The problem of counterfeit and non-original smartphones is relevant and requires the attention of potential buyers.
Previously, a fake could be distinguished from the original quite simply, because it was very different from the original phone. There was an obvious difference in almost everything: appearance, build and screen quality, software features and, of course, price.
Today, recognizing non-original phones has become difficult. Chinese manufacturers have risen to a new level - now counterfeit devices differ slightly from the originals. If the user has never held a real gadget in his hands before, he may not notice the substitution at all.
Not only branded smartphones, for example, Apple and Samsung, but also popular Chinese brands from well-known companies - Xiaomi, Meizu, Vivo and others - manage to be counterfeited. To avoid falling into the hands of scammers, you must check your device. You can do this with a few simple tips.
What devices are most often counterfeited?
It’s all the more disappointing when a purchase for a normal market price turns out not to be factory-made. This is already fraud on the part of the seller. Here you need to be very careful and when purchasing, pay attention to such details as:
- appearance,
- build quality;
- screen uniformity;
- features of the software;
- complete set;
- final cost.
To its credit, pirated copies are becoming more and more convincing. Sometimes the differences are so insignificant that you may not realize that the device is not original for years.
Most often, well-known and expensive models, such as brands such as Apple and Samsung, are counterfeited. Although recently Chinese quality products from companies such as Xiaomi, Meizu, Vivo, Nokia and others have also been in great demand.
Let's look at examples of offers from the Internet to mobile phones in a comparative table.
| Analogs | Original price | Price of fake |
| Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB | 100,000 rubles | 20,000 rubles |
| Apple iPhone 11 64GB | 60,000 rubles | 15,000 rubles |
| Apple iPhone X 64GB | 55,000 rubles | 13,000 rubles |
| Apple iPhone 8 64GB | 40,000 rubles | 10,000 rubles |
| Apple iPhone 7 32GB | 30,000 rubles | 6,500 rubles |
| Apple iPhone 6s 32GB | 25,000 rubles | 5,000 rubles |
| Samsung Galaxy S9+ 64GB | 40,000 rubles | 9,500 rubles |
| Xiaomi Mi Note 10 128GB | 40,000 rubles | 9,500 rubles |
| Huawei P30 128GB | 40,000 rubles | 9,500 rubles |
| Samsung Galaxy S10e 128GB | 46,000 rubles | 11,500 rubles |
The lower price level can be 2-3 thousand rubles. This is exactly how much cheap Chinese copies cost, which are then used to create imitations of prestigious companies with successful marketing and an unblemished reputation.
The list of the most counterfeit phones in the world includes products from Samsung (30.1% of counterfeits), Korean Xiaomi (37.3% of copies), and the American market leader, Apple (although due to the iOS security system, a duplicate can be quickly identified after switching on).
Today, the top 3 counterfeited models are: iPhone 8, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy Note. Every fifth phone in the world is an imitation, not always of high quality.
An important threat to buying fiction is that it is made from components of dubious quality. This subsequently affects performance, performance and even sometimes safety. Cheap and outdated technology may look nice, but in fact it won't bring you any enjoyment.
In addition, we are talking not only about physical, but also information security. Fake firmware may contain commands that send information to third parties. This may include financial data from banking applications, personal data from government services, and other important information that you do not want to share with the general public.
Read reviews and watch reviews
If, when purchasing, the user knows exactly which model he will buy, then it makes sense to carefully read reviews about the device. Meticulous users have studied specific models from all sides and can accurately describe what problems the newly purchased device encounters. A kind of weaknesses that are characteristic of the party, but still not found in everyone. Somewhere, for example, a button is loose, someone’s camera doesn’t focus well, the speaker may wheeze slightly out of the box.
This does not mean that the model itself is unsuccessful. It’s just that there is such a defect, and you should check its absence in the store with the seller, otherwise, when you go home and return back, you may encounter a lengthy quality control procedure and other unpleasant things. It’s best to write down these nuances on a piece of paper and immediately go through each item in the store - there are no problems, so we can safely buy the device and leave.
In addition to the problems that buyers write about, there are a number of points that should always be checked. Below are tips for each item you need to pay attention to.
We check the phone for originality using IMEI
One of the most common and easiest ways to make sure that the purchased device is original is to check a special cipher called IMEI. This is a unique code that is assigned to each individual device by the manufacturer. It stands for International Mobile Equipment Identifier.
The combination consists of 15 characters, which are responsible for the following data:
- The first 6 digits are the batch number;
- The next 2 are the country code;
- 6 characters after – serial identifier of the gadget;
- the last character is the uniqueness code.
To find this code, you need to pick up the documentation that came with the kit, take the original box, or find the sticker on the device itself. IMEI is also registered in the firmware settings. The USSD request to display the code is called *#06#. To view the code in the firmware, you will have to go to the “Settings” section, select the “About phone” line, and request “General information”. In the window that appears, you need to look for the corresponding line.
The code in the firmware and on the physical stickers must match completely. The presence of discrepancies is a sure sign that the box or the phone itself is not entirely clean.
A complete match of the IMEI number is mandatory, but not a sufficient condition to be one hundred percent sure of the originality of the phone. The fact is that physically this number can be copied from one original sample and replicated for a whole batch of fakes. Therefore, it is better to continue checking in other ways.
It is IMEI that is most often used to search for cell phones wanted by the police. Therefore, the presence of the original IMEI on a non-original handset can lead to double trouble.
Another way to view all technical information is to use a Google account. For this:
- go to your personal account;
- click on the Android icon;
- open the list with attached devices, for each of which the IMEI model, MAC address and other data are registered.
Check by serial number via the official website
In addition to correlating the codes in the memory of the phone and the box, there is an option - contact the manufacturer. In a single database of every large company there is a service for establishing the fact of originality. Links to resources of key market leaders:
- for products from Xiaomi - www.mi.com;
- service from Meizu - mymeizu.ru;
- checking Samsung - www.samsung.com;
- verification of “Apple solutions” - apple.com;
- portal for Huawei or Honor consumers - consumer.huawei.com;
- It's better to check Nokia here.
A large number of videos on the Internet are devoted to checking the originality of a smartphone. Here is one of the short videos on how to be smarter than deceivers and not buy a fake.
By external signs
The exterior of a smartphone is a topic for a separate item, to which you need to show maximum care. By twirling the phone in your hands, you can evaluate the quality of materials and workmanship. Be sure to compare the appearance with photographs of official vehicle releases. Even a small strip of white frame that shouldn't be there can give away a fake.
Recently, a popular picture has been when, including the iPhone, a download window from Samsung appeared on the screen. This is a sure sign that the tester has a fake in his hands. This means that there can be no question of any licensed software, warranty or manufacturer support.
An important nuance is the location of buttons, cameras, sensors, and connectors. Very often, careless Chinese craftsmen confuse their location, which results in a “gray pipe”. Crooked inscriptions, poor-quality printing, errors in the name of the brand or model also become a matter of concern. Plastic instead of metal, plastic instead of glass, cheap materials are a reason to refuse a purchase.
Original interpretations such as Sansung, Aplee, Xioami are a clear sign of fake.
Checking how the App Store opens
Before buying an iPhone, be sure to check the AppStore. For fakes, even such a simple operation can cause certain difficulties. If an application tries to redirect you to a third-party link or the PlayMarket interface suddenly appears on the screen, you should definitely abandon such a smartphone.
Try installing apps that are only available on iOS systems, such as Garage Band or Numbers. Look in the settings for items called “iCloud” and “find iPhone” - scammers have not yet learned how to fake these functions.
Using service code
This is an additional degree of security, which is implemented in the products of the South Korean brand (number two on the market) - Samsung. Considering that their phones are in great demand and have earned love and respect, you can run into a fake.
Especially for this purpose, the ability to enter a secret code was invented, which only works with original copies.
If entering the combination “*#7353#” causes the component testing window to appear, you have the original device in front of you.
If the operation leads to an error or is ignored by the system, then there are big questions about the quality of the smartphone.
On the subtleties in the software
Pre-installed programs are also an assistant in identifying duplicates. Branded firmware is quite difficult to copy. Major manufacturers have these:
- Xiaomi works under MIUI system,
- Meizu - on the Flyme platform,
- Samsung is equipped with TouchWiz,
- iPhone uses iOS.
An important nuance is the quality of translation of functionality. A self-respecting company treats localization with trepidation. The presence of errors, typos and language inconsistencies in high-quality gadgets is excluded. Efficiency and productivity are another indicator. All options should turn on smoothly and quickly.
There cannot be pre-installed services for displaying advertisements in original firmware, but in non-original ones there can be anything.
Software information is specified in the phone settings. If you have any suspicions, you can compare the name and version of the program with the information on the manufacturer’s official website.
The fakes do not provide the ability to create personal accounts in Google. In general, scammers don’t really care how quickly and correctly the imitation works, the main thing is that it turns on and is close to the original in the first minutes of use. The additional installation of phishing and spyware along with the necessary content has also not been canceled.
If the iPhone is being checked for authenticity, then pay attention to the speed and quality of the App Store. Most likely, it will hide Google Play or an imitation written in Java. This will be very easy to recognize as you work. Also, iTunes on your computer will only work with the original Apple product.
Operation of communication modules
The mobile communication module is checked according to the principle described above. It remains to check Wi-Fi, GPS, NFC, Bluetooth.
WiFi
The first node is tested by connecting to the Internet. If there is no Wi-Fi in the store, then we simply distribute it from our smartphone. The purchased device must not only find the network, but also keep the signal at a distance of 10-15 meters.
GPS
You can check your GPS by going to Google Maps. They are preinstalled in almost any smartphone. You just need to enable your own location to check this node.
NFC
Contactless payment using NFC is difficult to make, because you first need to link the card. But you can transfer a file through this module.
- We take a second smartphone with such a module, perhaps from a display case, and simply transfer a small file.
- The second option is to connect via NFC to some equipment in the store. If this is a large store, then there will definitely be a music center with the ability to synchronize via NFC.
Bluetooth
Checking Bluetooth is very simple - just transfer a file from one device to another, but it is better to connect a wireless headset and listen to music for a while. In this case, you should check the stability of the connection. The Bluetooth coverage area is about 15 meters, so it wouldn’t hurt to move a little away from the headphones with the phone and check if the connection is lost.
By price
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the price factor is one of the most determining. The lower the price, the greater the chance of purchasing an analogue. Experts advise not to even consider offers that are 2 or more times cheaper than the market. Free cheese is only in a mousetrap.
Maximum protection against counterfeiting can only be provided by large networks that implement a mechanism for returning goods based on essential characteristics. Sometimes, it is better to overpay a few thousand, but be completely confident in the quality of the purchase. The best option is to contact a dealer or a company store.
The most effective search strategy is to visit several stores, understand the average market price and choose the most optimal and cost-effective option.
In case you plan to buy a phone second-hand, there are many video instructions with an algorithm of actions.
An unfamiliar online store is also a high-risk place. Remember this.
Unboxing
It happens that in the description of the device or on the box it is not written that headphones are included. If this is so, then even if they are there, they may not reach the buyer. Therefore, initially you need to ask that the purchase be brought in a packed box with all the factory films and authenticity stickers. On the box of any phone there are special seals that can be used to determine whether the phone has been opened or not. Even if a trusted store convinces you that the film on the box was torn during transportation, and therefore it was removed, and the seals themselves came off, then this makes you wonder how the device was transported and stored in the first place.
Most often, well-known stores have a distribution area where the client is shown a smartphone. Sometimes the seller does not wait for the buyer to approach him after the checkout, and opens the box himself, and then says - he just did it. This may be true, but there is no way to check. Therefore, immediately ask that the box be opened in front of you. Stores have another trick - they ask you to sign that there are no problems with the equipment and appearance. You should never sign until the entire verification procedure has been completed, even if they say that this is a formality, or you sign and then look. The signature is placed at the end, when the device is fully tested for functionality.
Even if the phone is in its original packaging, you should carefully check the contents to see how the protective films are glued to the smartphone; it may be clear that they have already been peeled off and re-attached. Everything must be very neat. It is worth taking a closer look at the little things - the film on the display and back or only on one side. It cannot be that two phones packaged at the factory were sealed differently.
Advice! Before you go to the store, you can watch so-called device unboxings on YouTube. The person who conducts them performs a procedure similar to what a buyer needs to do in a store. Here you can see what the box, the device, and what equipment it includes looks like.
When purchasing a phone from an online store where delivery is carried out directly to your home or post office, you should take a photo of the packaging upon receipt, especially if there is any damage. The best option is to film the actual receipt of the parcel and its opening. If any defect is discovered, then using video recording you can prove that it was there before opening and did not appear as a result of the actions of the buyer.
Advanced Verification Applications
The range of possibilities for verification is wide. There are special programs that will help determine the authenticity of the phone. Such utilities are AnTuTu or CPU-Z.
Applications are available for download on official websites or in application stores. They are free to use.
The program code, when loading and starting the verification with the “Verify Phone” button, will automatically begin the verification. A QR code will appear in the program window, and when scanned, comprehensive information about the authenticity of the device will appear.
It is advisable to install one of the latest versions of programs for checks, since pirates hack old versions and they no longer work.
There are three possible results:
- Good – the device is original, everything is fine with it;
- Unknown – the program was unable to determine its authenticity, but does not classify the gadget as a counterfeit;
- High copy is definitely an imitation with all the ensuing consequences.
An analogue of such a service for Xiaomi is the Anti-Fake utility. The operating principle is similar to the previous program. There is also the ability to scan a barcode. The result of the test: green field (everything is fine) or red (you have a linden in your hands).
The authenticity of the marking can also be checked using the service from the Federal Tax Service of Russia. It is relevant for digital equipment, medicines and fur coats. Full launch will begin on January 1, 2022. The name of the application is “Checking product labeling”. The program is distributed free of charge and is available for download in mobile phone stores.
To summarize, let's summarize. To be even more careful when choosing a digital device. Pay attention to a number of signs that will help you recognize a duplicate:
- placement of buttons in a different place;
- non-standard proportions of the body and main structural elements;
- the programs look strange, the design is unlike the original ones;
- too slow processor, which “thinks” when performing simple actions;
- lack of flash on the camera (for some analogues).
Be vigilant and balance your desire to save money with common sense.
5/5 — (1 vote)
Samsung
Samsung developers add their own service codes to the operating system of smartphones, with which you can check individual functions of the device. Initially, these codes are not in Android, which means they will not work on a fake. Enter, for example, *#1234# - the original smartphone will display information about the current firmware, the copy will display an error.
Compare the appearance
The closest attention is paid to the appearance of fake smartphones, because getting to know each gadget begins with the “clothing”. Manufacturers of clones try to exactly repeat the design of the original so that the buyer does not have suspicions.
startitup.sk / Original Galaxy Note 9 - left, fake - right
But it remains possible to distinguish a fake by a number of seemingly insignificant details: the width of the screen frames, the design of the camera, the placement of the SIM card tray or the shape of the earpiece. In order not to be deceived, it is important to know exactly what it all looks like and where it is located on the original smartphone.
You can get an idea of the external features of a genuine device using the manufacturer’s official website or reviews on the Internet. In the latter, as a rule, smartphones are examined from all sides.
Check device information
On every Android smartphone, there is an “About phone” section in the operating system settings. It always displays the device name, model, OS version and shell, if any. On some devices, the main technical characteristics are also demonstrated there, which must be checked.
If everything matches the original, but you still doubt the authenticity of the device, download the AIDA64 application to it. It will show everything that is hidden “under the hood”, indicating the processor, the amount of memory, and even the exact display parameters.
If your smartphone is completely reset and there is no active Google account on it, you can install AIDA64 by transferring the APK file of the application from another gadget via Bluetooth. You can download it here.
Check availability of branded services
It is quite possible to recognize a fake by a number of branded services, which most manufacturers supplement the set of pre-installed software with. Typically these are branded galleries, theme stores, media players, feedback services, and so on. All this should be present on the smartphone, especially if it was reset to factory settings before you.
It is unlikely that you will be able to install original branded applications on a fake smartphone. At best, it will only be an imitation of them, not allowing you to open or run anything.
Evaluate the quality of localization
Poor-quality localization can also give away a Chinese counterfeit. Go through the settings and menu of pre-installed applications, checking the quality of the translation into Russian. Usually, counterfeit manufacturers do not pay enough attention to this issue.
If some words are translated incorrectly or not translated into Russian at all, this is a serious reason to doubt the originality of the device.
Download AnTuTu Officer
The AnTuTu Officer utility is suitable when you don’t want to bother checking the characteristics and firmware. This application conducts a quick test and gives its verdict regarding the originality of the smartphone.
AnTuTu Officer must be used in conjunction with another device:
- Download and install AnTuTu Officer on the smartphone you are checking (to do this, you can distribute the Internet to it from another gadget).
- Open y.antutu.com on another smartphone or laptop and a QR code will appear.
- Launch AnTuTu Officer on the smartphone you are checking and, by clicking the Start button, scan the QR code from the AnTuTu website.
After these actions, AnTuTu Officer will issue its verdict, which will be displayed on the device where the QR code was displayed. If it is a green circle and the inscription “Good” indicating the model, then this is the original.
A yellow circle will indicate that the service has insufficient data about the device. This may mean that the model is too new and is not yet in the database. Or it has unknown firmware installed. If the circle is red, there is a high probability that this is a fake.
