Buying a new Android phone can be exciting, but how can you be sure that the phone you receive is not a refurbished product? A refurbished phone is one that has been previously used, then factory reset before being resold. While some people may have no problem buying a refurbished phone, others prefer new ones. Thankfully, there is a way to check if your Android phone is factory-new or refurbished.
First, let’s take a look at how to check a brand new phone. For example, if you have a new Redmi Note 3 that you bought from the MI India official website, you can go to Settings and select About Phone, then Status, and open IMEI information. If the IMEI SV is zero, then the phone has not been to service or formatted, which means it is brand new.
However, for a refurbished phone, the IMEI information will show that the phone has been previously serviced and factory reset before resale. If you have a Redmi 3s Prime that you suspect is refurbished, you can check the IMEI information by opening the dialer and typing *#*#4636#*#*. This trick only works if the phone has not been used yet, or if no SIMs have been inserted in its hybrid slots. If any SIM has been inserted before, the IMEI info will not show up.
If the IMEI info does not show up, you can check through Settings and Phone Status. The IMEI SV will show 08 and 01, which means that the phone has been previously serviced and factory reset before resale. When a phone is refurbished, new software is loaded onto it by software upgrade departments at service centers. In some cases, the manufacturer does the refurbishing themselves, as with the MI store.
Aside from the IMEI information, you can also tell the difference in screen quality. A refurbished phone may have a slightly yellowish screen, while a brand new phone will have a whiter screen.
If you receive a refurbished phone and it is working fine, then it is good to go. However, if you are looking for a phone in absolutely new condition, then call customer care. Remember, all that glitters is not gold.
In conclusion, checking whether your Android phone is factory-new or refurbished can be done through the IMEI information or the screen quality. By doing so, you can be sure that you are getting what you paid for.