How to distinguish AirPods from fake?

AirPods - high quality, reliable, comfortable, miniature and functional wireless headphones... No wonder they have so much excellent copies and fakeswhich an uninitiated person cannot immediately recognize. But how do you tell the Airpods apart? There are several characteristics at once that will allow you to immediately see a fake:

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The appearance of the original AirPods headphones

How to distinguish Airpods from fake? First of all, of course, it is worth examining the "ears" themselves:

1. Speaker... Study the grille carefully - it should be thin, metal and not recessed into the case. The headset speakers are perfectly visible through such a grille. In fakes, the lattices are denser.
2. Materials... A real earphone from Apple seems to be monolithic - the body elements are so perfectly matched to each other. Metal elements, unlike non-original ones, will be well polished here.
3. Sensors... The surest way to detect a fake is to compare the headphones with the original photos. On fakes, either there will be no necessary sensors, or a resourceful inventor is trying to disguise their absence as an additional speaker.
4. Lettering... How to distinguish the original Airpods here? On the left "ear" there will be a mark L, on the right - R. Under these marks you will see the marking of the device model.
5. Communication with the phone... As soon as you connect real AirPods to the gadget, you will hear a sound that will sharply remind you of Windows notifications. The Chinese use different sounds for their devices.
6. Colour... The original headphones are exclusively white. One moment - after purchase, they can be repainted by intermediaries. But if you see exactly colored plastic in front of you, it's definitely not AirPods.
7. Coating... The originals are made of glossy plastic that does not slip in your hands. The counterfeit will "lather", you can tactilely feel the roughness on its surface.
8. Dimensions... Earphone parameters: 16.5 x 18 x 40.5 mm.

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How to distinguish the original Airpods differently? Do not be lazy to check these inscriptions on the airpods themselves:

• А1523 - right, 1st series.
• А1722 - left, 1st series.
• А2032 - right, 2nd series.
• А2031 - left, 2nd series.
• A2084 - Right Pro.
• A2084 - Left Pro.

Charging case for original AirPods

How to distinguish Airpods 2 from a fake? We continue to figure out what is the difference between original airpods and fake ones:

1. Back of the charging case... Examine the setting button carefully. On the original, it seems to be poured into the body, and on a fake it will protrude somewhat above the surface. Most likely, the original will have the familiar inscription: “Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China ".
2. Opening / closing the lid... We continue to analyze how to distinguish original Airpods from a fake. If this is the original version, the lid will open smoothly. But on fakes it is abrupt, unexpected. Sometimes even force is required, since a powerful magnet is installed.
3. The reverse side of the cap... Here you will find information about the device model and serial number. The latter must match the serial number printed on the box.
4. Indicator location... If you have AirPods of the first series in front of you, the blinking dot will be under the cover, between the headphones, and if in the second series, on the front side of the case.
5. Colour... The shade of the original is milky white. A fake can be snow-white, like veneers, or goes into yellowness.
6. Click... When you close the original cover, there is a low, muffled sound. In the case of a fake - sharp, sonorous.
7. Dimensions... Charging box parameters: 44.3 x 21.3 x 53.5 mm.

Read also: How do I find my AirPods?

How to distinguish Airpods Pro from a fake? Pay attention to the model name for the original case:

• A1602 - for the first generation headphones.
• А1938 - for the second generation headphones.
• A2190 - for Pro headphones.

Apple product packaging

How to distinguish fake Airpods from the original yet? Now it's time to check the cardboard box:

1. Apple always uses high-quality and dense cardboard to package all of its devices.
2. Place your finger on the headphone images on the box. If it is original, then the drawing will be convex, not flat.
3. How to distinguish the original Airpods 2? There are 2-3 peelable stickers on the package (depending on the country of delivery), which contain information: data on support by operating systems, place of manufacture, serial code.
4. Pay attention to how the contents are stacked: Apple puts the instructions on top, and puts the headphones in the case below, in a special tray. At the bottom you will find a cable for charging the case.

Read also: How do I know the charge on AirPods?

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Pairing original AirPods with your phone

You have Airpods 2. How to distinguish the original? Pair your airpods with your phone and continue checking:

1. The iPhone immediately "sees" the originals: a special appears on the screen. menu for the first connection.
2. Tap the headphones twice with your finger. On the original, this way you will by default call Siri.
3. Go to "Settings" on your iPhone. How to distinguish original Airpods 2 from fake? If you have a branded headset in front of you, you can change the double-tap assignment for it: for example, from "Siri" to pause, switching to the next track.
4. For example, you have Airpods pro. How to distinguish the original? Open the Bluetooth menu in Settings with your headphones already connected. Click on the icon next to the name of the airpods. In the next window, you will see their serial code, model number, firmware version. All these data must match those indicated on the box.
5. When synchronizing with your phone, you will notice the Airpods inscription in the pop-up menu, and not another name or a sequence of letters and numbers.

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Apple-branded lettering and fonts

We continue to figure out how to distinguish a copy of Airpods. Many of us pay attention to the inscriptions and fonts on purchase in the last place, which is completely in vain - after all, it is sometimes that they allow you to quickly identify an unoriginal typeface. On original devices, the charging case, in the instruction itself, the corporate font is pale gray, and the letters are somewhat elongated. While the Chinese prefer a dark, almost black color, flattened letters, bold type.

Checking by IMEI

Visual check, of course, is effective, but to be 100% sure of the originality of the purchase is possible only if you "punch" it by IMEI. To do this, do the following:

1. Go to the Apple official website from your computer or smartphone.
2. Scroll down to the Check Service and Support Eligibility section.
3. Open the charging case - you will see the necessary numbers on the back of the lid.
4. Enter a sequence of characters in the Serial Number field.
5. How To Distinguish Replica Airpods? If you have a fake in front of you, the system will determine the combination as an invalid number.

Read also: Apple AirPods vs AirPods Pro comparison

Sometimes the headphones are located by IMEI, but at the same time they are marked as already activated. Is there a deception here? If you do not purchase AirPods from an official supplier, for a lower price, they most likely get them from Hong Kong. In order to take the equipment out of there without additional taxes, sellers are forced to activate the headphones before sending them abroad. Of course, not manually, but with the help of special programs, which is why the packaging remains intact.

Here comes the difficulty of how to distinguish the original Airpods Pro. Therefore, the issue of trust is important: if you trust the seller, you can purchase these activated originals from him at a more “tasty” price.

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Other important differences between AirPods and fake

If you are still in doubt how to distinguish original Airpods Pro from a fake, pay attention to the following verification methods:

• Weight... Real headphones together with a charging case will weigh 46.6 g. How can you tell a copy of Airpods from the original? Chinese knockoffs are generally easier.
• Connection with real airpods... If you already have original AirPods, verification can be a lot easier: you won't be able to sync a fake one with a branded headset. In addition, the original charger box will not charge the fake ears.
• Charge consumption... In the originals, it is as close as possible to the declared one.
• Fast connection with an iPhone and other devices that support a wireless headset.
• Clear, deep sound without wheezing, noise.

Now you know how to tell the difference between original and replica Airpods!

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