Real iPhone is different not only stylish design and impeccable technical characteristics, but also high cost. This makes the company's products Apple extremely popular among buyers, as well as manufacturers of low-grade counterfeits.
Many copies are so similar to the original that it is extremely difficult for the average buyer to tell the difference. In order not to pay an impressive amount of money for a Chinese replica, you need to know how to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake and what to pay special attention to when buying a smartphone.
Visual check of iPhone
To begin with, it is recommended to go to some store that definitely sells original equipment and has an official guarantee. Here you need to carefully study the iPhone model you plan to buy. If necessary, you can ask for help from a consultant. Particular attention should be paid to the following details:
- The weight and body of the smartphone. All iPhones have a body made of aluminum, so you should feel a characteristic heaviness in your hand;
- Build quality and parts. There should be no visible gaps between the parts of the case, and there should be no backlash at the switch buttons;
- Availability of connectors. The original does not have micro USB, as well as a slot for an additional memory card or antenna. There is only a connector for the “Lightning” cable, with its help the mobile phone is charged and connected to other devices;
- The back cover is secured with special screws, so removing it is problematic.
All this will help to identify a fake at the first inspection. However, if no suspicions arise here, we continue to compare the details of the original and the fake.
You should definitely ask the seller for a smartphone box. Apple pays great attention to even such little things as packaging. The box should be made in a minimalist style. It is made of smooth cardboard and is usually the same color as the device's body. The sides are embossed with the “iPhone” logo.
The box may have a different image on it, depending on the version of the mobile device. On the iPhone 6, there is a volumetric embossing in the shape of a phone at the top, repeating the color of the box. On the box of the iPhone 8 Plus there is a monochrome drawing of the mobile phone itself.
On the back of the box there is information about the manufacturer, model and configuration. The batch number, serial number and unique IMEI code are also indicated. On iPhones sold in Russia, all data is in Russian. At the end of the batch number there are the letters RU, which confirm that this batch was manufactured specifically for Russia.
If the information on the box is in English and the batch number contains the designation of another country, then this is not a reason to be upset. It is quite possible that the previous owner of the mobile phone bought it in another country. If such an iPhone is offered in a store, then this is a reason to think about it.
Design and packaging
How can you tell if an iPhone is real or not? You need to start checking it by inspecting the packaging. Apple pays close attention not only to the development and implementation of innovative technologies, but also to packaging design.
How can you identify the actual packaging:
- the box is made of high-quality cardboard with a laminated surface;
- the packaging is made of material that is not recycled waste paper products;
- the image and inscriptions look bright and clear, even when using a magnifying glass it is impossible to see blots or uneven edges of the printing;
- The brand logo is applied by embossing.
To determine the authenticity of the iPhone box, press it with your hands. Its edges and corners must be absolutely smooth, not wrinkle or deform when pressed. The packaging of a fake iPhone is easily wrinkled even with minimal effort.
At the bottom of the original iPhone box you can see a sticker with information from the manufacturer. It indicates the phone model - the full name and serial number of the model, its IMEI , information regarding its storage capacity. All data is printed in clear, high-quality print, without blurry spots or smeared numbers.
Is it possible to distinguish an original from a copy by its packaging?
You should carefully study the delivery package if the mobile device is sold in its original box. So iPhones are sold complete with headphones, a charging cable and an adapter. Besides this, in a separate compartment of the box there is all the documentation and a paper clip for removing the SIM card slot. All accessories must be packaged separately in transparent film and neatly folded.
You can even distinguish an original from a copy by the quality of the accessories. For example, the original cable is very soft and elastic, it has the inscription “Designed by Apple in California” on it, and the connectors themselves have a smooth surface and neat rounded contacts.
What to do when buying an iPhone so that it doesn't turn out to be Chinese
When buying an iPhone, especially secondhand, it is important to take your time and check everything carefully. The main thing to remember is that if the price of a device is too low compared to similar options, then it is almost guaranteed that a fake will be sold. Therefore, it is important to carry out a complete check of the phone before you are sure of its authenticity. Ideally, the seller should have a receipt for the used model, the phone box and all accessories.
Check iPhone by IMEI - how to find out the activation date
It is also worth checking whether the phone is real in as many ways as possible before purchasing. Of course, the most important thing is that the IMEI and serial number match, but it’s better to play it safe, look at the phone’s settings, evaluate its appearance, dimensions, weight, and connectors. After this, you can decide to purchase the device.
Important! Before transferring money, you must perform a full reset to factory settings and unlink from someone else's Apple ID.
Thus, when buying an iPhone, especially secondhand or from unknown stores, it is important to carefully check all its characteristics and compliance with the original models. Otherwise, there is a high risk of purchasing a fake device, which at best simply will not be an iPhone, and at worst will not perform the functions of a smartphone at all.
Frame
An iPhone should give the impression of a quality thing. You can distinguish the original even at first glance. You can feel the weight, and the metal pleasantly cools your palm. All iPhones are made of aluminum, copies are made of different materials, it can even be plastic.
In the original, all parts fit well together and have minimal gaps. The buttons should fit tightly in their sockets and not play. The IMEI is written on the back panel, which matches the number on the box and on the SIM card slot.
Some buyers of Apple equipment are confused by the inscription Assembled in China. There is no need to worry about this, since iPhones are only being developed in the USA, but they are assembled in China. An outright fake can be quickly identified by the following details:
- The back cover and battery are easily removed;
- Provides support for two or more SIM cards;
- There is a slot for a memory card;
- There is a microUSB connector and a telescopic antenna.
In some cases, fakes are of such high quality that it is difficult to distinguish them from the original just by appearance. In this case, you need to pay attention to other aspects.
It is better to buy Apple equipment in specialized stores that can provide certificates for the products they sell.
"Bonuses" from Chinese masters
There are high-quality fake smartphones from Apple that are very similar in appearance and inside to the original. However, more often there are cheap fakes on sale, pierced by additional functions that their narrow-eyed creators generously “give” to them.
What can’t a real iPhone have, but is often found in its copies? This:
- memory card slot;
- the ability to install two or more SIM cards;
- micro USB connector.
Checking the serial number
Now the Chinese have already learned to replicate the interface of the original products as accurately as possible. But they still haven't figured out how to spoof features like Siri or Find My iPhone. It is quite logical that they will not work on a fake.
In addition, a fake simply cannot have a valid serial number, which can be checked on the manufacturer’s official website. Checking the remaining warranty by the serial number is the most primitive way to determine whether the product you are looking at is a fake or an original product.
To check, find the serial number in the settings by opening “General” → “About this device”. After this, you need to enter it into a special form on this page. If the iPhone is original, then all information about the model, the remaining warranty and other information will be displayed on the screen. If we are talking about a copy, then a notification “Sorry, this serial number is not correct” or something similar will appear on the screen.
What is the price and who is the seller?
Let's start with how to distinguish an iPhone from a fake, without being tied to a specific model, by price and seller.
There is a safe way to buy a phone. Order it through the manufacturer's official website, as well as visit Apple brand stores. A replica or copy cannot be sold there.
But situations happen different. Not everyone can afford a new device. You have to look for a used iPhone and also go to unofficial stores.
So how to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake? It's simple. This is a popular smartphone. No one in their right mind would sell it for cheap. And there are no sales due to store closures. If these are genuine devices.
When selling a real iPhone, the seller is confident in its quality and legal purity. And he will set a respectable price. And there will be someone who will pay it. It is a fact.
How to distinguish an iPhone from a fake using Apple ID
Apple ID is a universal account for most Apple services. You can create an account without having original Apple products in stock. Counterfeit iPhones run on the Android operating system, which is carefully disguised as iOS. An ordinary user will not immediately notice that this is a fake. However, do not forget that a fake will not have the functionality of the original.
Having your own Apple ID can quickly identify a cheap Chinese counterfeit. You can do it like this:
- Go to Settings and then select the iTunes Store and App Store section;
- If there is such a section on your smartphone and no one’s account is listed there, enter your data. If nothing prevents you from logging into your account, it means you have an original iPhone.
To make sure that your mobile device is original, you need to go to the App Store application and search for iMovie or Garage Band. These are the applications that are not available on the Android operating system.
What about the operating system
See also
: How to distinguish an original iPhone 8 from a fake
The main differences appear when the display lights up. And the user goes to the menu.
The original mobile operating system for the iPhone is iOS. But it is not available to most underground industries. You have to use Android. And install shells that look similar to iOS.
This is easy to check. You need to open the settings section. There will be no Siri, App Store, or software update section.
The Russian language is difficult for the Chinese. There are many errors and inaccuracies in the translation. Some words were not translated at all. If a word does not fit on one line, this is a sign of a fake.
Checking the “Settings” menu
The display of the original iPhone should not be green, blue or have any other tints. All colors should be rich and pleasing to the eye. To evaluate the image, tilt your mobile device and look at the picture. Even with a large tilt, the image should not be distorted. The original smartphone has very good viewing angles, so you can immediately recognize a fake.
The interface should please the user's eyes. The fonts are smooth and easy to read, and application shortcuts have rounded corners. The operation of the operating system is smooth, there are no freezes or jerks.
It is worth paying attention to the Clock application shortcut. Even on the label, the clock hands move and show the correct time; copies may not include such details.
In Settings you need to look for items such as iCloud and “Find iPhone”. Chinese craftsmen have learned to exactly copy the settings menu of the original, but these functions cannot be found there.
iPhone 3G (2008)
What does the iPhone 2
- in fact? Since the name “iPhone 3G” does not depend on the release number. The main difference between the iPhone 3G and the first model is the body, which is made entirely of plastic. Inscriptions appeared on the back of the case, made in gray. The iPhone 3G battery had a smaller capacity, but the battery provided improved battery life.
From the name of the second iPhone - “iPhone 3G” you can understand that it supports 3G cellular networks and enabled the user to use high-speed Internet.
Go to AppStore
It is very easy to check the originality of the iPhone through the App Store application. Even the coolest Chinese iPhone cannot access this application, the user will be transferred to Google Play, this is a special application for devices running on Android OS. These two apps look different.
It is worth considering that Google Play does not have many applications that are available for Apple devices. You should try to find applications such as Keynote, iMovie, Pages, Numbers. If they are not in the app store, then we are talking about a fake smartphone.
What are the main disadvantages of a fake iPhone?
How to activate an iPhone - step-by-step instructions
In addition to the fact that Chinese smartphones have many differences from a real iPhone, it also has other significant disadvantages. The main ones are the following:
- When purchasing such a device, you can forget about the warranty period - rare Chinese brands can provide it. Most often, the buyer can only count on his own luck.
- Lack of branded service centers. Even with the relatively good quality of the fake and a valid warranty period, if it breaks, there will simply be nowhere to return it. The phone will have to be sent by mail or transport company for repair. And this is a very big risk.
- Very often the software is made "on the knee" and may not be supported by Java. In this case, you can forget about installing demanding games.
- Translation. You can often encounter the problem of poor-quality translation or the complete absence of the Russian language. Using the phone in this case will be problematic.
- Build quality. Even if at first glance the phone looks high quality, it is still unknown how it was made. It is likely that significant defects will be identified after some time.
Additional Information! It is important not to confuse real Chinese cell phone brands with fake iPhones. The former are made at official enterprises, while the latter are manufactured illegally.
Connecting to iTunes
You can simply check the authenticity of your iPhone using the special iTunes program. The media harvester will be able to automatically identify the connected device and show all the information about it. If the phone is bought second-hand, then to the meeting with the seller it is enough to take a laptop with iTunes pre-installed on it. You definitely need to make sure you have a mobile Internet or Wi-Fi connection.
When you connect a mobile device to a laptop or desktop computer, and then connect iTunes, the program will automatically detect the iPhone and try to synchronize it. If after connecting the program does not show any signs, then most likely it is a Chinese counterfeit and it is better to refuse to buy a mobile phone.
You must first download iTunes to your computer or laptop. You can find the media combine on the manufacturer’s official website.
Working with iTunes
In order to give your hard-earned money for a brand new iPhone with peace of mind, you should connect the device to the iTunes service. However, here you will need to get a little confused. Before you go to the store, you should download iTunes from Apple's website onto your laptop or computer. When checking your smartphone, you will need to connect your iPhone to your PC and launch iTunes. If an iPhone icon appears at the top of the screen, and the information from the box matches the device data, all this means that this is an original smartphone of a top brand.
A replica iPhone is not able to pass iTunes verification no matter how hard the scammers try.
By carrying out these simple manipulations, you will avoid buying a fake iPhone, no matter what quality the replica of a popular gadget has. Buy equipment wisely!
Device price
First of all, the low price of the iPhone should alert you, even if it is sold second-hand. A price that is too attractive may be the first sign of a fake. You need to understand that no one will sell the original iPhone for mere pennies. For example, let’s say you bought an iPhone for $600 or more, will you sell it several times cheaper? Here the answer is clear, no one will sell a mobile phone to their detriment, everyone looks at the average price on trading platforms and proceeds from this information.
When buying a used smartphone, you should ask the seller why he is selling the mobile phone. It is also worth clarifying how long it was used, what breakdowns and complaints there were or are. You should definitely ask for documents and look at the phone for defects. It is important not to be shy about asking questions and spending time checking your cell phone. This will help save nerves and money.
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Tatiana
I follow news on the mobile services market. Always up to date with the latest events
3D touch display
The iPhone 8 model has a 3D touch display. It provides tactile feedback. A list of offers pops up on the screen.
Before purchasing, you need to check its availability and functionality. Try several variations of pressure on the screen with different strengths. And see how the device reacts. If the reaction is the same everywhere, then they are trying to deceive you.
iPhone 5s (2013)
The smartphone now has a Touch ID biometric fingerprint scanner, which is built into the Home button, relieving the owner of a password when unlocking. It's hard to imagine how much time we save every day thanks to these sensors. So you can distinguish the iPhone 5S from the previous model by looking at the Home button - now, its metal bezel is the same color as the body and is devoid of the pattern present in all iOS phones until 2013. The gaps of the Power button and volume buttons have become slightly smaller, which is also a visible difference between the iPhone 5s from iPhone 5. There are 6 iPhone 5s
– A1453 (CDMA model for North America and Japan), A1457 (Global model), A1518 and A1528 (China), A1530 (Southeast Asia), A1533 (North America and China). Also, the iPhone 5s was the first Apple smartphone to come out in gold.
iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus (2014)
This year we encountered “shovels” from Apple for the first time. Later, a smartphone of this size became accustomed, but at that time it seemed like overkill. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models have become the most global update of Apple smartphone models. The main modification of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was in a monolithic aluminum case with plastic inserts on the top and bottom. The smartphone itself has become more streamlined, and the screen of the device has been rounded at the edges. iPhone 6
much thinner than the first generations of smartphones, differs in the shape and location of the buttons.
For example, the Power button moved from the top end to the right side of the iPhone. Another serious and not the most pleasant difference between the iPhone 6 and previous generations is the camera, which protrudes from the body of the smartphone. The difference between the iPhone 6 Plus
and iPhone 6 is the size. Anyone can visually notice a diagonal of 4.7 and 5.5, and this is enough to distinguish which smartphone is which.
iPhone 4 (2010)
It’s easy to understand how the iPhone 4 differs from the 3rd generation, just as there are also differences between the iPhone 4 and 3gs. Design – the entire body of the smartphone is made of composite glass (the strength of plastic is many times greater than that of plastic). Glass with a special coating prevents fingerprints from appearing on it; it was more resistant. Display
– with this model, everyone became aware of the screen with a high pixel density (Retina Display). The edging of the iPhone 4 consists of a durable tape that acts as an antenna. iPhone 4 was the thinnest phone at that time.
There are three iPhone 4 models:
- Model – GSM (described above).
- The model is CDMA, which does not have a SIM card tray. The construction of the antennas is also different.
- The iPhone 4 was released in 2012, similar in appearance to the iPhone 4 GSM.
iPhone 3GS (2009)
This gadget practically imitates the old iPhone 3
. But there is one and only difference: the inscriptions are painted with silver-mirror paint, identical to the Apple logo. iPhone 3GS was equipped with more than 100 new improvements, and the processor speed is twice as fast as iPhone 3G. The new “tap to focus” option allowed you to select the desired object or location, and the camera itself would focus the object. The iPhone 3GS offered the “Voice Control” function, with the help of which the necessary manipulations with voice commands were performed. The model was also notable for shooting videos. The iPhone 3GS had the Nike + iPod program, convenient for sports activities.
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
It is worth noting that all three smartphones did not have any radical changes in design. Here, most likely, they focused on improved photography and the processor. The similarity lies in the diagonals that they inherited from their predecessors (“5.8”, “6.1”, “6.5”). As well as the technical characteristics (which have been improved) in all three smartphones there are approximately few differences from each other. The battery capacity is 5% -15% more than its predecessors. The iPhone 11 is a binary camera with a mega wide-angle lens. Also, the body of the model is made of solid sheet glass and metal. Plus they added several completely new body colors.
iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max
started their period with a triple camera and an identical mega-wide-angle lens. The matte body was made of textured glass and a stainless steel frame. The water resistance has also changed, it has increased to 4 meters for 30 minutes. A new colorway called “Midnight Green” was also released.
Well, we’ve looked at absolutely all iPhone series. Perhaps someone has figured out for themselves the difference between iPhones, which I will be very happy about. Finally, I would like to add that 12 years have passed since S. Jobs demonstrated the iPhone. Since then, all generations of iPhone have undergone a huge modification in comparison. Not everything is perfect, of course, as we would like, but we had to accept the existing technical shortcomings of all iPhone series. And even more so, these shortcomings dissipate in the presence of a huge number of advantages of all iPhone devices inherent in their generation. Then the question arises: “So, where to look for the ideal smartphone”? The answer is simple: “There are none.” But the foundation that was laid then ensured that all versions of the iPhone would provide high performance when the new model arrived. And none of the features of previous iPhones have lost demand over the years; they fit perfectly into our usage scenario.
iPhone 4S (2011)
The main novelty of the smartphone, released under Jobs, was the “intelligent” consultant Siri. It seemed then that this feature would be of little use, but now it helps many people perform operations using commands.
iPhone 4S
seems very similar to the iPhone 4 GSM model. The antenna design is almost identical to that of the iPhone 4 CDMA, the only difference being two dividers (on the left and right sides of the case, at the microphone level). Plus, the iPhone 4S always has a SIM tray.
A sure-fire way to distinguish iPhone 4S from 4 is the code on the back of the phone. The validity of the iPhone 4S is indicated by "Model A1387".
iPhone X (2017)
iPhone X is the long-awaited smartphone with a round number. This gadget stands out the most among all versions of the iPhone available before it. It became the first Apple smartphone in the “Frameless” format, and in the iPhone X version the place of the Home button disappeared. The absence of buttons on the front of the case allows you to 100% confidently recognize it around other iPhones. This is the first iPhone with an organic LED display and a new facial recognition feature (3D model - Face ID). There are only two colors, though: silver and space gray.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus (2016)
Based on the predecessors above, there are also external differences between the iPhone 6 and iPhone 7, so let’s look at them carefully. The first thing that stands out is the lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack on the new generation iPhone. Next, the camera that sticks out so much from the body has been smoothed out. Well, it’s worth noting that the appearance of the cabinet antenna has been simplified - the dividing stripes have been removed. Versions of the iPhone 7 received two new colors - matte and glossy black. Later, a new color for the iPhone 7 case appeared - red (the general variety of iPhones in the line consisted of 5 case colors). The innovation is moisture resistance and the absence of a physical Home key; the role of a button is performed by the touch zone of the front panel. There were also hardware versions of the iPhone 7 - there are 4 models. For the iPhone 7 Plus, everything written above is relevant, but there is one exception in the form of a camera. It is difficult to confuse it because the iPhone 7 Plus has a double one. The smartphone went down in history as the only iPhone of its kind from Apple. In 2022, the iPhone 7 Plus also added a red color.
