How to Spot Fake AirPods: Step-by-Step Guide

AirPods is one of the most popular Bluetooth earphones which have been created and launched by Apple. Due to its popular demand and its success in the technology industry, it is not surprising for a lot of copycats and fake AirPods to be seen everywhere. This is why you will always need to be careful especially when you are planning to purchase one. For all you know you are paying the amount of the original AirPods for a fake one.

In this article, we shall provide you useful information which you could use as a guide in determining and spotting fake AirPods pariticularly AirPod 2. 

Here are seven steps on how to check if your AirPods are authentic and original or not. 

How to Spot Fake AirPods

Check Serial Number on Apple’s Official Website

One of the best and most reliable way to spot fake AirPods is by verifying the serial number of the AirPods on Apple’s official website. The serial number could be found on the underside of the AirPod’s charging case lid. You will also be able to find the serial number on the original packaging. 

You could enter the serial code at https://checkcoverage.apple.com. If Apple could identify the serial number of the AirPods, then, you could be assured that the AirPods are original and authentic. Through the site provided above, you will be able to find useful information such as service coverage, telephone support and date of purchase. 

On the other hand, if the AirPods is not authentic, you will not be able to find any information and get the records of the serial number of the fake AirPods. Though that is the case, there could also be an instance where you could purchase a legit charging case and retail box but the AirPods itself could be fake. If that is the case, there are several other ways to be able to check if the AirPods that you are planning to purchase is authentic. 

Check Original Packaging for Inconsistencies

Upon checking the retail boxes of both fake and original, we have discovered the following inconsistencies:

• Authentic box has two separate stickers while the fake one has one sticker 
• The font used by authentic AirPods is San Francisco 
• The fake box has curvy edges Apple logo
• The font of the authentic one is thicker than the fake one
• The text Designed by Apple in California are printed on the covering cardboard box is printed in grey (authentic) while the fake one is printed in black. 
• The authentic one has four different languages written in the manual

Check the Bottom Side of AirPods

Check the bottom of the AirPods where the charge contacts are located. The bottom grills of the original one comes with an oval shape. The fake one on the other hand are larger and is close to being round shape. The fake ones have silver grills rather than the dark grey of the original ones. The charging contacts of the fake ones are larger than the original ones. 

Check AirPods Speaker Grill

Real AirPods you will be able to see the shape of the speakers through the grill. However, with the fake ones, you will not be able to see through. The IR proximity sensors on the other hand with the original and real AirPods are flushed with the body of the AirPods. With the fake, you would feel black dots. Moreover, there are no gaps on the grills beside the IR proximity sensors and top of the AirPods and body of real AirPods while the fake ones has space in between.

Compare Charging Cases

• Hinges on the fake one is loose when it is open
• There is an unusual extra space between in in the Assembled in China
• Small button on the back of the genuine AirPods charging case is completely flush
• Fake ones have pairing button protruding from the case

Check Light Indicator

The light indicator of the fake ones is bigger than the authentic and original ones. 

Check Lighting Port

There is a small gap between the case and the lightning port on the fake one which you will never see in the real one. Moreover, the original one is more rounded that the original one. 

Conclusion

This concludes our article on how to spot fake airpods. We hope that we were able to provide you important information which has guided you in determining original, real AirPods from fake ones.