IMEI Check
How to Read an Apple GSX / Verification Report
Apple GSX reports are the closest thing to an official second opinion on a used iPhone. This guide explains warranty, purchase date, carrier, blacklist, replacement and refurbish flags, and when a single check is enough.
Last reviewed 2026-10-26
GSX is Apple’s service information system. An identification report pulls the device record from it and answers, in one shot, most of the questions a buyer or reseller has: is it under warranty, when was it purchased, what carrier is it locked to, has it been replaced, and is it a refurbished unit.
There are several report levels. Buying a Super report for a $50 phone is wasteful; buying a carrier-only check for a high-value iPhone sale is reckless.
Field by field
- Warranty status and activation date: tells you if the device is new, refurbished or out of warranty, and roughly how old it is.
- Purchase date: derived from the original sale — useful when a seller claims “bought last month”.
- Locked carrier / activation policy: the field that decides whether you need an unlock.
- GSMA blacklist and replacement flag: whether the IMEI was ever reported or swapped.
- Model number and country: a device sold as “US model” that reports a China model number is the classic resale fraud case.
Which report to buy
- Buying a cheap phone and just need the carrier: SIM lock check.
- Selling or buying a mid-range iPhone: identification report (carrier + blacklist + replacement + refurbish).
- High-value device or a bulk purchase: Super identification report, which bundles warranty, carrier, GSMA, iCloud status and MDM with a picture.
- Warranty dispute: warranty pro check on the serial number, which includes the remaining coverage window.
Note
Some Apple data sources go offline for scheduled maintenance (notably Sunday 16:00–20:00 provider time). If a report returns partial data inside that window, rerun it later instead of opening a dispute.Where the report stops
GSX tells you what the carrier and Apple databases say. It does not tell you whether the screen was replaced by a third party, whether the battery is genuine, or whether the device has water damage. Physical inspection is still required for those.
Services used in this guide
These are the exact catalogue entries this guide refers to. Prices and turnaround are live.
Open the catalogueFrequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Does a GSX report require the device?
No — an IMEI or Apple serial number is enough, which is why it can be used before purchase.
Can a report show “no warranty” on a new phone?
Yes, if the device was refurbished, purchased outside the covered region, or its activation warranty was consumed by a replacement.
What does “replacement” mean in the report?
The original IMEI/serial was issued for a unit that was later swapped by Apple. A replacement flag means the physical device and the record may not match — investigate before buying.
Related guides
Apple activation locks
iCloud Activation Lock, FMI & MDM: What Each Lock Means
iCloud ON, FMI ON, MDM on, Lost Mode — these are four different locks with four different removal paths. Misidentifying which one a device has is the number one cause of failed removals.
GSMA blacklist
GSMA Blacklist Check: Buying a Used Phone Safely
A GSMA blacklist entry is the difference between a working phone and a device that loses signal anywhere in the world. Here is what the flag means, how it is raised, and whether it can be removed.
SIM lock status
Check iPhone SIM Lock Status by IMEI
A five-minute procedure to find out which carrier an iPhone is locked to, before you buy an unlock service — or before you buy the phone at all.