Faced with the abundance of counterfeit AirPods, Apple reacts. Here's how to spot the real from the fake and avoid buying counterfeit headphones.
When a product is successful, it is inevitable to find counterfeits on the internet ... and sometimes even by going to the store. With the AirPods, and despite some apprehensions, Apple has hit hard. It is therefore not surprising to see here and there low-end imitations of headphones from the apple brand. On the one hand, there are brands that are trying to find a legitimate alternative, and on the other, Chinese counterfeiters who copy absolutely everything in the design of AirPods.
The price of Apple's headphones being quite high, 170 € for the basic model, it is not surprising that consumers are trying to find cheaper. But if a discount of 100 € or even 50 € may seem attractive, beware.
Authenticate by serial number
Having understood the plan of Chinese counterfeiters, Apple decided to react by adding a serial number on each of the headphones. It is located under the tip that enters the ear. Number which is of course also on the cover of the AirPods box. To check that the product is not a counterfeit, just check it by entering the number on the warranty validator . However, only the number on found on the storage box works. The number on the headphones is therefore used to identify the true from the false, quite simply. At least for the moment…
The answer is in detail
When you are faced with a counterfeit AirPods, it is often obvious. All the genius of the design of the headphones of the American firm being the miniaturization, it is easy to identify the counterfeits a little too big. For example, the stem should not be wider than the thickness of an iPhone.
However, some imitations are better done than others. The easiest way is to check the pairing system. To do this, you must have the AirPods box and open the valve. The iPhone should automatically detect the headphones and offer automatic pairing. It would therefore be the safest way to ensure the authenticity of the product. However, this method only works if you have already bought the headphones and therefore does not protect against a biased purchase.
On the internet, based only on images, it is sometimes difficult to identify the true from the false. But one thing is certain, if a button is visible on the headphones, it is a forgery. The only button is located on the headphone case and only serves to pair the headphones with each other in the event that one of the two is lost.