SpecsyModels and product details
Keep track of device models so the accessories actually fit
A case for the wrong generation looks identical in a photo and is useless in your hand. The model number is the only thing that decides it.
- Model ID
- A2442
- Year
- 2021
- Charger
- 96W USB-C
- Ports
- HDMI, SD, 3 x USB-C
- Serial
- Photo on card
Accessories are sold by generation, not by name
Two laptops of the same brand and screen size, released a year apart, take different chargers and different cases. The listing says it fits A2338, and you have no idea whether that is yours.
Phone cases are worse, because the difference between two generations is a camera cutout of a few millimetres.
Every device has an identifier that removes the guesswork completely, and almost nobody keeps a list of them.
What to record per device
- The model identifier, the A number or equivalent, not the marketing name
- The year and generation, since listings often use one or the other
- Charger wattage and connector type
- Screen size and any accessory dimension that matters, like a laptop sleeve
- The serial number, photographed, for support and for insurance
Where to find the identifier
- Phone, in settings under About, or engraved on the SIM tray on some models
- Laptop, on the underside in small print, or in the system information screen
- Tablet, on the back near the bottom edge
- Headphones, inside the case lid or on the band under the padding
- Router, on the sticker with the default password
Also useful when you sell it
A second hand listing with the exact model, year and condition sells faster and for more than one that says "laptop, good condition".
The same card that helped you buy a case gives you the listing text three years later, including the original purchase date.
Questions people ask
Do I need this if the device is new?
That is the best moment. The box has every number on it, and the box is the thing most likely to be thrown away first.
Can I store warranty and insurance details too?
Yes, add the purchase date, retailer and any extended cover to the same card, with a photo of the receipt.
What about cables and adapters?
Keep them on the device card rather than as separate items, because the only question you ever ask is which one this device needs.