Don’t Get Fooled by Counterfeit AirPods Pro | Here’s How to Tell If They’re Fake
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Fake AirPods and AirPods Pro earbuds have long been a problem, and one TikTok user discovered hers were fake only when she took them to an Apple Store seeking help with a problem she was having with them.
Let’s face it, Apple’s AirPods lineup is wildly popular with Apple users, meaning bad actors are more than happy to produce and sell counterfeit versions of the popular earbuds to unwitting consumers. This means that users who have been fooled end up with poor copies of the real AirPods, usually with little chance of getting their money back.
Many of the counterfeit AirPods are so convincing that buyers don’t know they’ve been ripped off until someone else tips them off. In TikTok user Kayla Bishop’s case, she found out when she went to an Apple Store for assistance.
As reported by The Daily Dot, Bishop posted a TikTok video showing her visit to her local Apple Store’s Genius Bar, where she had gone for assistance when her “AirPods” stopped working one week after she purchased them. Bishop had hoped she’d either have them repaired or replaced, but she was instead informed that the earbuds were not genuine Apple AirPods Pro but counterfeit.
Her video shows an Apple Store worker demonstrating how he knows they are fake. He placed a genuine pair of AirPods next to each other to show that they repel each other, thanks to their magnetic fields. Unfortunately for Bishop, when her counterfeit buds were placed next to each other, they were happy to stay next to each other.
In the caption accompanying the video, Bishop said, “Well makes sense that they stopped working after a week? I was mortified, yall! Count your days, scammers!!!! #embarrassing #applestore.” The video has since been watched millions of times.
Counterfeit AirPods are big business for the bad actors of the world. Last August, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 1,000 pairs of fake AirPods Pro 2 earbuds that would be worth nearly $300,000 on the street from Washington Dulles International Airport. As is usual for counterfeit devices and accessories, the earbuds were shipped from China.
How to Tell if Your AirPods Are Fake
Newer iPhone models can automatically detect fake AirPods. Once the earbuds are connected, a message will appear on the device saying, “These headphones could not be verified as genuine AirPods and may not behave as expected.“
For questionable AirPods Pro 2, there’s another easy test that will confirm or deny their authenticity. If you had a Memoji engraved on the AirPods Pro 2’s charging case when you ordered it, you should see the Memoji displayed on the status screen on your iPhone and iPad. If you don’t see that, then you may be the proud owner of a pair of counterfeit AirPods Pro 2 earbuds.
You can also verify your AirPods Pro’s serial number on Apple’s website.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap on Bluetooth.
- Tap on the (i) button next to the AirPods’ name.
- Tap and hold on the Serial Number to copy it.
- Go to checkcoverage.apple.com and paste the serial number in the field on the page.
This web page will display the warranty and additional coverage details for the AirPods. If your AirPods are genuine, you’ll see all of the proper information. If they’re fake, the website will display an error message.
There are other things to look for if you believe you may have purchased fake AirPods. Look for baggy plastic wrap on the earbud’s packaging. Counterfeiters will also use thinner materials for the box.
To guarantee that you are purchasing genuine AirPods, purchase them directly from Apple or an authorized reseller. While there have been claims that folks have received fake AirPods from supposedly authorized dealers, at least you’ll have the reseller’s return policy to fall back on.
