refurbished or not.. how i know it?

I'm not aware of the serial number definition, but that does not mean it isn't true, and I trust Phil, so I'm guessing he knows. If you purchased this device at an actual Apple retail store, and not an authorized reseller, then I would go back to the store and ask, unless you purposely requested to purchase a refurbished phone.

ChrisJ4203 wrote:

I'm not aware of the serial number definition, but that does not mean it isn't true, and I trust Phil, so I'm guessing he knows. If you purchased this device at an actual Apple retail store, and not an authorized reseller, then I would go back to the store and ask, unless you purposely requested to purchase a refurbished phone.

Thanks,

Model numbers specified here. It's all anecdotal of course based on model numbers found on known retail units, and known refurbished units, etc...

Models - The iPhone Wiki

Okay, so it sounds like you were taken by someone who is not an Authorized Apple Reseller. When you buy from someone other than Apple or an Authorized reseller, you take your chances. There is nothing that Apple can do about it, nor can anyone here. If the seller did not advertise the device as a refurbished, then deal with the authorities.

When you say it was Dubai Apple Store, are you saying this was a genuine Apple Retail store, or just a store that sells Apple products.

We do not care about this. We told you already it's refurbished. If they told you it was new, deal with them. As for your claims in the post about IMEI, that's crap.

Don't believe what you read. Your phone is refurbished. Period. If you have a problem, deal with the person who sold it. You should be thankful it's not blacklisted. Don't go on about how much it costs because I'll shoot that down quickly. I don't care about that.

One final time: Talk to the person who sold you the phone. We already told you that "F" means refurbished. You keep asking. It's either time to suck it up, or confront that person for lying. Your choice.

Look, in one of your original posts you said you bought the phone from the Dubai Apple Store. Now you are saying the seller said if you can prove it is refurbished, he will exchange it. Which is the truth?

Did you purchase this device from an actual Apple retail store? If not, did you purchase it from an Authorized Apple reseller? If not, then the person you purchased it from knows that you cannot provide proof if it is refurbished or not, since that information is not really available anywhere, except the link that was provided to you earlier.

Again, what difference does it make if you purchased a refurbished phone. Depending on who did the refurbish, it is just as good as a new one. It doesn't even sound like you are having a problem with the device, you are just focused on the fact that it might be refurbished and that seems to be hurting your feelings.

You bought a gray market iPhone from someone who is not an authorized reseller. Apple can do nothing for you. Your research will not accomplish anything. The seller is probably lying about where he purchased the iPhone. Get your money back.

Yeah well you've already proved that could be difficult. I don't care about the IMEI number nor does anyone else in here. Maybe next time you should do the research. And that's not being condescending.

Follow what deggie says. And next time, ask a load of questions.

I think we don't understand this guy very well. We in the west are normaly buying only original stuff. When we enter a apple store we can be 100% sure the things are genuine there. But not all the world has this luxus. Many places in asia and africa sell fake products. And they are clever in concealing fake things. So buyers in this countries are much more concerned about fake or refurb products. This is my guess why he sounds so concerned. Maybe a normal refurb would have been much cheaper. I dunno.

You do have a point. But he bought this from the UAE. And I'll agree with you that the places in Asia and Africa sell fake products. And are extremely cleaver in concealing things. My point is is that he should've started asking questions the second something was up.

Your 100% right. This will be a learning lesson for him. And whenever something seems to good to be true, it's fake. Iphones all over the world have approximately a stable price. You can visit the local apple website and inform yourself about the offical prices, and you can check ebay for used prices. Any price deeply below this prices should be looked at very good and verified. Because nobody owning a original, functioning in good condition iphone for many hundreds less. Just my guess. And when you buy from a privat person i would be even more carefull. Who knows where this phone comes from. It could be a million things with it.

This is not the point. He's concerned that the seller lied to him. You're presenting an entirely different answer. He already has a problem with the rotation lock not working on his refurbished iPhone, despite me being quite condescending.

As for the answer from "from0toHero", from what I researched here in Canada, people do sell phones. Here's the problem. Before the 8 series and X came out, iPhone 7's and earlier had the "carrier lock" on them. Carrier branding is illegal in Canada. This means it would only work with one carrier unless either you paid off the contract (also known as subsidized), or bought them directly from Apple to use on a provider (also known as Bring Your Own Device. In this case providers must allow the phone on the network). On some listings according to ebay.ca, it is locked to a carrier. From a cursory glance, most are unlocked, or claim to be.

Here's another issue: Supposed that it's advertised as "unlocked" when in fact it is "locked" to a carrier. You would not know this until long after money exchanges hands. People will unload these onto other people and then have the phone blacklisted. This has happened. Also, the phone could've been stolen. We've already seen that here. The seller doesn't know the passcode (or password) to switch off the "Activation Lock". If you are the seller, this should've been done already. If it's not, serious red flag. In addition it might already be on the blacklist.

This is a sobering lesson for the OP however you look at it. And as I said before, ask a million and one questions the next time you are put in this spot. If even one answer in the sentence is off, walk away.