Let us start with the basics and give you the definitions of an Apple IMEI Check and an iPhone Checker.
Apple IMEI Check: It is a report that contains the full history of an IMEI number. This history log consists of a very large number of information related with the device’s lock status.
iPhone Checker: It is an online tool that is able to get access to certain databases in order to generate an Apple IMEI Check report. Also, a few iPhone Checkers will convert those reports to a more readable version which is easy to comprehend.
Having an accurate Apple IMEI Check report is essential, especially to the following cases:
- If you want to know why your iPhone is not fully operational
- If it has a lock issue but you do not know how to unlock it
- If you plan on buying a second-hand iPhone
By using an iPhone Checker, you will get the right answers to the above questions.
What Apple IMEI Check includes?
The report from an Apple IMEI Check is very technical and it will contain many pages of “weird” statuses.
The information that will help you to identify the lock status of an iPhone, iPad, iPod (All Apple’s devices) are the following:
- SIM-Lock status
- Carrier Lock
- Blacklist status
- iCloud status
- Contract & Financial status
- IMEI/Serial Replacement status
These information are being fetched with their technical format (A simple text file with values and numbers), which means that only someone who has experience on GSX reports can understand them.
This is why an iPhone Checker is important, since it can “translate” those values and numbers into an easy to understand report.
Apple’s IMEI coverage check is an example of an iPhone Checker (But with very limited info).
How an iPhone Checker provides an Apple IMEI Check report?
Information about IMEI numbers are not for public use. This means that only authorized partners with those databases can access them and retrieve any necessary information.
The companies that offer Apple IMEI Check services through their iPhone Checkers MUST have authorized access to the following databases:
- GSX databases (Apple’s databases)
- GSMA databases (Worldwide databases)
- iCloud databases (Apple’s databases)
GSX databases contain information about SIM-Lock, Carriers, IMEI/Serial replacements, Repairs, Contract, Warranty and Hardware info, GSMA databases contain information about Blacklist status and iCloud databases about the Find My iPhone/iPad/iPod & iCloud status. We have a very detailed article “Why & How to Check the IMEI numner of your iPhone & finally unlock it” about this process.
When should you use an online iPhone Checker?
Based on the questions of our visitors, we were able to highlight the 3 most common situations where an Apple IMEI Check through an iPhone Checker makes total sense:
- When an iPhone cannot make a phone calls with a SIM-Card
- When an iPhone does not get a network signal
- When a user cannot access their iPhone properly
- When a person wants to buy a second-hand iPhone
- When a person wants to unlock an iPhone
1 – iPhone cannot make phone calls
Usually there are two reasons that prevent an iPhone from using different SIM-Cards.
The first is because the iPhone is SIM-Locked, which means that it can only use a SIM-Card from a specific mobile network.
The second is because the iPhone might not be compatible with the type of that SIM-card or with that Mobile Network.
In both cases, an Apple IMEI Check report will find which of these two issues is responsible.
2 – iPhone does not have network signal
This case also has two possible explanations.
The first is that it might simply be due to weak or absence of a network signal to the current area.
The second is that the iPhone’s IMEI number might be banned from one or more mobile networks (This is means that it might be blacklisted).
The iPhone Checker can find if the network signal issue is due to a blacklist problem, but it does not contain any information about the signal strength of an area.
3 – User cannot access the iPhone properly
Here there multiple reasons, from a hardware issue, a passcode lock or even an iCloud lock.
An IMEI report is able to find if any repairs were made to that iPhone which might give a hint. Also, since the iPhone Checker has access to the iCloud databases, it can find if it is an iCloud related issue.
4 – Buying a second-hand iPhone
This is when an Apple IMEI Check is more crucial than ever.
A full report from an iPhone Checker will analyse and show if that iPhone has issues that will prevent you from using it properly.
It is the best way to avoid buying a “bad” iPhone and get scammed.
5 – Trying to Unlock an iPhone
If someone wants to simply unlock an iPhone, then it is mandatory to know all the information about it.
Apart from that, these information must be up to date and not from 1 week or month ago.
However, the services for unlocking an iPhone have specific requirements that only an expert can “decipher” them. An iPhone Checker will not only present the overall status of an iPhone, but it will also include suggestions with services that can fix it.
So, if you do not want to gamble your money by picking a service that you might think it will work, you should get an Apple IMEI Check which includes a suitable unlocking service based on your iPhone’s status.
Are there any free online iPhone checkers with full Apple IMEI Check reports?
Many of our visitors asks us why they should pay for an Apple IMEI Check and if they can use some of the free iPhone Checkers out there.
Access to IMEI databases is not free. Each time a company tries to access GSX, GSMA and iCloud databases has to get charged.
The Free iPhone Checkers use private databases that are not accurate and up to date. This means that their Apple IMEI Check reports will not give you information you can use to identify an iPhone’s lock issues and unlock it safely.
Our view on Apple IMEI Check services
We understand the need of someone to purchase a used iPhone due to its lower price.
Unlocking it is also a very important thing, because using any SIM-Card you want is something you should be able to do without any limitations.
Unfortunately, buying a used iPhone or trying to unlock it hides many traps that can be time & money consuming (a lot of money).
An legit iPhone Checker will be able to provide you an accurate and up to date Apple IMEI Check report, which will explain you everything you need about your iPhone.
- You will learn if it has any lock issues
- You will learn if there are available unlocking services
- It will prevent from you buying a network locked, blacklisted or iCloud locked iPhone
- It will save you time and money
One of the most popular iPhone Checker companies that offer Apple IMEI Check service is iPhoneUnlock.Zone. We have tested and verified their services multiple times and we highly recommend them.