October 29, 2026, 7:57 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Manipulated iPhone returns are increasingly causing problems in Apple Stores. A well-known technique is now expected to help detect fraud without having to open each package individually.
Returns Become a Problem
Returning an iPhone sometimes creates additional control efforts for Apple. The issue stems from a scam where customers remove accessories, components, or even the entire smartphone from the packaging and then reseal it for return. In some cases, this is done systematically to sell the removed parts on the used market.
For Apple, this not only means potential financial loss. The company must also prevent a manipulated return from being sold to another customer. To ensure the complete device is in the box, employees previously had to open and check returns each time. Even with a flawless return, there are consequences. An opened package cannot simply be placed back on the shelf as unopened new merchandise. Apple now aims to solve this problem with technical assistance.
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Apple Relies on Its Presto Technology
Instead of opening the packaging, employees will soon be able to check returned iPhones using Apple’s Presto technology. The scanning devices will determine if everything is in order with the smartphone while it remains in its packaging. If the device passes the inspection, the box can stay sealed and the iPhone can be immediately resold.
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The technology being used is not entirely new. Apple already uses Presto in its stores to prepare packaged iPhones for sale. Among other things, software updates can be performed without unpacking the smartphone. Now, the technology is taking on an additional role to assist Apple in managing returns.
First Devices Already in Apple Stores
The first devices for the new inspection process reportedly arrived in various Apple Stores in early October 2026 and are now in use. For the company, this could simplify handling returns: manipulated packages should be more reliably detected, while flawless, sealed devices can be resold more quickly.
However, it remains unclear what information the system captures during such an inspection. Apple has not yet explained whether the new control option might be extended to other devices in the future.