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How to check a new phone or laptop

Updated September 27, 2026

A brand-new device can have faults too: dead pixels, backlight bleed, a crackly speaker, a dead key. A "new" boxed device can also turn out to be already activated, an ex-display unit or a refurbished one in a fresh box. Most stores only swap a faulty device for a new one within the first days (often 7 to 30, depending on the store), so check it during the first week.

Tip: read the store's return policy: how many days you have, which faults qualify (some only replace a screen above a certain number of dead pixels), and whether the box and accessories must be intact.

1. The box and the IMEI

  • The box is sealed, with no sign of being opened and resealed.
  • The IMEI and serial on the box match the device (dial *#06# or check Settings › About) and the receipt.
  • All accessories listed on the box are there.

2. Is it really new?

  • iPhone, iPad, Mac: enter the serial on Apple's coverage check page. For a new device the coverage start date should be your purchase date (or it asks you to validate the purchase date). An activation date months ago means it was sold, activated or used as a display unit before.
  • Battery cycle count should be close to zero: iPhone 15 and later show it in Settings › General › About; on a MacBook see System Information › Power; on Windows run powercfg /batteryreport. A few dozen cycles means it has been used.
  • Samsung: check the warranty by IMEI on Samsung's support site for your country; the activation date should match your purchase.
  • An iPhone Model Number starting with F (Settings › General › About) is an Apple refurbished unit, not a new one.

3. The screen

The screen is the most common fault on a new device, and the easiest to get replaced. Check for dead and stuck pixels with solid colours, backlight bleed (LCD laptops and iPads) with black in a dark room, and tint with white.

Dead pixel, backlight bleed and burn-in testFind dead or stuck pixels, backlight bleed, burn-in and lines on a phone or laptop screen. Eight full-screen colours, free, no app to install.

If it's sold as a 90, 120 or 144 Hz screen, measure the refresh rate. Then fill the touch grid to find dead zones.

4. Sound, cameras, sensors

5. A new laptop

  • Keyboard: press every key with the keyboard test. New laptops can still have a dead or sticky key.
  • Touchpad: clicks and two-finger scrolling, with the touchpad test.
  • The specs you paid for: RAM, storage, processor. Check Task Manager › Performance (Windows) or About This Mac, and compare with the device info test.
  • Windows is activated: Settings › System › Activation.
  • Fans and whine: run the CPU test for a few minutes and listen for odd fan noise or loud coil whine.
  • Try every port: USB, HDMI, headphone jack, charging over USB-C.

6. Battery and charging

Plug in the charger: it should start charging immediately, and fast-charge as advertised. The battery test flags every plug and unplug and measures the drain rate in use.

7. Keep the evidence

Save the results as a PDF or a report link on the soimay.com Results page. If you need to return the device, you have a report showing the fault and when you found it. Keep the box, accessories and receipt intact until the return window closes.

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