Fake AirPods from Hong Kong market (Image credit: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
Apple may not have invented wireless earbuds, but the tech giant popularised the technology with AirPods back in 2016. And as with all things popular, scammers were quick to jump in on the trend and started selling counterfeit AirPods at dirt cheap prices. If you recently purchased a pair of AirPods or just want to check if the existing pair you bought a while ago are genuine or not, here are some ways to determine if your earbuds are the real deal.
Packaging and missing manuals
One of the easiest ways to check if your AirPods are real or not is by checking the packaging they came in. Apple puts a lot of effort into packaging, making it hard for counterfeiters to copy and offer the same experience the real ones do.
Fake AirPods often have misspelt words and sometimes use a different or bigger font. Another telltale is that the labels on original AirPods are separated while counterfeit ones have a single piece of paper. If your AirPods have a slightly faded Apple logo or the bitten part has curved edges, chances are pretty high they are not made by Apple.
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Once you open the box, make sure you check the contents inside. Original AirPods come with a user manual, warranty card and a safety sheet, so if you are missing any of these, someone has likely either opened the box before you purchased it or the product is fake.
Original Apple AirPods either have the serial number in the hinge of the case. (Express Photo)
Check serial number
Counterfeiters are getting better every day, but one area where they might mess up is the serial number. Every original AirPods box comes with a serial number, so make sure you head over to the Apple serial number checker page and type in the serial number of your wireless earbuds to see if they are genuine or not.
But even if your serial number has passed Apple’s check, there’s a slim chance the AirPods inside may have a different serial number. To verify if the box and the device have the same number, open your AirPods and check the underside of the earbuds. Original AirPods have serial numbers printed on the underside of the earbuds, so make sure they match the ones on the box.
The serial numbers for AirPods Pro 2nd gen and AirPods 3rd gen are located inside the hinge of the charging case near the edge whereas, for AirPods Max, it is located on the inside of the left ear pad, just above the speaker.
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Connect your phone
Apple introduced a new feature with iOS 16 that can check if the AirPods you connected are fake or not. If you get a ‘Cannot Verify AirPods’ alert right after you pair your wireless earbuds, there’s a chance you may have gotten a counterfeit. However, it is not always the case as you might also see the same message when connecting real ones because of some bugs or issues with the software.
Fake AirPods are available in a variety of colours. (Express Photo)
Check colour, build and audio quality
If you bought AirPods in any other colour other than white, they are fake. Apple only makes AirPods in one colour, so if you see them in different colours, you have been scammed.
Also, most fake AirPods have unfinished edges or some other defects. To check if they are the real deal, try to compare your pair with pictures on the Apple website. If the grills are loose or the stem has a button instead of the force sensor, they are fake. You can also determine the authenticity by checking the multifunction button on the back of the charging case. Fake ones often have a loose or raised button while an original pair will have the button in line with the rest of the case.
Poor audio quality
In case you are still unable to determine if the earbuds you purchased are real, pay attention to the audio quality. Fake AirPods often have poor audio quality and lack clarity and bass. Sometimes you may not even get a microphone.
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Also, some advanced features like spatial audio and other audio enhancements are missing, so if certain functionalities aren’t working as intended, your AirPods may be fake.
