Other Keeping an unactivated iPhone

[Falcon80]

I am asking this on behalf of a friend who just received an iPhone 11 as a gift. As her current phone is still working well, she is thinking of keeping for a few more months before using it. The box is sealed and based on the serial number, she checked the phone is still unactivated (via Apple warranty coverage check). Will there be any issue in keeping an iPhone unactivated for few months? Will the phone suddenly gets activated and she losing a few months of warranty?

Any advice appreciated.

 

[techiegirl]

I’m pretty sure warranty is based on purchase date.

 

[johnparjr]

Warranty starts the day it was purchased

 

[Falcon80]

Warranty starts the day it was purchased

My understanding is that if the phone is bought from a reseller and not from the Apple Store, the phone is not activated till your insert the SIM card

I’m pretty sure warranty is based on purchase date.

but when she tried to check the warranty, it is stated not activated

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Warranty starts the date of purchase just like a car....

 

[BeatCrazy]

Warranty starts when you turn it on and it connects to the internet, via Wi-Fi or cellular.

 

[doboy]

Warranty starts when you turn it on and it connects to the internet, via Wi-Fi or cellular.

Not really, at least in US. It starts on the date of purchase.

 

[Falcon80]

Warranty starts when you turn it on and it connects to the internet, via Wi-Fi or cellular.

Yes, that what I read as well. Only Purchases straight from Apple will have warranty activated immediately.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Not really, at least in US. It starts on the date of purchase.

I have purchased new iPhones (not from Apple), and the 1-year warranty doesn’t start until I turn them on. Unless you’re buying from a major retailer that sends serial number data to Apple, how would Apple know when you bought it?

 

[Shadowbech]

I have purchased new iPhones (not from Apple), and the 1-year warranty doesn’t start until I turn them on. Unless you’re buying from a major retailer that sends serial number data to Apple, how would Apple know when you bought it?

That’s the problem. iPhones purchased directly from Apple, the warranty starts immediately upon purchase as it’s already marked in their system as such. If purchased from third party, like Walmart, Target, etc. keep your receipt.

 

[zorinlynx]

It's probably better to just start using the new phone right away. Not only does the warranty start at purchase date, but the battery in the phone degrades over time, even if it's just sitting in the unopened box. Might as well start using it right away.

Could she maybe "pay it forward" and give her old phone to someone else in her life who could use it, and enjoy the new iPhone 11? That's probably what I'd do.

 

[Falcon80]

It's probably better to just start using the new phone right away. Not only does the warranty start at purchase date, but the battery in the phone degrades over time, even if it's just sitting in the unopened box. Might as well start using it right away.

Could she maybe "pay it forward" and give her old phone to someone else in her life who could use it, and enjoy the new iPhone 11? That's probably what I'd do.

That is definitely a good point. I am unaware that battery will degrade even when unused. Thanks for highlighting this. Her current intention is to keep her current iPhone 8+ a few more months before trying out this new phone. She is also a bit hesitant due to the difference in interaction such a Face ID and swipe gestures. I will let her know about this.

 

[doboy]

I have purchased new iPhones (not from Apple), and the 1-year warranty doesn’t start until I turn them on. Unless you’re buying from a major retailer that sends serial number data to Apple, how would Apple know when you bought it?

Apple can ask for proof of purchase/date for warranty claims.

 

[Falcon80]

Apple can ask for proof of purchase/date for warranty claims.

I don’t think they do that as some may have received as a gift or won it somewhere.

 

[oVerboost]

I think it might be best if she returns the phone and then buys a new phone when she is ready to use it. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to use your new phone just because the old one works fine - otherwise most of us would never get to use our new phones as likely the old ones we all have work fine.

She can always sell her old phone to recoup some money as well if it’s in good condition etc.

 

[doboy]

I don’t think they do that as some may have received as a gift or won it somewhere.

Most if not all manufacturers require proof of purchase. Maybe some are more generous than others, but they may require you to show proof.

edit: since someone is too lazy to simple google search https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/products/ios-warranty-document-us.html
This says ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period")

 

[mrklaw]

if you need to return To the retailer for any reason they’ll use the purchase receipt to measure warranty. I don’t understand why you’d wait - it just costs you money

- if the phone has an issue - better to know immediately
- while it’s sitting there, your existing phone is losing value. Sell it now rather than in a few months
- if they’re unsure about face ID etc - start using it now while you’re in a potential returns period to get used to it.

here is no logical situation I can think of where it makes sense to keep a brand new phone in a drawer for a few Months

 

[Falcon80]

I think it might be best if she returns the phone and then buys a new phone when she is ready to use it. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to use your new phone just because the old one works fine - otherwise most of us would never get to use our new phones as likely the old ones we all have work fine.

She can always sell her old phone to recoup some money as well if it’s in good condition etc.

It is an unexpected gift so she is thinking of using it later if it is not at the expense of the warranty coverage. Don’t think she cares about the phone losing value as she has no intention of selling it.

 

[TheIntruder]

Ultimately, it depends on which date Apple decides to honor if service is needed in the future.

I bought my phone on NYE last year, which is what the receipt reflects, and what most manufacturers consider the start of the warranty period.

However, I did not set up and activate the phone until a few days later, so according to the Limited Warranty section in iOS, the Estimated Expiration Date is 1/4/20, what some would call the in-service date. That is also the date reflected on Apple's My Support site, and it carries the same description.

The "Estimated" descriptor suggests that it is not considered absolute, and subject to scrutiny.

The phone was purchased directly from Apple, so it has the records of both dates in their system.

But which one will the Genius, or phone rep see, and heed if I make a request for service?

Common practice, and the legal terms side with the purchase date, but does Apple provide any leeway, and what are the bounds of any such allowances? Undoubtedly, a few days stands a greater chance of being allowed some slack than a period of a few months.

But if an item isn't a direct purchase from Apple, then the chances of any leeway decreases greatly, as the error is often in Apple's favor, not the user's. Purchases from Apple will correctly reflect the correct purchase date.

But, it is not unheard of for discrepancies to occur between the actual date of purchase, and the date reflected in Apple's records. Users can be shortchanged of warranty coverage if Apple's date is prior to the date the purchase was really made. I've had that happen with a Mac, which required going through Apple's prescribed procedure to correct the discrepancy, including the submission of a proof of purchase.

Apple has no idea when an Apple product is sold by a reseller. If a reseller fails to report, or reports incorrectly, then I suspect Apple uses the wholesale date as a default, which can be weeks or months prior. That's what I think happened with my Mac, which was NOS of the previous year's model.

Apple can be generous, but it's not legally bound to be. Erring on the side of caution would mean not sitting on the phone for months.

Edit: For more data, I just looked up the terms for the Mac I bought last month. Ordered on the 12th, picked up on the 14th, not set up until the 18th. Apple's site says coverage extends until August 13th, 2020.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Apple can ask for proof of purchase/date for warranty claims.

Sure they can, but they never do.

Edit: For more data, I just looked up the terms for the Mac I bought last month. Ordered on the 12th, picked up on the 14th, not set up until the 18th. Apple's site says coverage extends until August 13th, 2020.

Yeah cause you bought it from Apple directly or another major retailer, right? For those scenarios, the serial number is recorded in Apple's systems, along with the data of transaction/purchase.

 

[doboy]

Sure they can, but they never do.


Yeah cause you bought it from Apple directly or another major retailer, right? For those scenarios, the serial number is recorded in Apple's systems, along with the data of transaction/purchase.

Never say never. Their internal policies can change anytime and if your experience is with items purchased directly from Apple then they have the actual purchase date in their records so no need for receipt.