Buying a new phone is always an exciting experience, but sometimes, you might end up with a refurbished phone instead of a brand new one. Refurbished phones refer to the ones that have been previously used and returned, then restored to their original condition before being sold again. If you are wondering whether you can tell the difference between a new and a refurbished phone, the answer is yes.
In this article, we’ll show you how to check if your Android phone is new or refurbished. Please note that we will not be discussing any codes or tricks that require you to insert a sim card or use the dialer.
Firstly, let’s take a look at a brand new Redmi Note 3. Go to the settings and select “about phone.” Then, select “status” and open “IMEI information.” If you see that the IMEI SV is zero, that means that the phone has not been to service or formatted, which indicates that it is a brand new phone.
Now, let’s move on to a Redmi 3s Prime. If you have received a brand new phone, you can check if it’s new or refurbished by typing “*#*#4636#*#*” in the dialer. This code will allow you to access your phone information. However, note that this trick only works if your phone has not been used yet, or no SIMs have been inserted in its hybrid slots. If you see the IMEI information from here, then your phone is brand new. If not, then it might be refurbished.
You can also check whether your phone is refurbished or not by going to “settings” and then selecting “phone status.” If the IMEI SV shows 08 and 01, it means that the phone has been previously serviced and factory reset before resale. Refurbished phones usually have new software loaded onto them by software upgrade departments at service centers.
In conclusion, when buying a new phone, it’s always advisable to check whether it’s new or refurbished. Unfortunately, if you receive a refurbished phone and it’s working fine, then it’s 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.