> How to distinguish original Apple headphones from a fake is the most logical question that arises in the head of a person who intends to pay a large amount for a branded device. What should you pay attention to when buying? What is the difference between the sound of a product from a California manufacturer and a non-original version of the "black" market?
How to quickly convict the seller of trying to sell a copy of "apple" headphones, posing as the original? The article below will not leave these questions unanswered, having received which a potential buyer of an accessory from Apple can be confident in his choice. Apple electronics, as well as accessories for it, are considered premium products. Not every person can afford to buy the products of a Californian corporation. It is for this reason that many manufacturers recreate copies of branded devices, which are subsequently passed off as the original. Most often, you can come across replicas of Apple headphones, EarPods, sold not only through online commerce, but also located in the windows of city stores. A real device from an American corporation comes in a white square case with a clear engraving of the campaign logo (bitten apple), the perfect execution of which is often neglected by fakers. This packaging, transparent on the front side, contains the device itself. The box for the original iPhone headset is made of high-quality plastic that does not have any shade, with the device itself inside. With a detailed examination, it is not difficult to distinguish the original from the fake. In addition to inaccurate external performance (slits, “burrs”, and so on), the material used to create the replica packaging is usually of lower quality: it has a yellowish or cloudy tint, and is susceptible to even minor external influences. On iPhone headphones, the wire fits snugly against the base of the device. This fact allows minimizing the risk of various kinds of damage to the main element of the accessory. The creators of replica EarPods, in turn, do not worry about the presence of gaps and crevices, which allows the user to easily recognize their "cheating" when buying a product. Based on tactile sensations, those wishing to purchase original Apple products will also be able to distinguish the “original” by a more elastic wire and its grayish tint. The replica wire will be stiffer in its characteristics and whiter in color. Original EarPods must have the serial number of the product and the inscription: "Designed by Apple in California Assembled in China" on the wire. It will not be difficult for the buyer to also distinguish the original headphones presented by the Apple campaign from their cheap fakes by carefully examining the device itself. On a genuine iPhone headset, starting with the 5 and 5S line, the manufacturer designates the right and left earphones with L / R inscriptions. Most replicas do not have such a mark. In the manufacture of diffusers, as for all products, Apple uses high-quality material (metal mesh), which, in comparison with a replica (rag mesh), allows you to quickly determine the "original". The external performance of the original device looks solid, neat, of high quality, as, in fact, the technical components of the device. In most non-original headsets, there are seams, prints of the details of the shapes used in the manufacture of plastic headphones. In identifying counterfeit EarPods, it is important to check both the quality of the presented design of wires, headphones, and the device’s control panel. It is not difficult to recognize the original, since the button on its remote control is pressed smoothly, without obvious sound. In the case of using a fake, it is necessary to make certain efforts, and when you press the button, a loud characteristic click will be heard. Manufacturers of some replicas do not fully recreate the functions of the remote control inherent in the original. This fact should also be borne in mind when checking the selected headset for authenticity. The sound in the "apple" headphones should be voluminous, without extraneous whistles, hisses, with high-quality noise reduction. The world's premium electronics manufacturer also provides high-end bass reproduction, resulting in a slight vibration when listening to a bass track. It is logical that fakes are devoid of such properties and have the ability to provide only poor-quality sound, standard for the segment of headsets of the basic configuration of smartphones. Since Apple headphones are designed in such a way that the user receives not only high-quality sound, but also a number of unique features, the high demand for EarPods is quite understandable. The remote control of the basic iPhone headset allows you to: In addition to the basic headset from Apple, wireless headphones from the California manufacturer are available for purchase - AirPods, which have both positive and negative characteristics. The advantages include: Cons of AirPods are: Intending to invest a considerable amount of money in the purchase of original headphones, it is important to consider the above features of the devices in the choice. However, no matter how manufacturers try to counterfeit Apple products with high quality, the impeccable design, unique characteristics, and innovative ideas of the Californian corporation to this day remain the hallmarks of the brand, allowing you to identify the original and refuse to buy a “fake” in time.Package
The wire
Headphone shape
Remote Control
sound
Apple Headphone Features
Pros and cons of apple wireless headphones
A well-known fact - headphones are faked. Moreover, they do it without hesitation and without fear of anything. The funny thing is that fakes can be made in the same factory as the original. This does not happen often, but there have been such cases. Basically, fakes are made at other factories, where the cost will be much lower, because. the equipment is simple and old, the workers are not interested in high quality, only one thing is important - to make as many fakes as possible in a short time in order to earn money and disappear forever.
Today we will look at EarPods as an example of how to distinguish original Apple headphones from fake ones.
At first glance, it is difficult to distinguish a fake, but it seems so only when you do not know what to look for when choosing. Today I will tell you in detail about how to distinguish fake EarPods from insidious fakes.
Where to buy Apple headphones
Manufacturers always put a special emphasis on the fact that a potential buyer buys products only from official sellers or dealers, and never trust dubious personalities, basement stores and other unserious places.
If you walk through an underground passage full of kiosks and in one of them you see seemingly real EarPods or AirPods at a price several times lower than the recommended one, it is obvious that this is a fake. Fake headphones may look very similar to the original, similar in color, shape and size, but they are fake.
The following simple logical conclusion will save you from buying fake not only headphones, but also any other product:
How can sellers sell the specified product for several times cheaper than the official price? After all, the official price is formed taking into account the purchase price from the official distributor and cannot be lower. Usually, for household appliances, all official stores make an extra charge of no more than 30% in rare cases, usually the extra charge ranges from 10% to 15%. Competition does its job, so honest sellers who sell original products cannot lower prices much, and even more so make them several times lower than official ones.
Always remember this reasoning before buying suspiciously cheap headphones, and then the pursuit of cheapness will not be the main reason for your disappointment with the purchase.
The price of original Apple headphones is always approximately equal to the recommended
Always remember that the price of original EarPods or AirPods should be very close to the recommended price if there are no promotions or discounts. But even taking into account the discount, the price of Apple headphones should not be several times lower than the original. Even the price is 2 times lower already arouses strong suspicion, and personally I would have turned out of such a dubious purchase.
Once again, I note that the price in stores for Apple headphones is formed by Apple itself, end sellers have almost no influence on it, because. in order to officially sell Apple headphones, each seller signs an agreement on the final price and options for changing it. He cannot unilaterally significantly influence it.
Apple products are always in high demand, so sellers never have to resort to tricky tricks like flash sales, massive discounts, and the like.
The difference in packaging quality between original EarPods and fake ones
The original packaging is made very high quality, there are no noticeable seams on it, it is evenly transparent, there are no overflows, color changes and other things. The earliest fake EarPods did not have Apple's famous apple symbol on the packaging. Today it is on all fakes.
In addition to the fact that fake EarPods packaging is not as neat, you can distinguish it from the original by the color of the transparent plastic. But, unfortunately, the difference in color is visible only with a direct comparison, because the color is highly dependent on external lighting and without experience you are unlikely to be able to distinguish a fake from the original. In the original packaging, the color of the plastic is slightly blue, while in fakes it is yellowish. Pay close attention to this.
Please note that the color of the plastic of the headphones in the original version exactly matches the color of the plastic of the packaging. There is not the slightest difference between them. While fakes very often have a different shade of white. If you see that the color of the headphones and the plastic of the package are even slightly different - do not hesitate, you have fake EarPods in front of you and you should not buy them.
Appearance and quality of materials
First of all, in fake AirPods and EarPods, the quality of materials, assembly and joints suffer. Pay close attention to the seams, color and shape. More on all this below.
Remember: the original AirPods and EarPods are very neat, almost perfect. If you see a seam between the two halves of the headphone case, if you see some kind of uneven joint, if you see a gap between the wire seal and the wire, then you have no doubt a fake.
Quality of plastic on fake Apple headphones
Once again, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the plastic of the headphone case and the plastic of the packaging must be of the same color. If you see even a slight difference in shades, then most likely you have a fake in front of you.
Pay attention to the color of the original EarPods, it is saturated, in certain lighting (as in the photo) it has a noticeable gradient, thanks to the additives to the plastic. While fake EarPods are just white, there is no gradient, it's plain plastic.
Also note that counterfeit earphones usually don't have any markings on what kind of earpiece it is: .
The quality of the seams on the case of EarPods or AirPods
Pay attention to the seams connecting the two elements of the headphone case, the original seam is almost invisible, and even if by some miracle you see it with your eyes, it is impossible to determine by touch. While fake EarPods do not hesitate to show you a sloppy seam, which is not only perfectly visible from the first second, but it is also instantly determined by hand.
If you see a sloppy seam on the case or on the remote, it's a fake, original Apple headphones are always perfect.
Metal protective mesh on EarPods
Pay attention to the protective metal mesh of the headphones. The original EarPods have a metal mesh, even, fine-meshed, neat, pleasant. For fakes, plastic mesh, or even cloth mesh, is often used instead of metal. Quite often, fake EarPods have a mesh that is not even, shifted in different directions. As soon as you personally see fake headphones, you can easily distinguish them from the original by the protective grid.
Selecting the perfect headphones is a daunting task, requiring time, numerous sound checks and frequency response comparisons. It is complicated by the abundance of fakes in the market of mobile audio equipment.
What to look for when buying headphones
1st place
If you're serious about headphones, buy them from manufacturers' official websites, authorized distributors, or reputable electronics stores.Of course, the original product can also be found on bulletin boards, but the risk of running into a fake in this case increases. You should also be suspicious of sellers from AliExpress: some of them offer real headphones, but most are counterfeit.
Check the reputation of the store where you looked at the product. Deceived customers often share information about unsuccessful purchases. If the store was caught selling fakes or you can’t find reviews about it, it’s better to refuse the purchase.
2. Price
If the found headphones are 70% cheaper than in the official store, most likely they are fake. As a rule, the high price of the original is due not only to the popularity of the brand, but also to the use of high-quality components. Selling these headphones at a big discount is simply impractical.3. Packing
Sometimes it is not difficult to distinguish the original from the fake. Counterfeiters rarely copy the design, fonts and packaging material with 100% accuracy. Find a photo of the real headphones in the box and compare with what they sell you.4. Appearance and quality of materials
Visible burrs and uneven seams, traces of hardened glue, cheap plastic and flimsy cable signal a low quality product. Naturally, genuine headphones from a reputable manufacturer cannot have these signs.
Top cover from original Audio-Technica headphones, bottom - from fake ones. Fake issues low-quality printing and seams.
Sound
Even high-quality headphones are good in different ways: they differ in the accentuation of specific frequencies, nuances of detail, and other characteristics. But if the sound is flat, the bass is unreadable, and the high frequencies are too sonorous, most likely you are dealing with a fake.6. Popularity of the model
As a rule, an abundance of fakes is the lot of prestigious headphones. If you buy EarPods or any Beats from non-official stores, you will most likely get a fake. But if you focus on less popular models, then the risk will be significantly reduced even when buying from hand.The fact is that the production of copies of popular goods pays off much faster. What is not so popular, it makes no sense to fake. For example, you can be almost certain that the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro or Grado SR80E is genuine.
What headphones are most often counterfeited
1.EarPods
EarPods are headphones that come standard with the iPhone and iPod. It is difficult for users to give up their usual headphones when they are lost or broken. That is why EarPods are in constant demand.
The name of the product on AliExpress includes the words Apple, EarPods and iPhone. But even with a cursory glance, it becomes obvious that this is a fake.
\
Original EarPods in the Apple store.
There are dozens of fakes that copy Apple headphones with varying degrees of accuracy. Some manufacturers forget to put the company logo on the box, others pretend to be slots in the headphone mounts.
In the original EarPods, the gap between the plastic elements is almost invisible. A visible gap, like the model on top, is a sign of a fake / macster.ru
2. AirPods
AirPods are wireless headphones from Apple. Having appeared on sale at the end of last year, the plugs attracted the attention of users with their branded laconic design, compactness and convenience. But these headphones also have a significant drawback - the high price.
It was she who caused the demand for budget alternatives. As a rule, manufacturers do not try to sell pseudo-AirPods under the guise of the original, but openly call them replicas. There are many types of these headphones. Some of them really turn out to be quite good, others are an ordinary Chinese marriage.
Replica AirPods on AliExpress.
Original AirPods in the Apple store.
The main factor when buying AirPods is the price: even a used original is unlikely to cost $50.
3. Sennheiser headphones
\Original Sennheiser HD 650 / majorhifi.com Sennheiser is a German company that has been making quality equipment for over 70 years. Over the past decades, she has released dozens of models of headphones, many of which have become popular and have spawned thousands of fakes.
A common feature of many fake German plugs is that the cable is not flexible enough and too thick. For the rest, you should rely on your feelings and comparing the product with the original.
With full-size headphones, everything is less obvious, so try to follow the general rules.
These headphones are sold on one of the pages of VKontakte for a couple of hundred rubles.
The headphones from which the copy was made were produced by Sennheiser until October 2012 / ebay.com
Sennheiser fights counterfeits. The official website of the company posted a list of models that are out of production and cannot be sold in stores. The manufacturer also recommends paying attention to the presence of a QR code and a sticker on the package indicating that the importer is Sennheiser Audio LLC.
QR code on the packaging of original Sennheiser headphones / old.sennheiser.ru
4. Beats Electronics Headphones
The original Beats Solo 2 / apple.com Many criticize the frequency response of Beats Electronics for biased sound, others consider headphones unreasonably expensive. The high price and popularity are the main reasons why fakes are sold at least as often as original headphones.
Announcement of the sale of fake headphones on the VKontakte page.
Original Beats Solo HD at M.Video (the store is the official distributor of Beats Electronics).
Many fakes copy the originals very reliably. But the basic rules for buying Beats can still be drawn up.
Pay attention to the serial number on the bottom of the package: it should be printed on a sticker, not on the box itself. Too many hieroglyphs is a sign of counterfeit. Inside the packaging of fake headphones, there may be no tab with which the tray is pulled out of the box (relevant for Beats models with a removable tray). The tray itself should be made of textured material, not glossy plastic.
Original Beats Studio. The serial number is located on the sticker / snapguide.com
5. Bluedio headphones
The original Bluedio T2 / megaelectronics.comBluedio has recently appeared on the Bluetooth headphone market, but now you can stumble upon fakes of various models.There is a hologram on the packaging of Bluedio headphones. For the original product, it is blue with a noticeable overflow, for fakes it is blue, the overflow is barely noticeable.
When it comes to earplugs, pay attention to the ear cushions: they should be elastic and retain their shape even after compression.
What to do if you bought a fake
If you find that you bought a fake from your hands, contact the seller. Perhaps he did not know that he was selling a fake, and would agree to return the money. If you purchased the product in a store, contact its management. The chances of resolving the situation in your favor are small, but perhaps the sale of counterfeit goods occurred due to a misunderstanding.And please, do not try to sell a fake bought by chance under the guise of the original. It’s better to help others: spread the word about an unscrupulous store, tell us in the comments about your bad experience.
Unlike a charger and a cable, headphones cannot harm the phone, but they can completely cause discomfort from listening to music. It is very difficult to distinguish externally, fake headphones from the original ones at the moment. Of course, we take into account that the fake is of the highest quality and was not made three years ago.
How to distinguish original headphones from a fake
- The absence of Apple's distinguishing mark - an apple on the packaging. Such fakes are almost never found.
- There is no inscription and serial number on the cord. Not everyone sees this inscription the first time and often rejects the original headphones. Twist the cable better, examine it more carefully. The color of the inscription is light gray, merges with the color of the headphone cable.
- Differences in the font printed on the cable. Especially seen in the letter f.
- Slits on the control panel. If there are no gaps at rest, try moving the wire. A fake will impersonate the gaps that appear between the wire and the remote control case. Just press the buttons on the remote control. The sound from pressing the + and - buttons in the original is quiet, pressing is felt soft, the sound from pressing the central button is slightly louder.
- The safety net is not made of metal. There are visible curvatures, heterogeneities. Try to touch the protective nets, for example with a toothpick, but without fanaticism, press very gently and lightly. In the original, the mesh does not bend, does not move.
- The presence of slots at the base of the audio jack. Carefully inspect the junction of the cable with the audio jack. Not density, gaps are present in fakes. Everything fits perfectly in the original.
- Inspect the headphones themselves, they should not have joints, bumps, or any sagging. On each of the speakers, the letters L and R are applied, which distinguishes the right channel - R and the left channel - L. The holes for the speakers are perfectly rounded. The cable is rubberized, soft for bending, taking its original shape.
Let's summarize in a video comparison, where all the important points of a copy and a fake are clearly revealed:
These differences are not found in high-end and modern Chinese knockoffs of EarPods. So, how to identify the real headphones of the world brand Apple? Take with you the old ones or from friends the original ones that came with the purchase of an Apple phone, and visually compare. This is the most efficient way so far. Also, making a purchase in the Apple brand store - re-store, will provide a 100% guarantee of originality of the purchased headphones.
Be vigilant, do not let yourself be deceived. Paying little money for a fake is one thing, but giving it away for consumer goods, as for the original, is where it will be a shame. Examine everything thoroughly, find fault with any trifle. Remember - Apple accessories are made at a high level, everything in them must be perfect.
Everything can be.
One day we went and bought fake earpods.
We found them in an underpass of an unremarkable Russian outback. Standing around 300 rubles, available in different colors for any requests of street mods.
Aunty sold them to us without a twinge of conscience - most likely, she did not even know that it was a fake. But it can happen otherwise - on eBay, many sellers pass off fake EarPods as real ones, and some small online stores too.
Sometimes fake EarPods are bundled with hand-sold iPhones. Normal, complete headphones are left to themselves. Be carefull!
In this article, we'll show you how to tell fake EarPods from genuine ones. If you want quality, buy only from official sellers with a guarantee.
1 package
Original: neat box without any defects. If you shine on the logo, a uniformly illuminated area is formed around it due to the high quality of the surface treatment. No gaps, no dots. There is a company logo - when buying, check with our photo, this is the only design option.
Fake: Like a fake. The bases of the supporting pins are visible through the light. The logo is sloppy or missing. Illumination is uneven. The surface quality is low - there are traces of flash, roughness. Most likely opened - without polyethylene.
2. Quality of plastic and inscriptions
Original: Perfect finish on all edges. Almost imperceptible joints, you can hardly feel them. No roughness, the gloss is even in the light. After all, this is Apple - everything should be “Amazing”!
Fake: Threesome quality. Manufacturing defects present in all its glory: the joints are high, the gloss in the light has dimples (including the packaging itself). Curved typeface of headphone letters (left/right), smeared or torn off by fingernails.
3. Phase inverter
Original: If you turn on a good composition, rich in low frequencies, drums and bass guitar - feel the air rush. Thanks to this, the sound of the headphones becomes richer, excess pressure leaves the ear canal.
Fake: They play an exclusively decorative role - just holes. Of course the sound suffers. If you cover them with your finger, nothing changes - a good sign that you have a fake in front of you.
4. Cable
Original: EarPods have one of the best wires among all the in-ear headphones on the market. Soft, matte - dirt does not remain on it for a long time. He does not tangle or break. Even at minus 20 does not lose flexibility. There is an inscription “Designed by Apple”.
Fake: Ordinary insulation of medium quality - more often glossy, smooth. Dyed with clothes. Fragile, has a pronounced memory - as they are folded, so the creases will remain. Dumbets in the cold.
5. The quality of the speaker grilles
Original: dark, not shiny. Dense, not translucent - a consequence of protection from sweat and dirt. When cleaning, they do not bend (in general, Apple EarPods are the most comfortable and easy-to-clean headphones).
Fake: mesh dark blue, shiny, can be seen through. Try picking your finger if it bends or moves, it's really a fake, and of the lowest quality. Some also have fabric nets.
6. Sound
Original: There is no predominance of certain ranges here - the frequency response is almost flat, the sound is calm. There are not enough stars from the sky, but it really gives a very good sound for in-ear headphones. There is even a bass, albeit light, airy.
Fake: good fake that actually works. The headphones in the photo are already the second, the first had to be returned to the underpass. One of the headphones may also not work.
If everything is in order, then the sound will still be disgusting, like black plastic liners for 30 rubles, which are sold in newsstands. All frequencies are absent in general, except for the remnants of high ones. Just about nothing.
The verdict is obvious: a fake in the furnace
Only a fool would intentionally buy non-original EarPods. Take a completely different model of headphones if you do not have enough for real ones.
And if someone deceived you and slipped a fake under the guise of the original, find it and punish.
Never, ever buy fake headphones. If you bought, then do not be offended by what you hear worst sound of my life. And yes, one last thing: EarPods are only available in white and only in the shape shown in the photo.