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Joseph C

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 5, 2009
1,452
2,751
Hi everyone,

Does anyone know by looking at the serial numbers of my replacement AirPods which I got through the service program in October, if my replacement buds were manufactured after October 2020? I still have a rattle and ANC is sub-par.

The two new pods serials start as follows:

GX3DCT4...
GX1D8R3..

Many thanks in advance.
 

Shadowbech

macrumors G3
Oct 18, 2011
9,038
5,894
The 5th Digit in the serial number is an indication of which week it was made. Since the 4th Digit is D, which is the 2nd quarter of 2020 (July 1 - 12/31/2020). So since your 5th digit is a 8, it is the 8th week from 1st week of July. So that replacement is made on near the end of August. And the one that has a C is few weeks after that, so September.
 
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chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,709
7,280
The 5th Digit in the serial number is an indication of which week it was made. Since the 4th Digit is D, which is the 2nd quarter of 2020 (July 1 - 12/31/2020). So since your 5th digit is a 8, it is the 8th week from 1st week of July. So that replacement is made on near the end of August. And the one that has a C is few weeks after that, so September.
Is there a chart or site which spells all this out? Edit: never mind, I found some links.
Also the 2nd quarter of 2020 spans from April 1 through June 30, so is the 4th character spelling out 1st half/2nd half of the year or is it quarters?
 

chrfr

macrumors G5
Jul 11, 2009
13,709
7,280
Hi everyone,

Does anyone know by looking at the serial numbers of my replacement AirPods which I got through the service program in October, if my replacement buds were manufactured after October 2020? I still have a rattle and ANC is sub-par.

The two new pods serials start as follows:

GX3DCT4...
GX1D8R3..

Many thanks in advance.
Try this site: https://serial-number-decoder.com/apple-serial-number/apple-serial.php
This also provides some detail: https://beetstech.com/blog/decode-meaning-behind-apple-serial-number
 
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Shadowbech

macrumors G3
Oct 18, 2011
9,038
5,894
Is there a chart or site which spells all this out? Edit: never mind, I found some links.
Also the 2nd quarter of 2020 spans from April 1 through June 30, so is the 4th character spelling out 1st half/2nd half of the year or is it quarters?
I'm not exactly sure, but in terms of serial numbers, the 4th Digit signifies the Year. So if the 4th is C then it's 1st half of 2020. so from Jan. to end of June. if it's D then it's 2nd half of 2020 so from 1st week of July to End of December. So I'm not sure what that entails. but you get the ideal. Also come January, my guess is that the 4th digit will be F and not E since Apple doesn't use Vowels.
 

Joseph C

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Feb 5, 2009
1,452
2,751
The 5th Digit in the serial number is an indication of which week it was made. Since the 4th Digit is D, which is the 2nd quarter of 2020 (July 1 - 12/31/2020). So since your 5th digit is a 8, it is the 8th week from 1st week of July. So that replacement is made on near the end of August. And the one that has a C is few weeks after that, so September.
Thanks.

So the replacements they sent were manufactured prior to October. That might be why I'm still experiencing issues, but it also extremely annoying.
 
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