Did you know there's a way to find out if the new iPhone you're planning to buy is actually new?
When you spend as much as a thousand dollars on an iPhone, you like to think it's brand new and that no one else used it for a year or two, but recent reports in the Daily Mail, How-To Geek and other websites say every iPhone has a secret code that will tell you if your iPhone is new or used.
It's all in the model number.
To find out, go to "Settings" then go to "General" and "About," which tells you all about your phone. Look for the "Model," and specifically the letter in front of your model number.
- "M" -- means it was a brand-new phone when you activated it.
- "F" -- means it was refurbished and that someone else used it first.
- "N" -- means it is a replacement device for a phone that broke.
Apple forums are filled with complaints from people who said they have bought a new iPhone from a third-party seller, only to end up with a used one.
Note, if an independent repair shop refurbished your phone, it may not have an Apple warranty so check the seller and the secret code number before you buy.
Apple reminds customers that all its certified refurbished phones come with a one-year warranty so they can be a great deal and you don't waste your money.