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User profile for user: GaGaGaAlex
GaGaGaAlex Author
User level: Level1 5 points
Hello,
I recently purchased a refurbished iPad but upon checking it‘s model number I noticed that it starts with an "M", which (as I was told) means it’s a new device and not a refurbished device. What does that mean now? Is it a red flag?
iPad Pro, iPadOS 16
Posted on Jan 17, 2023 5:40 AM
Question marked as Best reply
Posted on Jan 17, 2023 5:47 AM
This is the full list of prefix identifiers - and their meaning.
- M – Brand new device, meaning the device was purchased new
- F – Refurbished device, meaning the device has been through Apple’s refurbishing process
- N – Replacement device, meaning the originally bought device was replaced by this model likely due to a service request
- P – Personalized device with engraving, meaning the device was customized with an engraving on purchase
Some devices that have been renewed/refurbished won’t necessarily have a changed model prefix. Where the logic board has been changed, the F-prefix is perhaps more likely to be present.
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User profile for user: LotusPilot
Community+ 2024 User level: Level10 281,196 points
Jan 17, 2023 5:47 AM in response to GaGaGaAlex
This is the full list of prefix identifiers - and their meaning.
- M – Brand new device, meaning the device was purchased new
- F – Refurbished device, meaning the device has been through Apple’s refurbishing process
- N – Replacement device, meaning the originally bought device was replaced by this model likely due to a service request
- P – Personalized device with engraving, meaning the device was customized with an engraving on purchase
Some devices that have been renewed/refurbished won’t necessarily have a changed model prefix. Where the logic board has been changed, the F-prefix is perhaps more likely to be present.
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User profile for user: LotusPilot
Community+ 2024 User level: Level10 281,196 points
Jan 17, 2023 6:07 AM in response to GaGaGaAlex
Prior history of an iPad cannot be established.
If you have purchased a renewed/refurbished device from Apple, it will have been through Apple’s own refurbishment processes. If purchased from some other source, you have no guarantee that the device has been refurbished to Apple’s own quality standards using OEM components.
Third parties have no access to Apple OEM components - other than parts scavenged from other similar devices.
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User profile for user: GaGaGaAlex
GaGaGaAlex Author
User level: Level1 5 points
Jan 17, 2023 5:59 AM in response to LotusPilot
Is there perhaps a way to check whether the product might have not been refurbished at all and possibly have bad battery life or whether it was maybe even refurbished by an unofficial factory?
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What does the "M" in the model number stand for