While Apple has moved to randomized serial numbers in recent years (starting around 2021), older serial numbers contained "secret" information about the manufacturing process.
Note: If you have a modern device (12-character randomized serial), this information is no longer encoded visibly. You must use the "Check Coverage" page to see the year of manufacture via the warranty expiration date.
To check if a device is clean (Find My off), Apple provides a dedicated portal:
False. On modern Macs and iPhones, the serial number is fused to the security chip (T2 or Secure Enclave). Altering it requires microsoldering and specialized tools—and it is illegal in many jurisdictions.
