Want to know how to distinguish real AirPods from fake ones? Are you afraid of being deceived by unscrupulous sellers? Don't worry, because in this little guide, we'll tell you in detail how to distinguish original AirPods from a fake model - in seven easy steps!
Well, if you don’t have time, then know that the fastest way to distinguish a fake from the original AirPods is by the serial number located inside the headphone case. Once you have the number in your hands, punch it through. If everything on the site matches, you have an original; if not, it’s a fake.
Fake AirPods are quite difficult to distinguish from the original ones, especially if you have never held the latter in your hands. However, armed with the necessary knowledge, you will be able to immediately understand what is in front of you: a fake or an original.
Mesh in the speakers
The Chinese's task is to visually make the device look like the original. But at the same time invest a minimum of money in production.
Therefore, you should not be surprised if you see a fabric mesh in the speakers. This is the most common solution. And this was also the case with Earpods.
Due to the use of fabric, the mesh is actively clogged with wax from the ears. When trying to clean the mesh, users often tear it.
The original does not use any fabric. Exclusively metal mesh. Moreover, it is done evenly and extremely carefully.
i100000 TWS: Specifications
| i100000 TWS: | Characteristics |
| Resistance: | 32 Ohm |
| drivers: | Dynamic driver |
| Connectivity: | Bluetooth 5.0? |
| Frequency range: | 8-24000 Hz |
| Bluetooth protocol: | APTX |
| Battery: | ? |
| Charging time: | 120 min |
| Connections: | Lightning |
| Weight: | 3.2 (35) g |
| Music time: | 12 h |
| Price: | $ 45 |
Distinctive features of scammers
There are several characteristics by which you can identify counterfeit products and a fraudulent seller.
Price below market
Low cost is not a feature of Apple products.
The price of original AirPods rarely falls below $200, so large discounts should be a reason to doubt the authenticity of the product.
The cost of the original headphones is due to the high quality of their assembly, comfortable fit in the ears and charging case, as well as reliability and clear sound. It is unlikely that such characteristics are present in confiscated goods with a price tag 2-3 times lower.
Newly created seller profile
Cheap replicas of AirPods headphones are often sold from new accounts: trading platforms try to fight scammers’ accounts, so they are forced to regularly register from scratch. If a profile was created yesterday, and today it contains goods at dubious prices, it is better to be wary. But this is not a 100% sign of fraud. Therefore, the next confirmation of authenticity should be the price - if it does not differ from the market price, there are no special reasons for concern.
No receipt
If the seller does not provide receipts for the sale of the goods, most likely he is selling replicas that differ from the original. But the presence of a check should not be the primary selection criterion. Often, unscrupulous stores publish in their advertisements images of documentation falsified on a printer. It is quite difficult to determine this from a photograph, but upon meeting in person it turns out that the seller forgot this receipt at home.
Logo and designs
On the left is a fake, on the right is the original.
The first differences are noticeable already on the packaging of the headphones.
The headphones shown on the box always have clear edges. They are easy to feel with your fingers and are not the usual flat print that is often found on fakes.
This box is better than many. But the insert with bold font and the gaps between the tray and the walls of the box give it away
The logo of the original shimmers in the light, while the logo of the fake has a simple drawing of an apple.
Joints, cracks and gaps
On the left is the original, on the right is the fake
Real AirPods are carefully sanded, making any gap almost impossible to notice. It seems as if this is all a monolithic body.
In the case of a fake, the opposite is true: the Chinese don’t particularly bother with “sharpening” the headphone body and leave micro-gaps and cracks. Out of the box there may even be scratches on the device. Be sure to check your headphones with a flashlight; it will always highlight any flaws in the accessory.
And pay attention to the additional holes for speakers and microphones.
An easy way to identify a copy
In order to identify a fake, it is enough to have a obviously original headset and scales. By comparing the masses of the existing standard and the purchased headphones, you can easily distinguish a replica of AirPods.
The original AirPods wireless headphones have excellent sound quality. They reproduce excellent bass with minimal distortion. To achieve this, Apple invests heavily in technology and development. All this is inaccessible to falsifiers, so the replicas sound much worse.
During operation, a fake can be identified by the battery charge. Standard headphones work for 5 hours. The case can recharge them for up to 19 hours. This is enough for an average user for 4-7 days. Copies are thinned within 1-2 days.
Check AirPods headphones using barcode:
Enter 13 digit barcode:
Explicit replica
There are copies of Airpods on sale that are easy to identify. Chinese manufacturers list them as a different brand. At the same time, the headphones are externally similar to the original. Most often, replicas are signed by the iFans and Afans brands. Having seen such an inscription, the buyer is advised not to purchase the headset, since this is a counterfeit product.
AirPods with Afans branding
Case appearance and click sound
On the left is a fake, on the right is the original
The charging case, as well as the headphones themselves, should be milky white. Counterfeits usually cannot convey the true white and turn into yellow shades.
Oh yes, on fake cases there is always an additional button for connecting or resetting. It really sticks out from the body. Often from the front. In the original, the button for breaking the pair coincides with the line of the back surface.
In addition, you can identify the real case by the signature click. It's pleasant and slightly muted. But the fake one is loud and ringing, generally unpleasant.
How to check AirPods serial number
All of the company's devices have a unique number that is tied to the product warranty (often confused with the IMEI identifier).
There is a single service on the official website apple.ru, where you can check Apple headphones by serial number online - https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/.
To check the AirPods for originality, follow the link, enter the serial number and verification code. As a result, two options are possible:
Authentication
Obvious fake
In the first case, the service identified original Apple headphones, in the second it indicated a fake. We recommend that you fill out the form again to eliminate the possibility of an error.
Comparison table of differences
The original AirPods are superior to any copies in all respects. Therefore, before purchasing headphones, you should make sure that they are genuine. The main differences between the counterfeit and the original are presented in the table.
| Characteristic | AirPods Original | Replicas |
| Contents of delivery | Corresponds to the documentation stated on the website and consists of a case with headphones, a charging cable and a user manual | It is possible that any components are missing |
| Case | Made of high-quality plastic with proper adjustment of sizes and elements | Has defects and damage |
| Sound quality | High | Accompanied by distortions |
Equipment
After opening the package, you need to check the contents. It standardly includes:
- user guide;
- case with headset;
- Lightning wire.
Standard equipment
The original manual for using Airpods folds into an accordion. Its text is printed not only in black, but also in silver. The instructions are placed in a special pocket. It is located immediately after the main lid of the package.
Original instructions
Fake manual
The original case is additionally packed in protective film. Counterfeits often differ in color and size. You can also find differences in the quality and quality of the materials used.
Case comparison
The wire used for charging on a fake is often not inserted very carefully.
Comparison of equipment
Counterfeiters realized the need to use silver paint. However, they often use it where it is not required. So the original has the inscription “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China" is painted black, while the replica is painted silver.
Comparison of lettering color
The Lightning cable should not only be neatly laid, but also well secured. To do this, it is secured with paper wrapper. For copies, the wire is often wrapped in film.
Lightning original and fake
The shape of the headphones themselves and the case
On the left is a fake, on the right is the original
The original headphone case is slightly rounded on the sides and smoothly passes from the front edge to the back. The fake one is often more rectangular than oval. Or it has rounded sides, but the front and back are as flat as possible.
The Chinese have learned to copy the Airpods themselves almost flawlessly. The only external difference is their size.
Box shape and kit
On the left is the original, on the right is the fake
Apple always packs its devices in a thick cardboard box. Original gadgets will never fall out of it easily.
There are no gaps inside the packaging of real headphones. At the top there are instructions, and below it the headphones are in a case on a special tray. Under the tray is a Lightning cable for charging.
Good fakes are packed in a better quality box, it is bloated with a crooked insert
There is less abundance of fakes. As a rule, the case is wrapped in blue film, and underneath there are instructions and a second-rate Lightning charging cable. There is no headphone tray.
AirPods not connecting to iOS or installed incorrectly? What to do?
If for some reason your headphones don't pair or sync with your iPhone after the above setup process, you need to hold down the setting button on your AirPods and try again. You should also do this if you are connecting the headphones to another iPhone:
- Put your headphones in the case if you haven't already;
- Press and hold the set button on the back of the AirPods charging case for 18 seconds, or until the charging light flashes orange and then white;
- Repeat the initial installation process mentioned above in the article.
It's also worth mentioning that while AirPods should come with the latest software installed, it's worth updating them if possible.
Your AirPods are now connected and ready to work with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other Apple device. Using them is very simple, just double tap your headphones to call Siri, answer a phone call, control music.
