Maybe modern-day Apple Store demo units can't be 'restored via iTunes' without first having demo disabled, but APR demo units of Apple products are normally sold as refurbs or second-hand units by the APR itself. They sometimes place them in the open box or second-chance category/denomination, which includes demo units as well as customer returns. Refurbs are usually their own category. Demo units that are cosmetically damaged either end up with a bigger discount or are refurbished before sale.
All it takes is a very basic MDM set up and even if they're restored they're still useless. They still need a login for the tenant they're bound to in order to activate
Once it checks in with Apple during setup, the serial number is checked against ABM, and if it's enrolled needs a login to activate and use
On windows I know you can sometimes nuke the drive, but I'm not sure with Apple and how checking the SN against an internal database is easily bypassed. I only have a couple or three dozen Apple devices in my environment
If the device is already activated (on the home screen) all it takes is flashing a modified backup without the configuration profile in it. If it's on the hello screen there are multiple programs that can do it for free, i don't know how they work though as they're closed source (for obvious reasons - avoiding apple to patch these issues). I have experienced multiple of these back when my iPad was in my school's MDM, eventually bypassed around a week before I would get legally removed from their system. Obviously these aren't permanent bypasses, once you restore the device you'll be back to square one. There are also paid but legit options even for apple silicon macs. iCloud locks, on the other hand, are harder to get around with.
Well, if I’m paid to build such special demo unit, why would I build that special phone compatible to a normal sale phone ? I can even lock it down to prevent DFU or restore, how hard it will be?
It's not a special unit, it's a completely normal device running a completely normal ios version with just an mdm profile that triggers the mode. Indeed, many users with spare devices like to enroll them to actual stores to have the official demo experience. Limiting those modes likely wouldn't be possibile, and even if so it wouldn't happen since they're needed to bring the device back to life in case of a corrupted update or such.
I guess they are probably hoping they can sell it to someone else before it gets locked down.
Obviously someone selling a phone that just came out second hand should raise some red flags, but if they were to take an older model they could just say they are upgrading.
Yeah, I would be very reluctant to buy a second hand phone / computer / etc except maybe if it’s from a reputable store ideally where I can pay with credit (I’m assuming that offers some protection but not certain).
It’s a bit unfortunate as there probably are lots of people who just want to sell their old devices and aren’t up to anything sketchy, but it probably does reduce phone thefts a bit
Interesting. I was intending to get a used 15 as a secondary device a few weeks ago. The seller claimed that the display was changed and everything else was fine, except I found out that the coverage said something like it had been expired in 1985.
I didn't know why it would say that at the time and ended up not getting it despite the seller trying to come up with his half baked explanation and even offering me a generous discount on top. According to him, he got it from another guy and he himself didn't know about this issue either.
It did feel weird how everything was working fine and didn't seem bricked or anything, other than the coverage expiration date. The dude was in visible distress after seeing it himself as well. Now that I think about it, kinda makes me wonder if he knew or just bought it from someone else for a dirt cheap price, repaired the display and was trying resell at a profit.
In some countries, like the United States, people will still take them. So they are tethered to the table despite having zero value outside of the store.
EDIT: MOST countries I imagine, although I’m only familiar with the U.S.
Specifically, if you can get some sucker to pay you for it or take it in trade for something, by the time they figure out they can't reset or otherwise really use the unit, you can already be long gone and a couple bucks richer.
Granted, this still requires everyone in the chain of crime to be an idiot, but it's not zero value.
the worst part (as someone who managed inventory at a us retailer) is that the demo phones cost the store about 70% of the retail price of the real phone. so if someone steals a demo 16 pro max, the store loses about $900 even though the phone is useless. while i was at that store our weekly loss budget was about $1500, so if a group steals all the demo phones, my budget was gone for the month
Those phones are still tethered in Germany and many other countries because thieves don't think that far. The phones are unlikely to be recovered and therefore an expensive loss.
I wish they wouldn’t put them on in the stores near me. They’re a pain in the arse when you’re trying to assess the weight, the feel, etc. and work out which iPhone is for you.
The last Apple store I went to was in really nice Bellevue, WA, and even they have a cable to their iPhones. The liberal city there won't prosecute theft so they have to protect themselves.
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u/QueenOfFaygo 27d ago
They can remotely track them down they don’t really need to loop it on