iPad

It means it was a replacement for another one.

Its not necesecarily refurbished, though in most cases it will be. It can be refurbished or brand new, but there's no way to tell really.

It was given out as a service replacement for another device that was sent in to Apple for repair.

The N prefix is valid.

N indicates it was a replacement. i.e it was provided by Apple as a replacement for a damaged or broken iPad.

• "F": refurbished unit
• "M": retail unit
• "N": replacement unit
• "P": personalized (engraved) unit

The “M” prefix is a valid code - whereas the “N” prefix is not. A quick Google Search suggests that one will be aSpace Grey - and the other is Gold.

The two model numbers you intend to compare otherwise share identical specifications.

When researching the web for models, as “N” prefix are perhaps less likely to be found, you might substitute “M” for “N” with the remaining original characters characters of the code in a [Google] search. The remainder of the full code will be otherwise unchanged.

As such, searching for M******* will discover the actual model spec, but you will known that the “N” indicates an iPad has been through the Apple’s official refurbishment process.

The first is a valid Model Order Number for a base model iPad Air3, WiFi Only, 64GB, Space Grey.

The second Model Order Number appears to be invalid. These numbers begin with “M”.

Phil

You are quite correct - I’ve referred to that very list more than once myself.

It means that the iPad, that now has its model number updated with an “N” prefix, has been refurbished; it is not “new”, but is instead “like new”.