October 26, 2026
Apple is preparing to introduce a new tool into its stores that allows iPhone phones to be inspected and verified for safety while they are still inside their sealed packaging, in a move aimed at reducing fraudulent transactions related to returning products and reducing losses resulting from inventory tampering.
This step comes in light of the increasing fraudulent methods targeting the company’s stores. A report by the Digital Trends website indicates that some customers return iPhone boxes after removing the accessories or grabbing the hardware components, while others resort to removing the phone and returning the box only to sell the seized parts through unofficial channels. Previously, store employees had to open sealed packages to verify their contents, which required additional complex procedures before returning the product to stock.
The new tool relies on the “Presto” system, which Apple originally developed to update iPhone devices and equip them wirelessly before selling them, including installing software updates and customizing the initial setup screen to show the customer’s name after the “Hello” message, a feature that was also presented with the launch of the foldable “iPhone Duo” phone.
According to journalist Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, the new devices dedicated to this task began arriving in Apple stores during early October 2026 and are currently entering the operational phase, thus expanding the scope of the use of the Presto system to include checking devices instead of limiting it to updating software and preparing phones for sale.
The importance of the new system lies in helping employees verify the integrity of devices without the need to open packages or conduct manual checks that are disruptive to the resale process. If tampering or defective components of a returned device are suspected, a diagnostic test allows the condition of the device to be monitored while the packaging remains closed, reducing the need for the company to process opened packages before putting them back on the market as new products.
However, Apple did not publicly reveal all the technical details of the system, nor did it explain precisely the types of malfunctions or tampering methods it can detect. Nor does using the new tool mean the complete elimination of all forms of fraud or absolutely guarantee the authenticity of every sealed package.
This advanced technology contributes to improving inventory management and reducing the time it takes to deal with returns with high efficiency, at a time when there is still uncertainty surrounding whether Apple will expand the use of the “Presto” system in the future to include additional operations or other products within its stores.
