{"id":27539,"date":"2023-05-23T11:19:38","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/?p=27539"},"modified":"2023-05-23T11:19:39","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:19:39","slug":"how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/","title":{"rendered":"How to spot fake AirPods and avoid getting scammed"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>AirPods are one of the most popular wireless earbuds on the market, but they&#8217;re also a popular target for counterfeiters. If you&#8217;re thinking about buying AirPods, it&#8217;s important to know how to spot fake ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AirPods Pro seems to be the most commonly faked, but that doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t be careful when buying regular AirPods, or the over-the-ear style AirPods Max. And truth be told, some of the fakes are actually really good, but don\u2019t stress it because there are some telltale signs that will help you spot fake AirPods. Of course, there is always one piece of advice that cannot be ignored:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of what you call them; fakes, clones, or even non-genuine \u2013 we\u2019re fairly certain that most people only want genuine Apple AirPods \u2013 so keep reading to learn how you can identify fake AirPods and avoid being scammed out of your hard-earned money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0a0a0a;color:#0a0a0a\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0a0a0a;color:#0a0a0a\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/#Check-the-serial-number-with-Apple\" >Check the serial number with Apple<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/#Some-things-to-keep-in-mind-when-using-Apples-serial-number-check\" >Some things to keep in mind when using Apple\u2019s serial number check<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/#Take-a-look-at-the-packaging\" >Take a look at the packaging<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/#Check-the-AirPods-and-the-case\" >Check the AirPods and the case<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/#Consult-your-iPhone-or-iPad\" >Consult your iPhone or iPad<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/how-to-spot-fake-airpods-and-avoid-getting-scammed\/#Go-hands-on-and-test-the-AirPods-yourself\" >Go hands-on and test the AirPods yourself<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check-the-serial-number-with-Apple\"><\/span>Check the serial number with Apple<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>An excellent first step is to check the serial number with Apple using the <a href=\"https:\/\/checkcoverage.apple.com\/?locale=en_US\">\u201cCheck Device Coverage\u201d<\/a> support page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Make sure the AirPods serial number is recognized by Apple.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This check should be considered a quick and easy first step, but even if the check comes back good, this shouldn\u2019t be the only thing you check so make sure to continue reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Some-things-to-keep-in-mind-when-using-Apples-serial-number-check\"><\/span>Some things to keep in mind when using Apple\u2019s serial number check<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Consider the serial number:<\/strong> It is possible for a counterfeiter to use cloned serial numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the counterfeiter takes the serial number from a 100% legit pair of AirPods and prints that on the box for their 100% non-legit pair of AirPods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To that point, most cloned AirPods do actually use a valid serial number, but they often use a single serial number for both L and R AirPods. A genuine set of AirPods will show a different serial number for the L and R sides. This can be checked on the AirPods settings page by tapping on Serial Number (when tapped, it will cycle through the main serial number, the L side serial number, and the R side serial number).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Consider the status of the warranty:<\/strong> Apple AirPods come with \u201cone year of hardware repair coverage through its limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, when I checked the serial number for my AirPods Pro (purchased in June 2021), Apple notes the coverage has expired, which isn\u2019t a surprise. But if you\u2019re checking the serial number of a set of 2nd-generation AirPods Pro (released in September 2022) before September 2023, you should not get a coverage expired message. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you notice any issues when checking the serial number, remember that you may have mistyped the serial number on the first try. But provided you are certain the serial number was entered correctly, the coverage expired message should be considered a red flag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Take-a-look-at-the-packaging\"><\/span>Take a look at the packaging<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This could be as simple as the font being different, or different images on the box. You may also notice odd spaces between words or even some spelling errors. But let&#8217;s go with the assumption the font looks good, and there are no weird and obvious mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Make sure the serial number on the box matches the serial number on the AirPods.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The serial number for AirPods or AirPods Pro is located on the inside of the charging case. You can find it on the inside of the lid. The serial number for AirPods Max can be found on the inside of the left earpiece.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This serial number should match the serial number on the box, and it should also match the AirPods serial number shown in the settings on your iPhone or iPad.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or, if you\u2019re buying a pair of sealed AirPods you should check the seal. Apple uses a tear-away pull-tab style plasticized paper seal, and that seal can often reveal whether the AirPods are genuine. A genuine Apple AirPods box uses a straight cut for the seal, whereas, a non-genuine Apple AirPods box will often use perforated paper seals. Another item to take note of is the plasticized paper seal that Apple uses should not leave any paper remnants once torn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/airpods-pro-retail-seal.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2150\" height=\"840\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/airpods-pro-retail-seal.png\" alt=\"Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) Retail Box Seals - Genuine vs. Clone\" class=\"wp-image-27541 img-responsive\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Check-the-AirPods-and-the-case\"><\/span>Check the AirPods and the case<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When checking the AirPods and the case you should start with the obvious, such as whether they appear genuine \u2013 fake AirPods are often built from lower-quality materials. You may also want to pull up a picture of AirPods on the Apple website and do a quick comparison to make sure everything looks the same.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some other items to check are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Make sure the AirPods appear on the Find My app on your iPhone<ul><li>Also\u2026make sure you can ring the AirPods from the Find My app on your iPhone<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Make sure the charging port on the case is set properly, and not off or loose<\/li><li>Make sure the case has the small circular button on the back, and that the button is perfectly flat<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>On your iPhone or iPad, navigate to Settings -&gt; Bluetooth -&gt; locate the AirPods in the list of Bluetooth devices and tap the \u201ci\u201d for information that is located towards the right side of your screen. Keep in mind, the information screen will show different information depending on whether the AirPods are connected or not connected. When they are not connected, you\u2019ll get basic details such as the name, model number, serial number, etc. When connected, you\u2019ll get access to settings and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/airpods-pro-settings-connected-vs-not-connected.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1207\" height=\"1300\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/airpods-pro-settings-connected-vs-not-connected.png\" alt=\"Apple AirPods Pro Settings Screen - Not Connected to iPhone vs. Connected to iPhone\" class=\"wp-image-27542 img-responsive\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Consult-your-iPhone-or-iPad\"><\/span>Consult your iPhone or iPad<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you open the AirPods case near your iPhone or iPad you will get a pop-up. The specific message will be different depending on whether the AirPods are paired, not paired, or not genuine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>If the AirPods are not yet paired you will be prompted to connect them<\/li><li>If the AirPods are paired you will get a pop-up showing the battery status<\/li><li>If the AirPods are not-genuine you may get a pop-up indicating that Apple \u201ccannot verify AirPods\u201d<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also check the firmware version on the AirPods. This can be done by navigating to Settings -&gt; Bluetooth on your iPhone. Once in the Bluetooth section, just tap the \u201ci\u201d for information that is located towards the right side of your screen and then scroll down to the About section to find the firmware version.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll want to make sure the AirPods are running the latest version of firmware, and if they aren\u2019t, make sure the AirPods automatically update in a day or two. If the AirPods are running an older version of firmware and they do not update after a few days, they are most likely clones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can find the most recent firmware version number for each of the different AirPods on Apple\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213317\">\u201cAbout firmware updates for AirPods<\/a>\u201d support page.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/apple-airpods-popup-messages.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/apple-airpods-popup-messages.png\" alt=\"Apple AirPods Status Messages for Connect, Connected (Battery Status), and Cannot Verify AirPods\" class=\"wp-image-27544 img-responsive\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Go-hands-on-and-test-the-AirPods-yourself\"><\/span>Go hands-on and test the AirPods yourself<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Put simply, spend a few minutes playing with the AirPods and make sure all of the features work as expected. AirPods features vary from model to model, and what follows is a brief list of features by model:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>AirPods (2nd generation)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Hey Siri voice recognition<\/li><li>Microphone taking phone calls<\/li><li>Double-tap to play or skip forward when listening to music<\/li><li>They pause the audio when you remove them from your ears<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>AirPods Pro (2nd generation)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Fit Test<\/li><li>Hey Siri voice recognition<\/li><li>Microphone for taking phone calls<\/li><li>Active Noise Cancellation<\/li><li>Transparency mode<\/li><li>Spatial Audio<\/li><li>Swipe up or down to adjust the volume<\/li><li>Press to play or pause music or answer or end phone calls<\/li><li>Hold to switch between noise canceling and transparency modes<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>AirPods Max<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Hey Siri voice recognition<\/li><li>Microphone for taking phone calls<\/li><li>Active Noise Cancellation<\/li><li>Transparency mode<\/li><li>Spatial Audio<\/li><li>Digital Crown to control volume, skip tracks, answer calls, and summon Siri<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>On the positive side of going through this check \u2013 once you\u2019re finished testing the features \u2013 you\u2019ll be considered an expert on AirPods and will be able to take full advantage of every feature offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have concerns about a current listing for AirPods on Swappa or have concerns about a pair of AirPods you recently purchased from a Swappa seller, you can reach out to our <a href=\"https:\/\/swappa.com\/help\">support team<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, if you&#8217;re not sure whether your AirPods are real or fake, you can contact Apple for assistance. A visit to your local Apple Genius can help you verify the authenticity of your AirPods and provide you with support if you have any problems.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AirPods are one of the most popular wireless earbuds on the market, but they&#8217;re also a popular target for counterfeiters. If you&#8217;re thinking about buying AirPods, it&#8217;s important to know how to spot fake ones. AirPods Pro seems to be the most commonly faked, but that doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t be careful when buying regular [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":27026,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"template-parts\/wpb-single-post.php","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,16,13,12],"tags":[1142,1155,1154,19,1143],"products":[],"class_list":["post-27539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-apple","category-buyer-tips","category-protips","category-seller-tips","tag-airpods","tag-airpods-max","tag-airpods-pro","tag-apple-2","tag-apple-airpods"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/34"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27539"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27539\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27549,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27539\/revisions\/27549"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27026"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27539"},{"taxonomy":"products","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swappa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/products?post=27539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}