iPhone 8/Plus What does F denote in the part no of a refurb iPhone?

[AMSOS]

I've just got a "new" iPhone 8 refurbished unit. After ordering it I was also looking around and came across this page -

https://www.macrumors.com/guide/buying-refurbished-apple-products/

It says in the section on refurb iPhones that with the part no M always denotes a new phone. But it is not clear what F denotes. My phone's part number starts with F and on the box it says "Apple Certified Pre-Owned."

I also went into CALL TIME in Cellular. At the end it shows Current Period and Lifetime as both 0 minutes. I know from the link above that even with a fresh install the lifetime and call time can't be set to 0. Does this mean the phone has not been used at all? It's a refurb and that's hard to believe! I am not sure what's going on here.

I'd appreciate if you tell what tests or other things I can check to figure out the antecedents of this unit. This is my first refurb buy and I am curious

Thanks!

 

[JPack]

I also went into CALL TIME in Cellular. At the end it shows Current Period and Lifetime as both 0 minutes. I know from the link above that even with a fresh install the lifetime and call time can't be set to 0. Does this mean the phone has not been used at all? It's a refurb and that's hard to believe! I am not sure what's going on here.

I'm pretty sure the Lifetime stat can be reset. You can make a call, then completely reset the device and set it up as a new phone. The counter will be reset.

 

[AMSOS]

I'm pretty sure the Lifetime stat can be reset. You can make a call, then completely reset the device and set it up as a new phone. The counter will be reset.

Oh, I see. Yeah, that makes sense.
I am definitely liking what I've got. Even though it's so similar to the earlier 7 but I have to say it's smoother and there's something about using it that makes me not go back to the 7 now ;p)
Since this does have 1 year of warranty I'll just use it well and care for it and hope for the best. There is no point blowing $150 on AP+

 

[Newtons Apple]

No doubt Apple can do what ever they want when the refurbish a phone. They are assigning a new serial number so you can bet they can reset something as s8mple as hours used.

 

[nordique]

The F just means its a refurb device

In terms of quality, Apple's refurbs are essentially brand new. They are very different than anywhere else that does "pre owned" or "refurbished" products - these ones are indistinguishable from the device you'd buy off the shelf. It's incredible and Apple is the only tech company that I am aware of that does this

they will actually replace parts with new parts, hence why refurbs comes with brand new batteries and screens/body's that have not been touched in a fresh plastic seal

same goes for their computers - they will put in all new outer shells , iPads, accessories...actually all of their refurbished products are "brand new"