Beginning in early 2021, Apple intends to use randomized serial numbers for future products. In a memo obtained by MacRumors, the company instructs authorized resellers and dealers to ensure that their “systems, warehouses, and processes are in place and capable of receiving and shipping the two serial number formats.”
Apple’s products currently use a 12-digit serial number format. While the alphanumeric format may appear random on the surface, it actually contains critical production information such as the production date and time. Such information will be more difficult to decipher with the new randomized serial number format, which Apple says will initially start at 10 digits.
Apple’s reminder to authorized partners comes less than a week before the company’s “Spring Loaded” event on Tuesday, April 20. That event is expected to herald the release of new iPad Pros with mini-LED displays, as well as the long-awaited release of the company’s AirTags tracker. a button
