All iPads Serial number lookup lists impossible purchase date

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I looked up my iPad‘s serial number online for… no reason whatsoever really. Just curiosity, I guess.
I bought it used, if that’s of any importance.

Be that as it may, the serial number lookup returned a purchase date of sometime in 1978. While this iPad is not all that new, it’s also not *that* old
Why would it return an impossible purchase date?

 

[DeltaMac]

Apple serial numbers are random, since about 2021? The serial number no longer stores the week of manufacture/location/whatever, and is simply an ID for the Apple device.
Searchable database does not work since then on new devices.
Could be that a random serial just randomly shows an impossible year combination as a random result.
The best way to find out anything now, is to look up the model number, so that you know for sure which iPad you have. You will no longer get detailed info by searching for the serial number.

 

[kevcube]

devices are not serialized at time of purchase, why would this database contain your purchase information?

 

[chrfr]

I looked up my iPad‘s serial number online for… no reason whatsoever really. Just curiosity, I guess.
I bought it used, if that’s of any importance.

Where did you look this up? Obviously the tool is wildly incorrect.

 

[winxmac]

I looked up my iPad‘s serial number online for… no reason whatsoever really. Just curiosity, I guess.
I bought it used, if that’s of any importance.

Be that as it may, the serial number lookup returned a purchase date of sometime in 1978. While this iPad is not all that new, it’s also not *that* old
Why would it return an impossible purchase date?

From Apple Discussions:
iPhone purchase date is 1 april 1978
Purchase date is in 1978 !!
ASIS iPhone with purchased date 1978
Purchase Date being April 1978 + No Warranty + 5G model number

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

Where did you look this up? Obviously the tool is wildly incorrect.

Here.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

devices are not serialized at time of purchase, why would this database contain your purchase information?

I didn’t want my purchase information - I just wanted to see what it gives me at all. When it then gave me a weird date, I was curious as to why it would do that.

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

From Apple Discussions:
iPhone purchase date is 1 april 1978
Purchase date is in 1978 !!
ASIS iPhone with purchased date 1978
Purchase Date being April 1978 + No Warranty + 5G model number

The first link seems to have the explanation for it. Interesting.
‘Thanks

 

[Homme]

Apple serial numbers are random, since about 2021? The serial number no longer stores the week of manufacture/location/whatever, and is simply an ID for the Apple device.
Searchable database does not work since then on new devices.
Could be that a random serial just randomly shows an impossible year combination as a random result.
The best way to find out anything now, is to look up the model number, so that you know for sure which iPad you have. You will no longer get detailed info by searching for the serial number.

Since the iPhone 12s in Purple were released ( and this is what makes the Purple iPhone 12’s better than the rest of the iPhone 12 color lineup)

 

[Chancha]

The closest you can get is to check the battery manufacture date. This can be accessed by the analytic logs deep inside Settings > Privacy, but it is much easier to just use coconutBattery on the Mac, plug the iPad in the Mac and it will show you that date in the window.