Real and fake AirPods Pro
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Fake AirPods and AirPods Pro are still a problem for one TikTok user discovered that They are only fake when asking for help at the Apple Store.
The insane popularity of Apple's AirPods line has led to many counterfeits being produced and sold to unsuspecting users. When expecting premium personal audio equipment, buyers often receive substandard and sometimes dangerous copies, with no recourse.
Sometimes the victim does not know that he has been deceived until someone else tells him. In the case of one TikTok user, it happened at an Apple Store.
Kayla Bishop posted on TikTok about visiting the Genius Bar at her local Apple Store after discovering her AirPods stopped working after a week of use. Believing they were real, she hoped for a repair or replacement, but was instead “humbled” by the experience, The Daily Dot reported.
Her video shows a worker placing a pair of real AirPods next to her to demonstrate that they are magnetic. When one AirPod approaches another, the second moves away due to magnetic fields.
Bishop tried to do the same with her fake buds, but they didn't budge at all.
In the video's caption, Bishop says she is “distressed” and that scammers should “count their days.” The video has since been viewed more than 2.2 million times.
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How to tell if your AirPods Pro are fake
How to distinguish real AirPods fake ones can be difficult to spot, there are usually a number of elements that can put off eagle-eyed users.
Before you open the box, you may notice that the plastic packaging is baggy in places rather than tight. Counterfeits also typically use thinner boxes that flex slightly, as well as thinner paper for getting started guides.
You may even find that the Lightning cable is packaged incorrectly, as if it had been returned and repackaged.
Nagging the hardware itself can also provide a clue, thanks to Apple's famous manufacturing tolerances and standards. Look for elements that may not fit together, seams in the shape, and other telltale signs.
Third-party models will also not work as well as the deeply integrated versions. While the model pop-up will appear like the real thing for some, elements like active noise cancellation and transparency may not work properly or at all on fake AirPods Pro.
To ensure you receive real AirPods or AirPods Pro, purchase from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller. Whether it's an auction site, Facebook Marketplace, or a shady retailer, there's a chance your purchase could be a counterfeit.
At least with an authorized reseller or Apple itself, you at least have a reliable return policy to fall back on if the worst happens.
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