How to spot fake Apple AirPods

Apple AirPods are expensive. If you want, it’s in your best interest to find an interesting offer. But beware, fakes rule. How to make a difference?

AirPods are trendy, you see them everywhere, but they are expensive. If you have the opportunity to buy it at a lower price, you will certainly be very interested. That being said, that enthusiasm is also fueling the counterfeit market, so much so that Apple has integrated an AirPods verification system into iOS 16. But how do you get caught buying counterfeit AirPods?

remain skeptical

Finding the best AirPods price is a good strategy. But if you see a price that seems too good to be true, it might be. You don’t have to worry too much if you’re ordering from Amazon – even from a third party seller – or from a major retailer.

But if you see a really good deal on Facebook Marketplace, eBay or elsewhere, beware. Not buying fake AirPods is the only way to avoid being scammed. These platforms sell real AirPods all the time, it’s not impossible to find a good deal, but to be sure, here are some things to check.

Look closely at the box

Doubtful packaging should put you in a dead end. Take the time to take a good look at it. It is easier to do it on the spot, but you can ask for a close-up photo. Apple, like other technology companies, pays a lot of attention to its presentation. There are no spelling errors on the original box of AirPods, as well as visual defects.

Make sure everything is in the box

Again, Apple’s packaging is uniform. Each product has the same packaging from box to box. Look at the model you are interested in on the Apple website and see what should be in the box. For example, in AirPods 3, in addition to headphones, there is a MagSafe charging case, a Lightning to USB-C cable, and documentation. For example, if you have a USB-A cable, be careful.

Check serial number

If you own a device, checking the serial number is a quick way to determine if a product is legal. On AirPods or AirPods Pro, the serial number is located directly under the case cover. On AirPods Max, it’s under the left earcup.

A scammer may print a legitimate serial number on the box to deceive a potential buyer. But if you find that the serial number is indeed on the AirPods themselves, that’s a good point. Headphones must be paired to ensure that the advertised serial number matches. Then select AirPods in settings and check the number.

If you have the number in question, enter it on the dedicated Apple website. If these are real AirPods, you will have information. Otherwise, you know they are fake.

Try AirPods (especially on iOS 16)

Apple has a great system for setting up AirPods for the first time. Simply open the charging case next to your iPhone and a window with instructions will appear.

With fake AirPods, things are much more complicated. If the AirPods ask you to go through the Bluetooth settings menu, and in particular if they ask you to pair them one at a time, it’s fake. Apple never pairs AirPods individually.

Some scammers have managed to trick iOS into running a genuine setup. With the release of iOS 16, Apple is responding to these scammers. If you try to set up a pair of fake AirPods on an iPhone running iOS 16, a window will pop up saying “AirPods cannot be verified. These headphones cannot be authenticated as real AirPods and may not work as expected.”You can then choose not to connect them or continue in the Bluetooth settings.

Compare

Look at the specifications of the AirPods you’ve purchased, such as the AirPods 3, and compare them to your AirPods. Do the sizes match? Is the charging case the same size? Does it have a Lightning port instead of a USB-C port? Does wireless charging work and, if so, MagSafe?

The same goes for unique features depending on the models. Removing the AirPod from your ear should stop the music. A long press on the back of your AirPods Pro switches between noise canceling mode and transparency mode. Double tapping allows you to skip to the next song. So many features that can be tweaked later, but after unpacking, they should be there and work like this.