iPhone 16 Pro Max iPhone replacement

[Playful_life21]

Hi everyone!

I recently bought a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max. A few days later, I noticed some issues with the screen. After discussing it with support, they advised me to send it in for repair, mentioning that if it was a manufacturing defect, they would either repair or replace it.

I sent it in, and a week later, I received an email stating that the repair was complete and my device was on its way back to me.

When I confirmed with phone support, they informed me that instead of repairing it, they had replaced it. The coverage check online also shows my existing serial number as replaced.

Given that I only had the phone for 20 days and do not have AppleCare+, I want to ask: would this replacement be a refurbished unit? The support advisor mentioned could be a remanufactured / new. So not entirely sure.

Thank you

 

[Iwavvns]

First of all, Apple Refurbished devices are just as good as new.. they even have the exact same warranty and eligibility for Apple Care as new units. Secondly, since you only had the phone for 20 days, I would think they replaced it with a new device. In the end it doesn't matter, I've purchased MacBooks and iPhones from the Apple Refurbished store and the only difference I ever saw was the outside of the boxes.. the devices came with new outer cases and new batteries.

 

[Playful_life21]

First of all, Apple Refurbished devices are just as good as new.. they even have the exact same warranty and eligibility for Apple Care as new units. Secondly, since you only had the phone for 20 days, I would think they replaced it with a new device. In the end it doesn't matter, I've purchased MacBooks and iPhones from the Apple Refurbished store and the only difference I ever saw was the outside of the boxes.. the devices came with new outer cases and new batteries.

Thanks for your reply! Honestly, I’m not too worried about it being remanufactured or refurbished. It’s just that I paid for a brand-new unit, and it’s being replaced with a refurbished one, especially when it’s not my fault. Hopefully its new replacement.

 

[Iwavvns]

Thanks for your reply! Honestly, I’m not too worried about it being remanufactured or refurbished. It’s just that I paid for a brand-new unit, and it’s being replaced with a refurbished one, especially when it’s not my fault. Hopefully its new replacement.

Apple Refurbished iPhones come with a new outer shell and a new battery, you won't even be able to tell the difference.. except that your battery cycle count is back to zero . One of the reasons I buy Apple Refurbished devices is that they are basically brand new but at a lower price.

 

[FlyingDutch]

Hi everyone!

I recently bought a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max. A few days later, I noticed some issues with the screen. After discussing it with support, they advised me to send it in for repair, mentioning that if it was a manufacturing defect, they would either repair or replace it.

I sent it in, and a week later, I received an email stating that the repair was complete and my device was on its way back to me.

When I confirmed with phone support, they informed me that instead of repairing it, they had replaced it. The coverage check online also shows my existing serial number as replaced.

Given that I only had the phone for 20 days and do not have AppleCare+, I want to ask: would this replacement be a refurbished unit? The support advisor mentioned could be a remanufactured / new. So not entirely sure.

Thank you

There are good chances it will be a refurbished. There are hardly any differences from a brand new unit, but the only way to get a new one was to return the defective unit and buy a new one.

 

[Fred Zed]

Anything after the 14 day return period in the USA can possibly be a refurbished unit. Regardless of if you have AppleCare plus - we all get 12 months manufacturer warranty right ?But as the previous poster mentioned, Apple refurbished is like new.

 

[eyoungren]

Hi everyone!

I recently bought a brand-new iPhone 16 Pro Max. A few days later, I noticed some issues with the screen. After discussing it with support, they advised me to send it in for repair, mentioning that if it was a manufacturing defect, they would either repair or replace it.

I sent it in, and a week later, I received an email stating that the repair was complete and my device was on its way back to me.

When I confirmed with phone support, they informed me that instead of repairing it, they had replaced it. The coverage check online also shows my existing serial number as replaced.

Given that I only had the phone for 20 days and do not have AppleCare+, I want to ask: would this replacement be a refurbished unit? The support advisor mentioned could be a remanufactured / new. So not entirely sure.

Thank you

Apple will always refer to them as remanufactured. It is only us users/customers that bandy about the term 'refurbished'. Yes, Apple has a Refurbished online store, but that's an entirely different thing.

@Iwavvns has already suggested that you will probably receive a new unit and I believe that to be correct. Every year, Apple diverts a certain amount of new devices off the assembly line to serve as replacements. The only difference is that they go into a white box without accessories or anything else. At this early point in 16 series sales, it's likely that you got one of those brand new devices.

Three to six months from now however, it's going to be a remanufactured device.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

As @eyoungren points out, there's a distinction between "Refurbished" and "Remanufactured" within Apple. But effectively either one is fine with me; I've purchased Refub units and had Remans sent to me via Express Replacement and there's no effective way to identify New, Refurb, or Reman without a serial number check. All are pristine.

 

[eyoungren]

As @eyoungren points out, there's a distinction between "Refurbished" and "Remanufactured" within Apple. But effectively either one is fine with me; I've purchased Refub units and had Remans sent to me via Express Replacement and there's no effective way to identify New, Refurb, or Reman without a serial number check. All are pristine.

Yeah, refurb gets a bad rap because so many companies are so casual and careless about it. But Apple, whatever term they want to apply to it (refurb or reman) is the same quality as new. Their reputation is riding on it. People just assume because of the term 'refurb' and what it now implies, not because Apple has a reputation in turning out bad refurbs.

Why this assumption when Apple has consistently proved it untrue, I don't know. I mean, it's Apple and if this were at all true, it would have gotten out by now.