How old is my iPhone? What is its value? These were my concerns, and after a bit of research, I found straightforward and reliable methods to find its age and value. In this article, I will help you determine the age of your iPhone through serial number, Apple tools, and third-party tools. Additionally, we will dive deep into decoding the manufacturing date, warranty information, and much more.
1. Why Knowing your iPhone’s Age is Important
- Decides trade-in or resale value
- Determines warranty period or AppleCare eligibility
- Better understanding of the battery condition and iOS support.
- Determines expected software performance
When I was updating my family’s old iPhone, knowing the age of the device allowed me to set realistic expectations for battery life and upcoming updates.
2. Finding The Serial Number and Purchase Date
To find the serial number of your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Check the Settings → General → About → Serial Number
- Click and hold to copy it so you can easily access it later.
Now, to check the original purchase or activation date of the device:
- Check Apple’s Check Coverage page
- Enter the serial number and CAPTCHA
- Once you press submit, you will see the estimated warranty expiration and purchase date
I used this method to estimate for a used iPhone 11, and by subtracting a year from the warranty expiry, I was able to determine when I first activated it.
3. Decode The Serial Number To Figure Out The Manufacturing Date
An older serial number of an iPhone (pre-2021) contains some manufacturing details:
- The 4th character indicates the half-year of manufacture (e.g., 'R' for first half of 2016, 'S' for second half).
- The 5th character indicates the week within that half-year (1-9 for 1-9, then letters like 'C'=10, 'D'=11, 'F'=12, 'G'=13, etc.).
For instance, if the 4th character is 'S' (second half of 2016) and the 5th is 'G' (13), it signifies the 39th week of 2016 (week 27 + 12), which is around September.
Note: This method will no longer work for newer iPhones as Apple started randomizing serial codes in 2021.
This method worked on an old iPhone XS and I was able to accurately retrieve the build date.
4. Use Third Party Tools for More Information
These online tools might be able to provide additional help.
- Chipmunk (Dutch Site) – It shows the production year/week and the model information.
- SNDeepInfo – It shows information about manufacturing or activation date in a clearer way.
- Reincubate Lookup and IMEI24 provide complete specifications for the device which includes the date of manufacture, warranty, and other information.
These tools helped me verify the information for the age of an iPhone SE when the serial method did not work.
5. Other Methods to Estimate iPhone Age
- Apple support through My Devices page: If your iPhone is associated with your Apple ID, navigate to Apple’s support site, log in, and you may find details like activation or purchase dates.
- The Original box or the white label: On rare occasions, the label contains the purchase and the manufacture date.
- Search your inbox email: For some people, searching their email inbox for the purchase confirmation helps get an exact date.
6. Quick Reference Table
| Method | What It Reveals | Works on Older/Newer iPhones |
|---|---|---|
| Serial Number → Apple Coverage | Purchase/activation date | All models |
| Serial Decoding | Manufacture year & week | Older models only |
| Third-party tools | Model, age, specs, warranty | Depends on tool |
| Apple Support page | Purchase date & coverage | Available for registered devices |
| Original packaging/receipts | Purchase or manufacturing | Manual tracking |
7. FAQs
1. How can I tell how old my iPhone is by serial?
Ans: For older models, navigate to Settings → About to find the serial, and then decode the 4th character for (half-year) & 5th character for (week within half).
2. Can Apple tell me when my iPhone was purchased?
Ans: Of course! Input your serial on Apple’s Check Coverage page and see warranty expiry and estimate purchase date.
3. What if my serial is randomized?
Ans: For newer iPhones with randomized serials, use lookups like Chipmunk, SNDeepInfo, or Apple Support.
4. Why is knowing my iPhone’s age useful?
Ans: Age of the phone impacts the battery’s health, software eligibility, resale value, and helps you decide when to upgrade.
5. Does the manufacturing date differ from release date?
Ans: Yes. Phones can be manufactured weeks before public release. Serial code indicates the manufacture week and release date is model specific.
Conclusion
So how old is my iPhone? With a phone’s serial number, Apple provides useful and reliable ways of checking an iPhone’s age. Older model’s serials often contain the week of manufacture, and for newer models, Apple’s Check Coverage page or respected tools like Chipmunk and SNDeepInfo provide decent age estimates.
From my personal experience, all the ways mentioned worked for me. From decoding the serial to the Apple Support page, all methods were able to give approximate ages for all the devices I have. Whether reselling or upgrading, or even if you are just curious, the methods are straight to the point and reliable.