Apple will soon make a significant change to its serial number format for future products that will remove some important information, and the company is now preparing to roll it out.
The new serial number format will consist of a random alphanumeric string of 8-14 characters. It will no longer contain any manufacturing information or a configuration code. The IMEI numbers, however, will not be affected. All currently delivered Apple products will continue to use the current serial number format, while future products will receive the new format. The new serial numbers will initially be 10 characters long. Now Cupertino has advised authorized premium resellers to prepare for new products with 10- and 12-character serial numbers. Consequently, it is assumed that the first products with the said serial number format will be presented as part of the “Spring Loaded” event, which reported MacRumors. In fact, in a new memo, Apple has asked authorized resellers and distributors to ensure that their "systems, warehouses, and processes are in place and capable of receiving and shipping the two serial number formats."
Serial numbers on Apple products: Prevent fraud
Apple's current serial number format has long allowed both customers and service providers to determine the date and place where a product was manufactured. The first three characters represent the place of manufacture, while the following two indicate the year and week of manufacture. The last four characters currently serve as a "configuration code" that indicates the model, color and storage capacity of a device. Accordingly, the new serial number format, based on randomness, should prevent further cases of fraud - at least it would be much more difficult to decipher the serial number. The change would have originally should take place at the end of 2020. The reason for the delay is not known. (Photo by Unsplash / Julian O'hayon)
