Key Takeaways
- Suspiciously low cost AirPods are most certainly fakes. Belief the serial quantity — if it is invalid, they don’t seem to be legit.
- Verify for distinctive iPhone options like spatial audio. {Hardware} errors, odd colours, and eartips are giveaways.
- Use an iPhone for connection. Actual AirPods will show connection cues and battery life. Do not be fooled by fakes.
Whether or not you are contemplating shopping for some AirPods you discovered low cost, otherwise you purchased your AirPods secondhand, otherwise you had been gifted some that appear “off,” it is most likely price it to examine and see in case your AirPods are literally actual. That is very true should you discover any key features are lacking from them, or if they do not look fairly proper.
With a eager eye and realizing what to search for, you’ll be able to fairly simply decide whether or not your AirPods are pretend by checking just a few key components. A few of these could be achieved before you purchase them, and a few of them after they’re in your possession.
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1 Take into account if the deal is simply too good
The pods may be too low cost to be true
Allef Vinicius on Unsplash
If you see AirPods on sale for a ridiculously low cost value, you are most likely coping with a pretend. Generally, should you’re seeing AirPods Pro going for underneath $150 new, or the AirPods Max for lower than $400, it’s best to undoubtedly be skeptical. Older generations may be resold for less expensive, so do hold that in thoughts. If you happen to’re shopping for supposedly refurbished AirPods, you’ll be able to count on them to be a good quantity lower than the unique value, however not by quite a bit.
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2 Search for the serial quantity
Verify the field, your settings, and on the case
The underside of the field the AirPods got here in ought to have a serial quantity on it. If you happen to enter that serial quantity into Apple’s coverage checker, it will inform you whether or not it is coated underneath guarantee at the moment, and if the serial quantity is not legitimate. If the serial quantity is not legitimate, you’ve got bought your self a case of faux AirPods. Nevertheless, whether it is legitimate, that is not a assure that they are actual.
If you do not have the case the AirPods got here in, you too can examine the serial quantity by going to Settings > Bluetooth and clicking the data button subsequent to the AirPods within the Bluetooth menu. Moreover, in case your headset is actual, there might be a serial quantity on the within of the AirPods case beneath the cap.
When you’ve got the field the AirPods got here in, you’ll be able to evaluate the serial quantity on the field to the serial quantity on the AirPods. If the numbers do not match, one thing is amiss.
3 Verify the options when linked to an iPhone
See if all of the settings try
There are options that include AirPods particularly for iPhone customers that are not precisely simple to duplicate for counterfeiters. If you happen to try a few these options, you will fairly actually decide whether or not you’ve got bought a pretend on/in your palms.
First, earlier than pairing them, simply open the case with the AirPods inside close to your cellphone. If the AirPods are for certain actual, a card will present up on the display permitting you to connect with the AirPods. After pairing, you’ll be able to then open the AirPods case by the cellphone to see if it reveals you a card on the display with battery life data. If it does, you’ve got bought some actual AirPods. If not, there may be an issue.
You may also examine to see if you should use spatial audio with them in the event that they’re supposedly one of many newer AirPods. If you cannot arrange and use spatial audio, these earbuds usually are not what they appear.
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4 Search for {hardware} errors
Is the colour wonky? Eartips wrongly sized?
Quite a lot of the time, counterfeiting is finished fairly sloppily. If you happen to take a more in-depth take a look at the packaging, you will most likely discover just a few errors proper off the bat, like spelling errors, formatting errors, and unusual typefaces. Moreover, the earbuds may not look fairly like AirPods, they may be formed in a different way, have a barely totally different coloration, or possibly the improper form of ear ideas. Possibly the charging port is micro USB as a substitute of USB-C or the older Lightning ports. These are all telltale indicators that you’ve some counterfeit AirPods in your palms.
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5
FAQ
Q: What do I do if my AirPods are pretend?
If you happen to’ve decided your AirPods are fakes, there’s sadly not a ton that you are able to do. Apple will not allow you to return them as a result of it wasn’t the producer, and so they will not substitute them with actual ones. You possibly can return them to the vendor you bought them from and hope that you just get your a reimbursement, however that’s as much as the vendor. You may also strive getting in contact together with your bank card firm should you paid that method and see if you will get a cost again, however which may not work out both.
Q: How do I keep away from by chance shopping for pretend AirPods?
It is vital to observe discretion when shopping for any tech merchandise from a 3rd get together vendor, so you do not end up on this scenario within the first place, particularly since Apple merchandise are so typically counterfeited. Be sure you purchase AirPods immediately from Apple or from approved Apple resellers.
Q: What if I would like extra budget-friendly AirPods?
If you happen to’re in search of new earbuds however haven’t got the cash to drop on new AirPods, as a substitute of shopping for pretend AirPods for affordable, contemplate shopping for some extra affordable earbuds as a substitute. Our AV editor examined the OnePlus Buds 3 just lately and located they had been an important various to AirPods, at just below $100. There are lots of actually nice, inexpensive choices on the market which might be a method higher buy than counterfeit AirPods.
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