How to Check iPhone Firmware from Packaging Box Serial Number
If you want to know your iPhone firmware version without unwrap and open up the package, the serial number of iPhone wrote on a sticker on the box may provide you some hint. In fact, if you order a phone online from Apple, it’s possible to see what is your iPhone’s serial number when you check your invoice online, even before before the phone arrives at your hand.
A typical iPhone will have a serial number in the following format: 7T727XYZWH8
The serial number is made up of several blocks which have its own meaning, as explain below:
Digits 1 to 3 (7T7) = Year / Batch code
Digits 4 to 5 (27) = Week of manufacture
Digits 6 to 8 (XZY) = Unique identifier part of the S/N
Digits 9 to 11 (WH8) = 8Gb model
The only significant number in the serial ID number to help you guess which firmware version your iPhone has are digit 4 and digit 5, which show week of manufacturing of the iPhone. It has been known that iPhone version 1.1.1. started shipping to customers from week 39 onwards.
So if your 4th and 5th digits in iPhone serial number is less than 39 (38 or lower), it’s almost certain that the iPhone as firmware 1.0.2. If the number is greater than 39 (40 and higher), it’s also almost certain that the firmware in iPhone will be 1.1.1 or newer, where you probably need to start arranging to return the phone if you’re not planning to use the phone on AT&T. Grey area is when the digits is 39, where the iPhone has equal chances to be 1.0.2 or 1.1.1. To actually check the correct firmware version, you have to use other methods listed below.
