iPhone 12 IMEI Check: Match the Tray, Then Test the Lock
The iPhone 12 is six years old and still swapped daily. Here is how to confirm the IMEI and what 163 US lookups showed.
Check this iPhone 12 IMEI free
See device, blacklist and lock status in seconds — no signup. Dial *#06# on the phone to display its IMEI — or scan a photo or screenshot of that screen, or of the barcode on the phone's box or SIM tray.
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A 2020 phone that is still being traded
Apple introduced the iPhone 12 in 2020 with 64, 128 and 256 GB. Apple's "Identify your iPhone model" page (read 10 November 2026) lists four builds, and names the tray as the place where the IMEI is etched. At six years old it sits at the cheap end of the 5G range, which is why it keeps changing hands.
| A-number | Sold in | Checked on FullIMEI (90 days) |
|---|---|---|
| A2172 | United States | 163 devices |
| A2403 | Other countries and regions | 16 devices |
| A2402 | Canada, Japan | under 10 |
| A2404 | Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao | under 10 |
Counts are distinct handsets between 12 August and 10 November 2026.
Reading the 163 US phones
| A2172 result | Devices | Share of 163 |
|---|---|---|
| Locked to a carrier we read | 42 | 26 % |
| Unlocked | 12 | 7 % |
| Unknown (lock not readable for free) | 109 | 67 % |
Seven per cent unlocked sits between the iPhone 13 at 4 % and the iPhone 11 at 5 %. Few of the phones we checked read unlocked, so a seller promising a "factory unlocked" iPhone 12 should be asked for proof.
Pakistan checks it more than the US
The A2172 lookups were made in Pakistan (46), the United States (36), Indonesia (13) and Mexico (11). Pakistan leads the United States by ten lookups, so many of these phones are being checked outside the market they were built for.
A short buying routine
- Take the tray out and read the etched IMEI.
- Compare it with the number from *#06# and with Settings, General, About.
- Check Battery Health in Settings, Battery: a phone this old often needs a new cell, and a replaced one shows a "Service" note.
- Run the lookup and, if it reads locked, see how the carrier rules release it.
Apple's page gives the model numbers; the counts are ours. A blacklist check is the next step before paying.
Questions people ask
What are the model numbers for the iPhone 12?
Apple lists A2172 for the United States, A2402 for Canada and Japan, A2404 for mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao, and A2403 for other countries and regions.
Where is the IMEI on an iPhone 12?
Apple says it is etched on the SIM tray. Settings, General, About and *#06# show the same number.
Which storage sizes did the iPhone 12 have?
Apple lists 64 GB, 128 GB and 256 GB. There was no 512 GB version.
Can an iPhone 12 still be carrier locked?
Yes. Of 163 US-build units checked in the last 90 days, 54 returned a lock reading from T-Mobile or Metro data and 109 did not.
Is it safe to buy a used iPhone 12 with an unknown lock result?
Unknown only means the lock is not one we read. Ask for the Carrier Lock line in Settings, and for proof the phone is paid off.