Fake iPhone Battery, Copy Screens and Clone Phones in Pakistan: How to Check Original

Copy parts sold as original

'Original' is the most used word at a repair counter and the hardest to prove by looking. Apple lists the problems it sees with non-genuine screens (touch faults, True Tone missing, wrong brightness), batteries (low capacity, poor fit, safety issues) and cameras (soft focus, Portrait mode problems). If you notice any of these after a repair, ask which part was fitted.

The simplest protection is paper: ask for a written receipt that names the part (new genuine, used or pulled from another phone, or third-party), the price and the warranty period. A shop that is confident about its part has no reason to refuse.

Battery health that looks too good

A high battery health number on a used iPhone is not proof of a good battery. Apple says that if a battery is unverified, the battery health information might not be accurate. Do not trust the percentage on its own: open Settings > General > About and look at the battery entry in Parts and Service History. A battery marked Unknown means the health figure should be treated with caution.

On a phone that is a few years old, a perfect 100% with no service history is also worth a question. Ask when and where the battery was replaced, and ask for that bill.

• iPhone battery replacement in Pakistan
• Battery health on used phones

How to check an original iPhone screen, battery and camera

Apple's Parts and Service History is in Settings > General > About on iOS 15.2 and later. It appears only if the phone has been repaired, and labels each part Genuine, Used, Unknown or (for the logic board) Unverified. Apple says the battery is covered on iPhone XR, XS, SE (2nd and 3rd generation) and later, the display on iPhone 11 and later, and the cameras and logic board on iPhone 12 and later.

• Genuine: the repair used genuine Apple parts and processes.
• Used: the genuine part was already used in another iPhone.
• Unknown: the part may be non-genuine, not working as expected, or not linked to this iPhone.
• Unverified: the logic board was used in another iPhone, which Apple says can affect features such as Apple Pay.

Refurbished, fake or clone phones sold as new

Cloned phones and tampered IMEIs are a real problem in Pakistan, not a rumour. The Nation reported on 12 June 2025 that PTA had intensified its crackdown on IMEI tampering and the sale of cloned devices. ProPakistani reported on 27 May 2025 that PTA and the NCCIA raided a Karachi repair shop accused of tampering with IMEIs and selling patched phones.

For an iPhone, enter the serial number on Apple's coverage page, checkcoverage.apple.com. It shows the model and the warranty status Apple holds for that serial. If the model does not match what you are buying, or a 'new' phone shows a purchase date and warranty already running, ask why before you pay. Match the serial in Settings > General > About with the box.

For a Samsung, run the free diagnostic in the Samsung Members app (Support > Phone diagnostics) or Settings > Device care > Diagnostics. Samsung describes these as checks of the device's hardware, including the battery.

IMEI and PTA checks before you buy

Dial *#06# on the phone to show its IMEI. Match it with the IMEI on the box and on the bill. Then send the IMEI by SMS to 8484, or check it on PTA's DIRBS portal, dirbs.pta.gov.pk. PTA approved means the IMEI is registered in DIRBS; a non-PTA phone stops working with Pakistani SIMs after the grace period. A screen, battery or camera repair should never change the IMEI, so check *#06# again after any repair.

• PTA approved vs non-PTA explained

A five-minute checklist

Do these in person, on the phone itself, not from screenshots.

• *#06#: the IMEI matches the box and bill.
• 8484 or DIRBS: the IMEI shows as PTA approved.
• iPhone: Settings > General > About, check the serial and any Parts and Service History.
• iPhone: the serial on checkcoverage.apple.com matches the model.
• Samsung: run Phone diagnostics in Samsung Members.
• Any repair: a written receipt naming the part, price and warranty.

• Mobile repair shop guide
• Common used-phone scams in Pakistan
• Inspect a used phone before you pay

How can I check if my iPhone screen is original?

On iPhone 11 and later, open Settings > General > About. If the phone has been repaired, Parts and Service History shows the display as Genuine, Used or Unknown.

How do I know if my iPhone battery is fake?

Check Parts and Service History in Settings > General > About (iPhone XR, XS and later). Unknown can mean a non-genuine battery, and Apple says the battery health figure may then be inaccurate.

How do I check if an iPhone is fake or refurbished in Pakistan?

Enter the serial number from Settings > General > About on checkcoverage.apple.com and confirm the model and warranty status, then match the IMEI with *#06#, the box and the bill.

How do I check an original mobile before buying?

Dial *#06#, match the IMEI with the box and bill, check it with 8484 or PTA's DIRBS portal, run the brand's own diagnostics, and get a written receipt.

Are cloned phones sold in Pakistan?

Yes. The Nation reported in June 2025 that PTA had intensified its crackdown on IMEI tampering and the sale of cloned mobile devices. Check the IMEI with *#06# and 8484 before you pay.