The sad reality of today’s world is that fake goods and copies are all too frequent, especially for pricey and highly desired items. This is why the fake goods market frequently targets Apple items.
AirPods have attracted the attention of imitators, and if you are not careful, you might end up with fake AirPods. Fake iPhones were once a common occurrence. Fortunately, there are techniques you can use to recognize phony AirPods and AirPods Pro 2 and protect yourself.
Actually, pairing phony AirPods with your iPhone is the simplest way to identify them. Apple just updated iOS 16 with a new verification check to identify fake AirPods.
iOS will notify consumers that their headphones are fraudulent when fake AirPods are linked. “These headphones could not be validated as genuine AirPods and may not behave as expected,” the notice states.
Users can still pair or utilize fake AirPods because of this functionality. It merely alerts them to the fact that they are using fake AirPods. You can verify the authenticity of AirPods Pro 2 with a different test.
The Memoji Test is the name of it. If you etched a Memoji on the charging case for the AirPods Pro 2, your iPhone and iPad will display the carved Memoji or text on the status screen.
How to Compare Real Headphones With Fake AirPods?
We’ll go over the easiest-to-identify counterfeit product warning indicators. Included are the AirPod’s serial number, the way they are boxed up, and the extras that come with them.
We won’t go over more in-depth evaluations, such as their frequency response or noise isolation qualities, though.
Packaging
The package variations become most apparent when put side by side. Make careful to check the shrink-wrap or clear plastic wrap, if any, before you even get to the packaging.
The shrink-wrapping is typically tight and smooth on genuine products. In contrast, the shrink-wrapping on certain counterfeit goods appears loose, has holes, or exhibits other anomalies.
There are a few telltale signs of a fake product on the product’s actual box or package. On a brand-new box, if the colors appear slightly off or faded, they are probably fakes.
Additionally, you should look over the wording on the box because spelling errors are frequently the most obvious sign of a fraudulent product. To obtain a better idea of whether a product is genuine or not, you can sometimes also look at the spacing or visibility of the writing as well as whether any information is missing.
However, keep in mind that certain products have various packaging depending on the market, so using packaging may be less accurate or more challenging, particularly if you don’t have the actual product to compare it to. Even though con artists these days are highly intelligent, they nevertheless make errors that you can use to identify phony AirPods.
Look closely at the AirPods box’s packing; if you find any typos, extra gaps, printing errors, or pixelated images, the AirPods aren’t real. Even the packaging’s quality can indicate whether something is phony.
A genuine article will never be insufficient. A poor user experience is a good indication that the product is fake because Apple pays great attention to the packing.
Serial Numbers
You may check an AirPods pair’s legitimacy using its serial number if you’re not sure. On the underside of the charging case’s lid, you may find the serial number for your AirPods or AirPods Pro 2.
On the left earcup of the AirPods Max, on the other hand, is where the serial number is printed. To see it, you’ll need to take off the magnetic ear cushion. Visit checkcoverage.apple.com as soon as you get the serial number.
The appropriate AirPods warranty and extra coverage information will be displayed on this website. You will experience the expected outcomes if your AirPods are real. The website will display an error message if they are bogus.
Design
You can tell whether an AirPod is phony or real by looking at its design. If you see any extra vents, alignment issues, or form changes between the AirPods in your hand and the ones listed on the Apple website, you’re holding a fake.
With vents and grills, counterfeiters frequently aren’t as cautious, so those features can identify a fake. In the event of a genuine item, even the printing on the case and AirPods will be of the highest caliber.
If you have AirPods or AirPods Pro 2 in a color other than white, they are counterfeit. These are only available in white from Apple.
However, the AirPods Max is available in five hues: pink, silver, sky blue, green, and space grey. Checking if fake AirPods lack a feature or function that they should have is another approach to identifying them.
The AirPods Pro 2 must, for instance, feature wireless charging. These AirPods’ charging case is a fake if it doesn’t enable wireless charging.
When the case is opened, your AirPods should likewise instantly connect to your iPhone. Usually, the counterfeit versions lack Apple’s Instant Connect feature. Additionally, the Bluetooth settings will display the AirPods icon next to the device name as soon as your AirPods are connected to an iPhone or a MacBook.
If you don’t see an icon, the AirPods you’re holding are fake. By 2022, all AirPods will also have a lightning port for charging. If your AirPods are charging via USB Type-C or Micro-USB, they are phony.
Online Purchase
You won’t be able to use your AirPods until they are delivered if you ordered them online. In order to protect your money, you can look for a few things before submitting the order.
Read user and seller feedback on the listing and steer clear of offers that seem too good to be true.
Additionally, it is usually preferable to purchase items from reputable merchants on Amazon, the Apple website, or other well-known e-commerce platforms.
How to Avoid Buying Fake AirPods?
Purchasing Airpods directly from the manufacturer or from the brand’s website is a simple approach to avoid buying imitation or copycat models.
Although they are typically a little more expensive than when purchased from independent merchants, there is extremely little possibility that they will be counterfeit.
Here are some of our suggestions for where to buy genuine Airpods because there are numerous trustworthy dealers and merchants.
| apple.com | All Apple headphones, as well as the more modern Beats headphones. |
| amazon.com | Most modern and antique headphones. |
| bestbuy.com | For the majority of both new and vintage headphones, you may purchase in-store. |
| bhphotovideo.com | For newer and more modern headphones. |
| walmart.com | For the majority of both new and vintage headphones, you may purchase in-store. |
Make sure Amazon is the only company selling and shipping the headphones, not a third-party vendor using Amazon as a platform.
If possible, read user reviews if you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a product or the reliability of an online vendor. These reviews can help you determine whether you’re more likely to purchase a fake product.
Where Can I Get My AirPods Authenticated?
After reading this article, if you’re still not sure if your AirPods are authentic or not, the Legit Check App provides an authentication service to assuage your concerns.
You can send us high-quality images of your Apple AirPods and we will respond with the results within 24 to 48 hours if you are unsure about your ability to follow this guide or are just short on time.
A report on our suspicions regarding the authenticity of your AirPods will be included with the results.
Conclusion
- Without a side-by-side comparison, it might be challenging to distinguish between real and imitation headphones, especially if you don’t have a chance to test them out first.
- Verify the packaging; counterfeits may have worn, faded, or slightly different colors than the genuine article. If the packing has shrink-wrap, make sure it is secured well, not being loose or badly packed. Additionally, look for any unusual markings or spelling errors.
- Verify the contents of the box because fake accessories frequently consist of spare parts that don’t fit the headphones’ color or theme. Ensure that the warranty information and all other accessories are included.
- Check or register the serial number because fakes frequently have a false S/N or several, mismatched S/Ns for the same headphones.
- If you want brand-new, unused headphones, buying directly from the manufacturer or brand or an authorized seller is the best method to ensure authenticity and have the option of a refund or return, if necessary.
- Finally, compare prices. If there is a sale, it probably won’t be available only at one store, and if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is a fake product.