How to Spot a Fake iPhone 5

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: June 1, 2021 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to determine whether the iPhone 5 you purchased is authentic or not.

Steps

1
Inspect the packaging. Apple is meticulous with its packaging. On new boxes, the colors should be bright and unfaded, and the images crisp and unblurred. Authentic boxes also bear a stamp on the back that reads, "Designed by Apple in California."
- Fake iPhones can be packaged in reused authentic boxes.
2
Compare the MEID and IMEI on the packaging with those in the iPhone. There should be a label should be on the back of the packaging.
- Check the MEID and IMEI on the device itself by opening Settings, then tap General, tap About, and scroll down to see the MEID and IMEI for comparison.
- IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity; MEID stands for Mobile Equipment Identifier.
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3
Check the back logo. The back of the iPhone features manufacturing details including a set of codes and the model number. Check that the Model and IMEI numbers match those numbers on the retail box label.
4
Check the device serial number on the Apple website. To do so, click the link to the left or type "checkcoverage.apple.com" in a Web browser and enter the device serial number.
- The serial number should be on the back of the packaging.
- Open Settings on the device, then tap General, tap About, and scroll down to see the Serial Number on the device for comparison.
5
Compare the device side-by-side with an authentic iPhone 5. Take the device into an Apple Store or compare it with a friend's iPhone 5.

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Community Q&A

Question

Does the iPhone 5's logo have a different texture than the cover?

Community Answer

Yes, it does have a different texture.
Question

How can I tell if an iPhone is real if I am buying it online?

Community Answer

There isn't really a way to make sure if it's over the internet. See if you can buy it from a store or meet up with the seller. You can also check a seller's rating on Ebay or Amazon, and check their reviews to see if their is anything suspicious about their business.

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About This Article

Co-authored by:

wikiHow Staff Writer

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 45,201 times.

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Co-authors: 13

Updated: June 1, 2021

Views: 45,201

Categories: IPhone

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