It's 2020, and every iPhone owner has EarPods lying around somewhere. By the end of the year they may be excluded from the kit altogether.
However, things happen in life: you want to buy them separately as a gift, your old ones are broken. Well, or you buy a smart phone on Avito, the kit also needs to be checked.
What then is the difference between original iPhone headphones and a copy? Let's try to figure it out.
I’ll immediately make a reservation that it has now become very difficult to recognize a fake from the box of the headphones themselves. Clone makers are even making localized stickers indicating the Russian office of Apple. Therefore, you shouldn’t take sealed EarPods from your hands; there could be anything inside.
Appearance of the plastic case (if any)
On the left is a fake, on the right is the original.
You can sometimes distinguish a fake from real headphones by the case, if the purchased version of the headphones even included one. For example, the headphones included with the iPhone no longer have any case, but only a cardboard holder.
Some copies do not have the Apple logo. But some do.
The plastic of the original has a bluish tint, while the plastic of the copy has a yellowish tint. Also, the transparent cover of the clone may have “waves” that are visible in the sun. The original is always perfectly smooth.
How to distinguish original EarPods
You can come across a copy of branded devices not only when purchasing online, but also in a regular store. What to look for when buying Apple headphones and how to purchase an original of appropriate quality? There are a number of features that allow you to evaluate the device.
Package
The EarPods box can be cardboard or plastic. At the same time, the packaging of the original headphones is made of high-quality materials with a clear engraving of the manufacturer’s logo, which can be easily felt with your fingers. The bottom of the case has a bluish tint. In the fake version, the plastic is not of high quality, may have a yellowish tint, and sloppy execution.
The wire
The wire should fit snugly to the base of the device. A fake may have a gap or gap, which usually leads to damage to the accessory element. The cable of “natural” EarPods is soft and flexible, with a braid of rubberized plastic that is slightly springy and very elastic, and also has an inscription indicating the serial number. The presence of spelling errors is possible only in the copy of the headphones.
Remote Control
If, when you press a button on the control panel, you have to make some effort, and at the same time you hear a characteristic click, then this is a fake. In the original headphones, the button is pressed smoothly and silently. The color of the markings on the remote control should be light gray. In low-quality fakes, the functions of the remote control are not completely recreated; this is worth paying special attention to.
Sound quality
You can definitely tell the difference between original Apple headphones by listening to how they sound. The branded accessory has a clear, bass sound, without extraneous noise. Counterfeits are characterized by low-quality, muffled sound and poor noise reduction.
Assembly and speakers
Be sure to pay attention to the markings. The original Apple EarPods have L/R (left/right) markings on the inside of each earbud. There is no such marking on the fake. The mesh on the speakers on the original is dark blue and metal, while on the fake it is cheap fabric.
Cable quality and strength
An example of a broken cable on a fake pair of EarPods (right)
Fake EarPods have a very thin cable. In many fakes it is completely smooth and glossy. The original is always made from approximately the same material as Lightning cables: matte, rough to the touch.
The cable must not break easily! Otherwise, this is exactly a copy.
A fake plug may have burrs, pieces of plastic, and uneven joints. Real ones shouldn't be like that.
Characteristic signs
These headphones are produced by Apple for their iPhone smartphone. Yes, Earpods are made by official partners of an American company. And this is happening in China.
But there is a difference when you see a Chinese fake and an original made in China. The technologies are different, as is the quality and sound of the headphones themselves.
Price is not always a characteristic feature. Both types of headphones are marked with the brand, as well as the symbol of the Apple company. But some points give away a fake.
To understand how to distinguish wired Apple headphones from fakes, you need to look at:
- case;
- cable;
- joints;
- the wire;
- shape and weight;
- frame;
- inscriptions;
- speaker grid;
- Remote Control;
- sound, etc.
Now there are separate instructions and recommendations for the main points.
What's in the case?
Not the most obvious option on how to recognize original Apple headphones from counterfeits. But this is where we can start.
Look at the case, if it is included in the package.
Some fakes come without a company logo. This is an obvious scam by scammers.
The plastic of the original has a bluish tint, while the copies are more yellowish than white.
When viewing the transparent cover in the light, you can see waves. This is a sign of unfair copying. The original case has perfectly straight outlines.
Studying the cable
A good option on how to distinguish original Apple headphones from fake ones. This is the cable and also its thickness.
Copies are distinguished by a thin cable. Fakes have a smooth and even surface of the wire. The originals are made from the same materials as the Lightning cable. It will feel rough and matte to the touch.
No breaks. If the cable is easy to break, then it is a copy.
There are burrs, pieces of plastic and uneven joints on the plugs. A sign of hasty copying. This does not happen with genuine headphones.
Take a closer look at the joints and gaps
Counterfeits show noticeable joints, cracks, and gaps. They are between the cable and the connector, or between the earphone and the cord.
Crooked and rough joints indicate counterfeit accessories.
Another feature is the different lengths of the wires for the left and right headphones. With genuine products, everything is perfect, and also strictly symmetrical and identical.
What is written on the wires
Look closely at the cable? What's written on it? Nothing? Then this is a cheap copy.
The original has an inscription. There they write Designed by Apple California, and then Assembled and the name of the country. This could be China, Vietnam and Brazil. The inscription ends with a unique serial number.
Copies of such inscriptions may not have. But if there is an inscription on the cable, do not rush to buy an accessory. This does not guarantee 100% protection against counterfeiting.
Look at the headphones themselves
A fake is identified by its more elongated, oval shape, as well as its minimal weight. They seem weightless, somehow airy.
The original weighs 32-36 grams. You can weigh it.
The original shape is rounded, and the front part does not protrude much.
Irregular shape is typical for outright counterfeit goods. Skilled underground manufacturers make the housing of the correct shape and size.
What's at the joints
Authentic Earpods look like one whole piece. No joints are visible. They are not there.
Fake accessories have extra joints. They are noticeable on the body. Look at the area where the curve is after the wire.
What do they write on the headphones?
On fakes from the Middle Kingdom, they may not separate the devices into left and right earphones. There are no corresponding inscriptions.
There are also crooked, uneven inscriptions, as well as those made in an unusual font. The font used is dark and rough.
For genuine devices, these are neat and even letters R and L. Gray in color. Do not wear out over years of use. For fakes, you can rub it with your fingernail. The paint will begin to peel off easily.
Speaker grid
When copying, other diffusers and grids on the speakers are used.
The original has a metal mesh. Some copies are made of plastic. There are also those who use metal mesh. But they are thick, rough, and also shiny.
What's with the control panel?
This element is not always looked at. But in vain. It can easily be used to identify counterfeits of original headphones.
When copying, the image of the microphone is made in a pronounced black color. The original color is grey. There are no other symbols or inscriptions on the control panel.
Feel the pressure on the remote control button. In the originals it is soft and the click is muted. The fakes click so that the neighbors can hear. Plus you need to put in more effort to press the button.
Before purchasing, check the functionality of the buttons. They don't work on some cheap copies. And they are made simply for appearance and external resemblance to genuine accessories.
Listen to the sound
You should never buy headphones without first listening to how they work and how they sound during a conversation.
And then the Earpods immediately make it clear where the fake is and where the original is. The difference in sound is huge. And not in favor of fakes.
The copies are distinguished by the lack of bass. They often wheeze and also sound quiet.
Chinese fakes do not always have a built-in microphone. Or it works quietly and hoarsely. It is impossible to have a conversation.
Joints (!), cracks and gaps
In fake EarPods, gaps and cracks - in the joints between the cable and the connector, or the cable and the earphone itself.
It is by rough and crooked joints that it is usually easiest to recognize a fake.
The clone may also have a different wire length for the right and left earbuds. Everything is clear in the original.
Lettering on the wire
Original, EarPods cables.
Serial numbers are marked with a green square. On the original AirPods, Designed by Apple California is written right on the cable. Assembled in China , Vietnam or Brazil . After it comes the unique serial number of the headphones.
Copies may not have this inscription.
Alas, the mere presence of an inscription cannot prove that this is an original.
How to distinguish original Apple EarPods from counterfeits
The products of one of the most popular gadget manufacturers - the Apple brand - have long been shamelessly counterfeited by nameless Chinese companies. Users buy high-quality headphones of the Earods model so often that fake makers make good money from counterfeit goods.
The main rule when buying is to buy at a realistic price for the product from reliable sellers. If you want to save money on EarPods - how to distinguish the original from the fake
? – becomes the most important question.
Many unpleasant surprises await music lovers, so consider in detail all the details of the difference between the fake and the original.
Package
The box with the gadget is very neat with exact sockets for parts of the headphones and is copied quite well; copyists now even place the logo on the back of the package. But there are subtleties that will tell you how to distinguish “Iarpods” from a fake
:
- In the original design, the plastic of the box is absolutely smooth and slightly bluish. The Chinese copy has a tint of yellow in the color of the packaging, and the surface is slightly rough, with burrs noticeable to the touch.
- The color of the original capsule exactly matches the shade of the plastic of the headset. This almost never occurs with a counterfeit version - the packaging is made separately from the product, and the low cost of assembly materials does not allow an exact match to be achieved. The polished back of the real packaging has a slight shine, while the fake version has a matte finish.
- On the bottom of the original box, the embossed logo is clearer, with a sharply defined edge. The image depth of a fake is not precisely maintained, and the edges of the print are usually blurred - this is noticeable upon visual inspection and by touch.
- The lid of the original packaging can be easily removed, while on the replica it falls off or is difficult to open.
- When pressed, the fake plastic bends noticeably.
Case build quality
How to distinguish original EarPods from fakes
is always clear upon careful inspection of the main parts of the headset. The molded plastic headphone housing should not have any gaps, dents or cracks. The quality of the stamping of the Chinese copy does not exclude defects: they are clearly visible on the bend and at the base of the case. At the connection points with the cord, the elastic plug of the original fits more tightly, while the fake one noticeably moves away.
Chinese replicas do not have left-right markings on the L/R (Left/Right) headphones. This is a significant note - the sound quality changes with a change in position.
The diffuser holes on the replica are covered with textured fabric; the original uses a thin perforated metal mesh. This can often be observed on the microphone. Expensive materials and equipment are not available to manufacturers of cheap fakes. This is clearly visible upon careful visual inspection. The diffuser holes themselves on the headphones are absolutely symmetrical, but on the copy they are offset.
If it is possible to compare a genuine earphone with an alleged copy, then you need to pay attention to the difference in shape: the counterfeit version is slightly narrowed towards the microphone and slightly elongated - this is noticeable.
Wires
In authentic headphones, the wires are elastic and flexible, very smooth to the touch - the high-quality rubber shell has no defects. They are also thicker and more rigid than fake ones, properties that reduce curling, tangling and breakage. Both original headphones have exactly the same length.
The wire must be marked - at a distance of 20 cm from the plug there is an inscription: Designed by Apple in California Assembled in China. The serial number is indicated next to it. The font of the inscription is clear and even, there should be no errors.
The fact that the assembly was carried out at a factory located in China should not be confusing: a significant part of the brand’s production is located in Asia.
Remote Control
The body and connection of the remote control parts is the weak point of the most diligent copyists. There should be no gaps between the parts - they fit well on a genuine gadget and have a completely smooth shape. The remote control has an image of a microphone - very clear in the original. If counterfeit manufacturers do not forget to make this sign, it will be pale and blurry compared to the original.
Functional control buttons are an important point in examining EarPods. How to spot a fake
becomes clear when turned on and configured. The buttons are easy to press with a noticeable but barely audible click. The copy adjustments are tight, require effort when pressed, and there is a loud sound when switching. Very cheap fakes sometimes manage to be produced with an imitation remote control - no buttons at all or with decorative toggle switches that do not switch anything.
Sound quality
The main purpose of purchasing original EarPods is to listen to music tracks in good quality. A counterfeit version can only produce poor sound, at best it will be unimportant, and the headphones will not last long. If you have the slightest doubt about the authenticity of the device, you should ask for the opportunity to listen before paying even the smallest amount.
If you already had real EarPods, then it’s easy to distinguish a fake by its sound. The best replica conveys a weak sound with blurry upper and especially lower registers. The noise reduction system is simply missing. The sound strength most likely will not be adjusted. You can’t even dream about the volume – and all this will immediately become apparent during a short test.
Price issue
If the Internet or store offers to buy EarPods at half price, this is definitely a Chinese copy. Used ones on an online platform can be much cheaper; you can buy them with full confidence that determining authenticity is not a problem.
Where to buy
Only in specialized electronics stores that provide a guarantee when selling branded goods.
Headphone shape and weight
Copy on the left, original on the right
The fake has a slightly more elongated, oval shape. The original has a more rounded shape, the “front” does not protrude so much.
This applies to very crude clones, because now the Chinese have gotten used to making correct bodies.
It is important that fakes are almost always noticeably lighter than the original - almost weightless. But to understand this, you need to have a 100% real version at hand and compare it that way.
Lettering on headphones
On the left is the original, on the right is a fake.
On Chinese copies, sometimes it is not written which earphone is left and which is right. Or it is written, but in a crooked font or unevenly.
Also, the font may be too rough or dark. Or pry it with a fingernail and rub it off. On the original it is imprinted in such a way that it cannot be caught in any way.
Alternatives with similar sounds
Earplugs are very popular because they provide complete sound insulation from extraneous noise. But wired headphones are valued by many users for their sound quality and good ergonomics. The following models are excellent examples of this:
Sony STH32 Black have a protected body, high-quality sound combined with good bass. The control panel combines all the necessary functions.
JBL T205 is a good accessory that has rich, clear sound. Pleasant bonuses will be the presence of a storage case and a separate key on the remote control for making calls.
Fraudsters try to copy the design and characteristics of Apple EarPods, which can sometimes make it difficult to spot a fake. But the listed features allow you to identify the original and refuse to buy a fake in time.
What other distinctive features of Apple headphones do you know?
Tactile sensations from the control panel buttons
Original
Pressing the center button itself is also different. The original has a softer sound with a slightly muted click. Whereas a fake clicks, bless you , you also have to press it harder.
Be sure to check all buttons. Sometimes it happens that they don’t work at all in fakes.
Sound quality
Well, the most important thing for which headphones are needed is sound.
The sound quality differs catastrophically. Fakes have no bass, they are quieter and can wheeze .
The Chinese copy may not have a built-in microphone. And if there is one, it is usually quiet and hoarse. It is impossible to talk through such headphones.
