Imagine this, you recently bought yourself a pair of brand new AirPods. You feel good about yourself and imagine your day-to-day activities with the new AirPods in your ears. Suddenly a random thought flashes through your mind. Are my AirPods fake or real?
Questions like this are always popping up in people’s minds once they have purchased the product. Fake products are a terrible reality of today's world, especially when it comes to items that are valuable and sought after. This is why Apple products are frequently targeted by counterfeiters.
Unless you purchased your AirPods directly from Apple.com or an official Apple retail shop, you should be concerned about whether they are authentic or not, especially if you purchased them from a third-party seller on Amazon or eBay.com.
AirPods are not pricey just because they are Apple-branded; these earphones are expensive because Apple spent a significant amount of money on research and development. Check how fake aipods look like here.
AirPods Authenticity Check
Real AirPods vs Fake
Although completing a visual inspection on a pair of AirPods can help you determine whether they're authentic or fake, it's not a dependable method. It's been more than three years since Apple first debuted the AirPods, and Chinese companies have gotten quite good at replicating the product physically. So, the simplest way to tell if a pair of AirPods is genuine or not is to look for the following features and characteristics of a genuine set of AirPods.
Check the serial number
The most reliable approach to determine whether AirPods are genuine is to go straight to the source: Apple. Apple has a website where you may check the status of a product's warranty. Simply enter the AirPods' serial number, and if they appear, you know they're genuine. If they don't, you've probably come across a pair of fake AirPods. Here's what to do:
Go to Apple's coverage checking tool on your browser (https://checkcoverage.apple.com/).
The serial number for your AirPods may be found on the box or by heading to Settings > Bluetooth > pressing next to the AirPods name if you've already linked them to your iPhone. Enter it in the input box.
Click Continue after entering the serial number and CAPTCHA.
The AirPods are genuine if the tool returns information for that serial number (particularly a valid purchase date).
Try to Pair Them or Check Battery Life
Another surefire way to know if AirPods are genuine is to perform an action that only genuine AirPods can perform. A window appears on the device's screen when you try to pair AirPods with an iPhone or iPad, or when you open already-paired AirPods near those devices. Because that feature relies on the W1 chip, an Apple-designed communications chip, it can only happen with authentic AirPods. That feature is exceedingly unlikely to be imitated by false AirPods.
Follow these steps to discover fake AirPods using this trick:
- Ensure that the AirPods are fully charged.
- Place the AirPods next to an iPhone or iPad that is connected to the internet via Bluetooth. Remove the AirPods from their case.
- The battery screen will appear if the AirPods have already been set up with this smartphone. This indicates that your AirPods are authentic.
- Wait for the connection screen to display if the AirPods haven't been set up with this device yet. If that's the case, your AirPods are the real deal.
Price
Of course, we recognize that there were offers and promotions available across the board that may have allowed you to get an authentic set of AirPods for cheap. So just because you paid $50 or less for your AirPods doesn't imply they're fake though it's a good bet.
The first Apple AirPods retailed for $159, and the AirPods 2 did the same when they were released. The Apple AirPods Pro, on the other hand, retailed for $249 upon launch.
If you bought your AirPods brand-new for under $100 during a Black Friday sale or another super-low discount, you're either lucky or your AirPods aren't legitimate.
Packaging
Observing the packaging is one of the easiest ways to recognize a set of fake AirPods. Unless your AirPods are an expensive 1:1 super replica, a detailed inspection of the box will most likely reveal whether or not they are genuine. However, there are times when a package is so well-made that it appears genuine.
Color: Apple AirPods packaging is a nice, clean white, whereas knock-off models are frequently off-white or yellowish.
Labeling: The original AirPods, AirPods 2, and AirPods Pro all have unique labels that are consistent around the world. If the labels on your box don't match the ones on the originals, it's most likely a fake. If you come across strange stickers or labels that refer to a giveaway, for example, you're dealing with a fake.
Snug Fit: If you've ever purchased an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you're well aware of how tightly Apple bundles its devices. It might not be an authentic Apple product if the packing seems loose and comes off too readily.
Information: Despite the fact that we don't read the technical specifications or any of the information on the packaging. It could be incredibly helpful in determining whether or not you have fake AirPods. There are going to be a few spelling problems because the packaging is normally created in non-English speaking countries. Indeed, if the text is written in Chinese, it's a dead giveaway.
Serial Number: There's a significant probability you're dealing with fake AirPods if your box lacks a serial number or has been tampered with. As a result, make certain to inspect it thoroughly.
According to recent reports, the fake AirPods' manufacturers have gone to great lengths to duplicate the packaging. As a result, you'll need to begin looking for tiny inconsistencies. The text on false boxes, for example, is thicker than genuine packaging.
Since 2017, the San Francisco Font has been Apple's worldwide typeface. So, if you see a box with a different type of font, you should conclude it's a fake because Apple will not jeopardize its brand identity by utilizing different typefaces.
The writing on the original box is usually a plain grey tone. So, if you see strange colors or text in a reflected manner, you can be sure it's a fake. The writing on the fakes is usually thicker.
AirPods Case
When it comes to telling the difference between a real and a fake AirPods, the case is one of the most important signs. The fake AirPod cases, for example, are constructed of less expensive plastic. As a result, it appears to be completely white, as opposed to the actual AirPods case, which appears to be a touch duller. Despite its unassuming appearance, you can tell it's composed of high-quality plastic.
Of course, as the fake AirPods become more and more like the real thing, the latest fake AirPods case is made of the same type of plastic. Certain things, however, cannot be replaced due to financial constraints. Take, for instance, the hinges. The hinges on the counterfeit AirPod are incredibly shiny and polished.
The text is another clear clue. Unlike the authentic AirPods, which have a lot larger text that is bordering on silver and reads "Designed by Apple in California / Assembled in China," the fake ones have a much larger font that is bordering on silver."
Functions and ports
Another approach to check if AirPods are fake is to see if they lack a feature or function that should be offered. The AirPods Pro, for example, must have wireless charging capability. It's a fake if the charging case for these AirPods doesn't support wireless charging.
When the case is opened, your AirPods should automatically connect to your iPhone. The fakes frequently don't have Apple's Instant Connect feature. Furthermore, once your AirPods are linked to your iPhone or MacBook, the AirPods icon will appear next to the device name in the Bluetooth settings. If you don't see an icon, you're dealing with a fake pair of AirPods. All AirPods have a lightning port for charging, and if your AirPods have a different port, such as USB Type-C or Micro-USB, it's a fake.
How to avoid fake AirPods
Buying AirPods from the official Apple Store, Apple's official Amazon store, a trustworthy retailer, or a trusted friend is the best way to avoid fakes. While it's tempting to get the cheapest AirPods from Amazon, it's not a good idea. There's always the chance that these third-party dealers are selling fake AirPods for a very high price.
If you truly want to save money on the Originals, the best option is to get them via the Apple Refurbished store or from reputable Tech Exchange companies or dealers. Of course, eBay is a terrific place to find cheap second-hand AirPods.
If cost is genuinely an issue, the easiest approach to get inexpensive AirPods is to purchase an alternative. Now, I'm not talking about a knockoff or a fake version of an AirPod. I'm referring to True Wireless Earbuds from a reputable brand that is far less expensive than the AirPods. These are made by companies like Samsung, JBL, Amazfit, Xiaomi, Mobvoi, and others. These now essentially offer the same technology and functionality at a much lower cost.
