Apple has released a huge number of different gadgets onto the market, which often simply do not have worthy competitors. In particular, the AirPods wireless headset for computers and smartphones has become a real hit. People all over the world are actively purchasing headphones and using them with pleasure in everyday life.
Prices for original Airpods are quite high, since the buyer traditionally pays for high-quality materials, good assembly, good components and the reputation of the brand itself.
For many, the cost of gadgets seems frankly overpriced, and much cheaper Chinese-made replicas are actively sold on various sites. The appearance of the fakes is very similar to the original AirPods, so it’s not always possible to find the differences.
Users are increasingly wondering how to check AirPods for originality. One of the most effective ways to detect a counterfeit is to check by serial number. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself in advance with all the features of checking headphones using the Apple serial number.
What kind of device is this - AirPods
Airpods are modern wireless headphones that receive a signal from a source via Bluetooth interfaces. The company once decided to separate the two headphones and make them completely independent of each other. This became possible thanks to the special iPhone connection technology and the use of unique serial numbers for each element.
In addition to speakers, microphones and specialized sensors are also built into the devices. One of the sensors is responsible for ensuring that music playback automatically pauses when the headphones are removed from the ears. As soon as the earphone is returned to the ear, playback automatically resumes from the point where it was stopped. If desired, the user can configure this sensor at his own discretion or disable the function altogether.
Original Apple headphones must function stably with all devices that have at least the tenth version of the iOS operating system. Additionally, support is provided for watchOS and personal computers running macOS Sierra and higher.
The creators paid special attention to headphone control. With simple finger movements, users can conveniently pause music, skip to the next track, or return to the previous track. When using devices with Android smartphones, you can also easily configure controls via the touch panel built into the case. In particular, the headset responds very sensitively to double taps and triggers a preset function.
The stability of the connection with smartphones and the efficiency of sound reproduction are ensured by the ARM-based microprocessor built into the headphones. This chip guarantees convenient control of all device functions and is extremely energy efficient. So wireless models can boast of really good battery life.
For a large number of buyers, the real surprise was the headphone storage case. It not only functions as a case, but also serves as a portable docking station with the ability to recharge. At the time of the model’s release, such a solution was indeed very bold and progressive, so it instantly won the recognition of users around the world.
Charging the headphones in the case allows you to provide a level of autonomy sufficient to listen to music for 10 hours continuously. The firmware used by the microprocessor is updated automatically without the need for user intervention. Due to this, manufacturers are able to quickly correct all shortcomings that appear after release and maintain the relevance of the software at the proper level.
Why check your AirPods serial number
Chinese manufacturers of counterfeit AirPods headphones are not sitting idly by and are actively improving their deception methods. It is becoming more and more difficult to quickly recognize a fake in a recently purchased model. Fraudsters have even learned to trick the iOS operating system, which, when connecting counterfeit devices, reacts to them as if they were original. Fortunately, not everything is as hopeless as it seems. Manufacturers from China still cannot fully penetrate the database of serial numbers of original headphones, which means that by this criterion it is almost always possible to identify a copy.
When purchasing AirPods headphones with a suspiciously low price or from dubious sources, it is recommended to immediately check the serial number using one of the available methods. Often sellers refuse to present this code for verification, which should immediately suggest fraud. Moreover, fraud can be associated not only with the sale of counterfeits, but also with an offer to buy a used product under the guise of a new one. You can often find sellers who source used headphones and repack them in branded boxes. Checking the serial number on the Apple website or in another way will help to distinguish such fraud as well.
Checking the speakers
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Removing the soft rubber pad from the headphones will give you access to the speakers. You can also tell from them whether it is a fake or an original.
Some replica speakers vary in color. For some reason, scammers are drawn to dark gray, graphite color. Everything is simple here. The original color is always black.
One more nuance. The speaker is made in the form of a woven mesh. And here, too, deception may be hidden. The original has a tighter weave. That is, there are more cells and their sizes are smaller. Spears have a coarser weave. Often sloppy, as well as with large gaps.
The original protective mesh on the speakers is additionally equipped with a plastic cover around it. In parodies this overlap often does not exist at all.
Where is the serial number on AirPods 1, 2
Just before checking the serial number of your AirPods, you need to find it. This can be done in several ways, differing in their availability and time spent. It makes sense to start with the simplest and end with the most complex.
On the box
The first step is to look very carefully at the box with the headphones. The serial number must be indicated on it, and it must be accessible even without unpacking. Thus, you can conduct a preliminary check of the originality of the headset directly in the store or immediately after delivery. The discovery of any discrepancies will be a valid reason for a return, which is much easier to do before unpacking.
The product serial number or IMEI is located on a special sticker that is easy to find on the box. Most often, the required symbols can be found between the two barcodes opposite o.
If the headphones have been in use for some time, the box is highly likely to have been lost or thrown away a long time ago. To obtain the serial number in this case, you will need to use the methods discussed below.
On the case
The serial number in original Apple products must also be present on the case for storing and charging headphones. To see the symbols, simply open the box and look at the inside of the lid. In the recess for the right earphone there are quality marks, indications for disposal and model designation. But in the recess for the left earphone you can see the capacity of the battery built into the case and the serial number. Here it is also located opposite the “Serial” signature.
Using iOS (iPhone/iPad/iPod)
In some cases, it is not possible to use the methods described above. Then the tools built into the operating system come to the rescue. You can find the IMEI serial number of your headphones directly through your iPhone. Of course, the headset must be connected to the device via wireless interfaces.
To obtain a serial number, do the following:
- Open the main menu on your smartphone.
- Go to the "Settings" section.
- Find the tab called "Basic".
- In the found tab, you need to find the line “About this device” and click on it.
- The page that opens must be scrolled down to the item indicating the connected headphones “AirPods”.
- Now on the screen you can see general information about the headset and its serial number.
The described method is the longest, but it also gives the most reliable result. Often, fake headphones come in original packaging or even with real cases. In this case, only checking the IMEI through the iPhone settings will help you obtain reliable information. At this stage, it would be a good idea to compare the number specified in the settings with the code on the case and packaging. If the number is different in different places, then the product can be classified as a counterfeit.
Where to check AirPods serial number
When answering the question of how to distinguish original AirPods 2 from fakes, one cannot fail to mention the use of various services to check the serial number. It is advisable to use only verified official resources that will not collude with scammers. It is best to refer to the manufacturer’s official website, as this is where the most up-to-date information will be available. But here it is worth noting that difficulties may arise when checking some models. Then additional resources come to the rescue.
Left and right earphone symbols
A noticeable component. But sometimes with Airpods Pro the difference between the original and the fake is literally before your eyes. On the very surface.
Genuine devices are necessarily marked with the letters R and L. With their help, it is indicated where the left and where the right earphone is.
It’s strange that some manufacturers of fairly accurate copies pass by such a component not so rarely.
If you don’t see the inscriptions L and R on the headphones, then the conclusion is obvious. It's a fake copy. The originals always come with such markings. There is no other way.
How to check IMEI AirPods 1, 2 on the Apple website
The official Apple website offers users a full range of necessary tools to check products for authenticity. This applies to all manufactured gadgets, as well as the first and second generation AirPods headphones.
To go to the desired tool, go to https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/. On the page that opens, any headset owner can check whether the serial number matches the original, and also find out whether the headphones in question have been used before. The latter is especially relevant in the ever-evolving market for used products. Without appropriate verification, the buyer may actually consider a previously used headset to be new, thereby losing a significant part of the money.
Immediately before checking the headphones, you need to find out their serial number using one of the methods listed above. Then you need to open the verification service and enter the found IMEI in the appropriate field. For security, the service also provides a check for the robot, which includes the need to enter a verification code. Visually impaired users can additionally use the function of reading the verification code.
As soon as the code is entered, you can start checking for originality. The service will either find a headset with the corresponding serial number in the database, or display a message about the invalidity of the number. If such a message appears, it is recommended to re-enter the code and repeat the test. Often, users simply make a mistake during the input process, so that the system cannot recognize the entered combination. But if even after several checks the result remains unchanged, then the user is faced with a fake.
The date of purchase does not need to be confirmed when checking new headphones. Confirmation appears only after the device is connected to the smartphone and registered in the database.
In some cases, the system can find a serial number, but the original iPhone headphones corresponding to it already have activated status. This may indicate that the seller is selling used headsets under the guise of new ones.
Note! In some cases, the headphones are purchased in Hong Kong and activated directly during the transaction. This approach allows you to bypass the additional tax, thereby reducing the cost of production.
Chipmunk.nl - a resource for checking Apple devices by serial number
In addition to the manufacturer's official website, you can check AirPods with third-party resources. The Chipmunk.nl service is considered one of the most reliable and proven.
Procedure for checking the headset:
- Open the website at https://www.chipmunk.nl/cgi-fast/applemodel.cgi.
- Enter the serial number previously found on the product in the appropriate form on the page that opens.
- After clicking on the check button, the tool will display a special form in which all the necessary information about the product will be indicated. The headphone model, color scheme, as well as technical characteristics will be indicated here. The appearance of this form indicates that the headphones in question are original.
When using this service, you should not exclude the possibility that it will be bribed by Chinese manufacturers of counterfeit products. As a result, the site will indicate originality, even if the product looks like a cheap copy. For this reason, you should not limit yourself to checking exclusively on the service, but it is better to additionally launch the procedure on the official Apple website.
Sensors
There is a special sensor on the side of the earphone, which is manufactured by Apple. It is made in black color and also has an oval oblong shape. Or a rectangle with rounded edges. Whatever is more convenient for you.
It is extremely easy to distinguish a fake by this element. Parodies do not have a sensor.
Never believe the seller if he claims that the sensor may not be present on the originals. Apparently he was moved to another site. And the sensors were on certain series. All this is an obvious deception. The original always came with a side sensor.
