AirPodsare awesome, trendy, andexpensive.
So, how can you protect yourself against getting ripped off by a counterfeit Apple product?
Im not talking about legit wireless earbuds from competitors, of which there aremanyexcellent (and not-so-excellent) options.
Keep a healthy skepticism
Hunting for the best deal possible AirPods deal is certainly a good strategy.
But if you see a price thats simply too good to be true, it just might be.
But if you see agreatdeal on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Craigslist, use caution.
Not buying fake AirPods is the only guaranteed way to avoid a scam.
Real AirPodsaresold on these markets all the time, and finding a good deal isnt impossible.
But just to be safe, here are some thing to look out for.
Apple, like other tech companies, takes great pride in its presentation.
confirm whats inside the box is supposed to be there
Again, Apples packaging is uniform.
Each product will feature the same exact packaging from box to box, with no deviations.
If something is offthe Lightning cable is USB-A rather than USB-C, sayyou know you have a fake.
On AirPods or AirPods Pro, youll find the serial number underneath the lid of the charging case.
On AirPods Max, its underneath the left ear cushion.
On iOS 16, tap your AirPods, which will be listed towards the top of the page.
On iOS 15 and earlier, head toGeneral > About.
Select your AirPods, then check out the serial number.
after you grab the serial number, enter it onApples official check coverage site.
If the AirPods are real, youll be able to check the status of the coverage this way.
However, if the serial number is invalid, you wont be able to proceed.
Fake AirPods have a hard time replicating this easy setup experience.
Apple never pairs AirPods individually.
However, some scammers have cracked the code, and now trick iOS into prompting the AirPods setup experience.
These headphones could not be verified as genuine AirPods and may not behave as expected.
you might then choose to not connect them, or to set them up anyway in Bluetooth configs.
Do the dimensions seem to match Apples?
Is the charging case the right size?
Does it have a Lightning port rather than a USB-C?
If applicable, does wireless charging work, and, if present, does MagSafe?
The same goes for the unique features attributed to each AirPods model.
Taking an AirPod out of your ear should stop music playback by default.
Long-pressing the stem of an AirPods Pro will switch between noise cancellation and Transparency Mode.
A double-press of the stem will skip forward a track.
