When buying AirPods from anywhere except for the official Apple store, it’s normal to feel skeptical and worry if you are being scammed. Many Apple users have recently shown a worry that the AirPods from Best Buy may not be the real thing. So, is it, and how can you spot fake AirPods?
While we may not have direct information if the products on Best Buy are fake, there are ways to look for fake AirPods. You can either:
- You can scan the serial number code.
- Analyze the body.
- Check the AirPods case.
- Check the box.
It’s important to know when you purchase a pair of AirPods if they are authentic. To be able to do that, keep reading this article so we can discuss the facts of how you can discover the telltale signs of fake AirPods!
Are Best Buy AirPods Real?
While there is no specific evidence that the AirPods from Best Buy are fake, there are conflicting reviews and questions. However, for the sake of caution, we recommend that you purchase Apple AirPods directly from the site to avoid any confusion.
How To Spot Fake AirPods
So, you are feeling concerned about the Apple AirPods you have got and are wondering if they are fake. If that is the case, you need to make sure that you have the original product, as there may be a lot of money on the line. So, to make things easy, we have found the seven ways that you can identify if your Apple AirPods are the real thing.
Check Serial Number
One of the best ways in our experience to tell if your AirPods are real is to check their serial number. In fact, you can use the serial number to cross-reference the numbers on the Apple registry to see if it is an official Apple product. The only catch with this tell is that you can only check the serial number once your product arrives.
So, this means that you can very well pay for and get a product that is not an official Apple item. So once you have your Apple AirPods on hand, you can open up the case, and you will find a serial number there. The serial number is unique to every Apple AirPods.
That means that it is a unique identifier to the specific AirPods you are holding in your hand, and the serial number can never be the same as another product. Now, follow these steps below:
- On your computer, open up your web browser.
- Now, go to the URL: checkcoverage.apple.com
- On the page that opens up, enter your serial number.
- Wait for the results.
The site will let you know if your AirPods match an authentic serial number. In most cases, this should be a clear yes or no answer. However, if for some reason you cannot access the serial code, there are still a few things you can do.
Analyze The Body
When it comes to fake AirPods, you may be able to tell them apart from an authentic product because of the body. If you closely look a the top of the AirPods where the diffuser is, you will notice that in most cases, fake AirPods have a misaligned placement for it. It will also look too close or too far away from nearby parts. And you will also notice that there is a stark difference in the quality of materials compared to the pictures of the original body.
Another place where you may see a discrepancy is the bottom of the AirPods, where the speakers are. You will notice that the shape can be different. Remember that authentic AirPods always have speakers in the shape of an oval, whereas fakes may use different shapes. In some cases., this shape can even look like an oval.
Related: Why Does Your Right AirPods Die Faster Than the Left?
Check The Case
Now another way to evaluate the authenticity of your Apple AirPods is through the case the AirPods come in. You may notice significant differences in the structure of the AirPods, the text, the hinges, and even the placement of various parts.
A lot of the time, the materials are much cheaper as well as scammers will not be manufacturing using the best materials. You can also analyze the charging port, which you often use to charge the AirPods. The metal outline may be wrong, and there may be differences in where the light port is on the case itself.
Plus, there is also a light indicator on the case. One significant indication is that the indicator lights up in a color you won’t expect. For example, AirPods will light in three colors – white, amber, and green. If you see any other colors, that is a sure sign you have a fake AirPods case.
Check The Box
If you really want to see the difference between real and scammy AirPods, your best bet is actually packaging. This is because it is often far easier to point out the flaws in the packaging than it is to find in the AirPods themselves. The box will never have the same quality as the original.
It can really be telling as manufacturers will not really be thinking about selling the lie with more minor details. The box will be made from cheap and low-quality materials. The graphics may not look like they fit, and you may even see a few typos here and there. They may use different fonts and not have the authentic look of a box from Apple. The colors may not be the same as the original, and so on.
When you open the box, you may find fewer things inside. If you get an instructional manual, it may be hard to read because of many typos or even instructions in the wrong language.
Conclusion
Identifying real AirPods from fake ones can be heartbreaking as you may discover that your AirPods are not real. This may mean you have spent a lot of money on something that isn’t authentic. However, you can at least know and not use something that can potentially be dangerous for your safety,