Apple products are expensive, which is why the counterfeit trade is flourishing. How can you tell fake AirPods from real ones, and how can you recognize a fake charging cable? This is how you recognize fake Apple stuff.
Recognize fake AirPods and Apple stuff
Counterfeit products are a thorn in Apple’s side. The company even has a real investigation unit that scours websites and social media in search of fake AirPods, charging cables and other items.
So Apple tries to protect customers by tackling the sellers. The counterfeit industry is, however big business and if you look a little carefully, you will find more than enough replicas. How can you spot fake Apple stuff? And what are the dangers of this actually?
1. Price and reviews
Counterfeit products are always cheaper than the original. During (online) shopping, the price is therefore the first thing you should pay attention to. You don’t get a new iPhone 12 for 400 euros. Therefore, always check the suggested retail price of the Apple product you want to buy.
Be especially wary when it comes to adapters and cables. Apple’s official accessories are quite expensive. For example, you already pay for a standard charging cable 25 euros. Counterfeit cables often do not exceed a few euros.
Furthermore, it is always useful to read the reviews of previous customers in advance. For example, some fake Apple chargers don’t work at all. When you connect it, your iPhone, iPad or other iDevice will notify you that the accessory is not supported.
2. Check the packaging and the product
Also important: What kind of packaging does the Apple product come in? For example, a charger from Apple itself is in a sealed box. If you have ordered a product from a different brand, pay attention to the attached symbol. This indicates that the accessory has been approved by Apple and is working properly. Incidentally, it is not a guarantee. Some fake iPhone accessory manufacturers also shamelessly copy certificates.
Furthermore, it is always useful to look for the official sales label. This not only shows what kind of product you have, but also the model number, serial number and any additional information. For example, a quick Google search on the model number will show if Apple is selling this product at all.
3. Check serial numbers
If you still have doubts, open the packaging. Official Apple products are always labeled. For example, on the bottom of a charger is the text “Designed by Apple in California”.
You should also find a model number and serial number here. The latter is especially useful. With the serial number you can check whether the product was actually made by Apple.
Do you have an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch that you dispute the authenticity of? Then enter the serial number of the device on the official Apple website. If the product is genuine, you will see here until when you have warranty.
Do you think you’re dealing with fake AirPods? Then take the charging box. The serial number of the (possibly) fake AirPods should be on the bottom of the lid. Does this code not respond to Apple’s website? Then the AirPods are probably fake.
4. Test it
Of course you can also use the possibly fake AirPods or other Apple stuff. Switch on the suspicious smartphone, or put the possibly counterfeit charging cable in your real iPhone. If the charging cable is fake and not supported, you will hear this soon enough
Recognizing a completely fake iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch is a bit more difficult. Especially when this is your first Apple product, it is difficult because you do not know what a real device feels like.
Therefore, try to be critical. Do you see obvious typos during the registration process? Can’t set Dutch? How does the screen react? Everything feels smooth.
Apple is one of the most valuable companies in the world. The build quality is therefore invariably top shelf. Sloppy translation errors do not occur and the process of using a new iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or MacBook remains magical. That’s because it works so easily and intuitively.
For example, if you have to press a button several times because the screen does not respond, it is very likely that you are dealing with a counterfeit.
Advice: to buy or not to buy an Apple counterfeit?
So, is it wise to buy fake AirPods? Not as far as we are concerned. If a seller claims to sell real AirPods, but the earplugs are clearly fake, you compromise on sound quality.
You can of course buy competing earplugs that look almost identical to real AirPods. With these types of headsets you usually compromise on sound quality, but you save a lot on the suggested retail price.
The difference between counterfeit and competition
In particular, make sure that the headset, or another product, is genuine. Apple has an extensive partner program and AirPods have become synonymous with a particular earbud design. This design has been copied many times and not all providers can be described as makers of fake AirPods. Legitimate companies like JBL, Sennheiser and Anker, for example, make excellent competitors.
Be especially careful when you buy via import websites, via advertisements on social media and from private individuals. Sellers should not suggest that they are selling real AirPods, when in reality they are counterfeit. We do not recommend this to anyone: you simply sacrifice the pleasure you will experience and keep the counterfeit industry going.
For the same reason, we do not recommend anyone to get a fake iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or Mac. Apple is known for its high quality and worry-free user experience. You simply will not achieve that degree of pleasure with a counterfeit product.
The dangers of counterfeiting
There are several disadvantages to counterfeit products. Not only are the products of much lower quality than their real counterparts, they are also tested much less intensively. Everyone is familiar with the phenomenon of ‘Chinese cables’ that break after a few times.
In some cases, counterfeit products can even be dangerous. Fake iPhone batteries, for example, are known to catch fire relatively quickly. We also regularly hear that counterfeit chargers cause a short circuit, with all the possible consequences.
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