Whether it’s your brother-in-law who comes with questionable AirPods, a friend, or you who bought some without really knowing their authenticity, the truth is that there are some really good AirPods knockoffs out there. And no, we’re not talking about headphones from other brands with a clear Apple inspiration, but those that are literally nailed to the AirPods to the point of doubt whether they are genuine or fake.
Well, there is no magic tool that you download to your iPhone that tells you if they are genuine or not (hopefully). However, there are several clues that can lead us to verify the authenticity of the helmet. And it doesn’t matter which models it is, because they are suitable for everyone.
The most obvious indications that they are fake
It is advisable to start with what seems a priori the most obvious, but which should not be excluded all the same. Purely visual aspects (or sensations) which, although not definitive, can give good clues. And if they all come together, they will leave no doubt that they are fakes.
- Animations on iPhone: when opening the AirPods case, an animation should appear on the iPhone. At the first opportunity, the animation asks to connect them, while the following times it shows the battery level of the earphones and the case. If it doesn’t appear it may be due to an iOS bug (not strange at all) and similarly if it appears it may be because it is a very good fake. However, it is still something to consider.
- “Accessory may not be supported” message: Unlike the previous case, if a notice appears on your iPhone, iPad or Mac with this message, it is a clear sign that the AirPods are not genuine. And they may still work, but that’s a definite sign of being a fake. An Apple product on an Apple device will never be recognized as a “possibly unsupported accessory”.
- It does not appear at the top of the settings: Since iOS 16, when we connect AirPods to iPhone, they appear on the top of Settings. Right under our photo and our name. If they are not there, and even if they appear in the Bluetooth settings, it is already very suspicious.
- Weird design and construction: If visually there are items that do not match the original AirPods, you should have no doubt that they are fake. Now if they are well designed but you notice some weird construction like the materials seem very flimsy or have loose parts inside and such, that is also possible evidence that they are fake. This also applies to the product box.
- Sound quality: Perhaps due to dirt on the membranes or a simple manufactur ing defect, the AirPods sound a little canned or with strange sounds. However, if the headphones are brand new, they shouldn’t have these issues.
Check the serial number on the Apple website
Like any device, each pair of AirPods is assigned a serial number. AND There is an Apple website where you can enter this number And while it doesn’t directly say whether or not they’re genuine, it ends up being a clear demonstration that they’re genuine in some way.
I have to say that there are three possible serial numbers for AirPods (except the ‘Max’). On the one hand that of the case and on the other hand that of the right earphone and the left one. Everything will serve you for verification. And to locate these serial numbers, you can go to AirPods settings on iPhone or iPad or check the original box.
Now with the serial number, you need to click here to access the aforementioned website, enter the number in the corresponding text field and fill in the security captcha. If the AirPods are fake, you will get a red box that says “enter a valid serial number”. If they are genuine, the model and indications will appear so that you can see the date of purchase and other information related to its warranty.
Going to Apple will get you out of doubt. Assurance
Either by making an appointment at an Apple Store or with any SAT (Authorized Technical Service), you can go to a brand specialist to check through their systems whether the AirPods are genuine or not. Obviously, who better than them to verify it. It is also a good option if after the previous checks you still have doubts.
As to whether this date will cost you money, say no, since It’s a free service. Maybe Apple doesn’t specify it anywhere, but from known experiences, we can attest that in a situation like this, they won’t need to pay for the review.
What you need to be clear is that in case they are fake, they won’t give you the originals. Of course they can offer you to buy new ones, but that: buy. And if they are genuine and detect a sound problem or something similar that makes you suspect they were fake, they will be able to fix them. Of course, whether the repair is free will depend on whether or not they are under warranty.
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