Guide

How to Spot a Fake iPhone Before You Buy or Sell

Updated 2026

Fake iPhones — convincing Android devices disguised to look like iPhones — have gotten increasingly sophisticated. Before selling a phone you're not sure about, or buying one secondhand, run these checks.

Check 1: Settings → General → About

A real iPhone shows iOS version, model name, and a valid serial number. A fake phone running an iPhone skin on Android will either not have this menu at all, or it will show fabricated information that doesn't match Apple's records.

Check 2: Verify the Serial Number

Go to Settings → General → About and copy the Serial Number. Paste it at checkcoverage.apple.com. A real iPhone will show its purchase date, warranty status, and model. A fake will show "This serial number is not valid."

Check 3: Check the IMEI

Dial *#06#. A real iPhone will show its IMEI number. This IMEI should match what's printed on the SIM tray and the box. Run it at imei.info to verify it's a real Apple device.

Check 4: Face ID or Touch ID

A real iPhone's Face ID or Touch ID is integrated into the chip at a hardware level. Fake iPhones either have a non-functional Face ID button, or a Face ID that "works" but is actually just a photo sensor with no secure enclave.

Check 5: App Store Behavior

Open the App Store. A real iPhone will prompt for your Apple ID. Fake iPhones often have a fake "App Store" icon that opens to a third-party app store or doesn't open at all.

💡 TechITAZ runs IMEI verification on every device we buy. If a phone is fake or blacklisted, we know before paying.

Sell a Verified Real iPhone

If your phone passes these tests, bring it to TechITAZ for a same-day cash offer.

Get My Quote →