Apple AirPods Pro is undoubtedly one of the most popular earbuds you can buy today. They offer amazing sound quality, work flawlessly with Apple’s ecosystem of devices and are known for their unique features. However, there is a dark side to every good product, and the biggest Achilles heel of AirPods Pro is that it is prone to counterfeiting, just like every other product. So, to prevent yourself from becoming a victim of a fake Apple AirPods Pro or to check whether you have an original one, you can follow these guides to check if your Apple AirPods Pro is original.
How To Check Your Apple AirPods Pro Is Original Or Not?
Check The Box And Box Contents Of Your AirPods Pro
Starting with the most basic thing, you need to check the box and packaging of your AirPods Pro to know whether it is original. At first glance, both might look similar, but there is more to them than meets the eye. Both fake and original AirPods have a similar-looking box, but the devil lies in the details.
The first thing that you need to do to verify whether you have an original AirPods or a fake one is to check the box. While both fake and original ones might look similar, there are a few differences that you need to note:
Also Read: How To Locate Your Lost AirPods Using Find my AirPods Feature
How To Check If Your AirPods Pro Box Is Original One
- The fake box has a hologram on the front. However, the original one doesn’t have a hologram sticker or anything.
- You can check whether the original box has a laminated AirPods Pro sticker on the top. However, the fake box has a printed sticker, and you can quickly feel the difference.
- You can also check the model number and regulatory text as fake ones have grammatical errors such as “Dseigned by Apple” or ios instead of iOS.
Check AirPods Pro Accessories & Box Contents
Next, verify the accessories and box contents to determine whether your AirPods Pro is original or fake. You might find that both the fake and original AirPods Pro have similar contents, so how do you check which is original? Well, just look for these things:
Fake vs Original AirPods Accessories: What’s Different?
- Starting with the instruction manual, you will immediately notice a difference in font and printing. The original box uses premium-quality paper with a crisp font, while counterfeit AirPods Pro rely on cheap, low-quality paper for the manual, which has blurred text.
- Similar differences can also be found in the cable quality, as you might feel the cable on the fake one feels a bit cheap.
- You can also check the quality of the Apple AirPods Pro box to see whether it is original. The fake box’s interior is made of plastic, while the original one is made of paper.
Check AirPods Pro And Its Case
Here’s another trick: check whether your Apple AirPods Pro is original or not. Despite the AirPods Pro case being the same, the “Designed by Apple in California” printing is the same. There is one small difference between the two AirPods.
The original one was manufactured in Vietnam and written as “Apple Vietnam,” and the fake one had the printing of “Apple Japan.”Another major difference between the original and fake AirPods Pro is to check whether it has rough edges or an inconsistent finish. You will see that the fake ones have a huge gap and rough feel, resulting in a cheap feel.
In this case, you’ll also notice the battery specs. The original Airpod has a 519mAh battery printed. However, the fake Airpod has a 598mAh battery printed.Moreover, the original AirPods Pro is only available in one color that is white so if you have purchased your AirPods in any other colour then it means it’s a fake one.
Also Read: 9 Best AirPods Alternatives That You Can Buy In India
Verify Your Serial Number And Firmware
Each Apple AirPods Pro has a unique serial number that you can check to verify whether it is original or not. In the fake AirPods Pro, you’ll get the same serial number everywhere, including the AirPod case, left earpiece, right earpiece, and box.
However, you’ll get an exact serial number with an extra iteration in the original Apple AirPods. The last character of each part will have a sequence letter with the same serial number, precisely like a bundle of serial notes.
To verify your Apple AirPods Pro serial number and check whether it’s original or not, follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and navigate to the Bluetooth section.
- Press the info button next to your connected AirPods Pro.
- Here, you can see details such as the Model Name, Model Number, Serial Number, and Firmware version.
In addition, if you open the settings app, you’ll see a different serial number in the fake Airpods Pro. However, in the original Airpods Pro, you’ll be able to see the same serial number on the box and the settings menu.
Another thing worth noting is the firmware version, as you might notice a different firmware version of your fake AirPods. Here is the latest firmware for all AirPods models, including Pro that you can check if it is original or not:
- AirPods Pro (2nd generation with USB-C): 6A305
- AirPods Pro (2nd generation with Lightning): 6A305
- AirPods Pro (1st generation): 6A300
- AirPods (2nd & 3rd generation) 6A300
- AirPods Max: 6A300
- AirPods (1st generation): 6.8.8
Also Read: 5 Best Wireless Neckband Earphone You Can Buy
Check Build Quality
Another way to distinguish between original and counterfeit AirPods Pro is to check its build quality. The original AirPods Pro, which cost around INR 25,000, would undoubtedly be precisely similar to a Fake AirPod that costs just 1,500.
However, you’ll be able to notice some minor differences only if you have seen or used the original AirPods, such as the flap sound of the AirPod case and the ear tip of the AirPod.
Furthermore, the case might be flimsy for the fake one with a loose lid or a gap in the finishing. Furthermore, the original AirPods Pro case might have more weight. You can also try pulling the stems to check
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Check AirPods Pro Connectivity
Another way to verify whether your AirPods Pro is original is to check its connectivity. Both the original AirPods Pro and the fake AirPods Pro have instant pairing features. This means you can open the AirPods before any iPhone, and they will automatically connect.
However, since the original AirPods are synced with your Apple ID, they automatically connect to all your devices without additional input, and you can switch earphones quite easily. However, you’ll have trouble switching devices with Fake AirPods since they don’t have the W1, H1 or H2 chipset.You will also get a “Cannot Verify AirPods” message if you have an iPhone running on iOS 17 or above and are connected to a fake AirPods Pro.
Connecting your AirPods Pro to your iPad or MacBook is the perfect way to check whether you have an original or a fake one. You can also test its Audio Sharing and summon Siri with Voice. Furthermore, you can try switching between Apple devices to test the capabilities of the AirPods Pro.
Test Noise Cancellation Feature
Another way to check whether your AirPods Pro is original is to test its noise cancellation. Since the fake AirPods Pro doesn’t use the H1 or H2 chipsets, you won’t get the same features as the original one. This will be evident when you test its noise cancellation features, as counterfeit AirPods Pro won’t just offer one.
This is because Adaptive Noise Cancellation (ANC) is expensive and difficult to implement in fake AirPods Pro. You can test the features in Settings by toggling the transparency mode on your AirPods, as it will make no difference; however, if you turn on the feature on the original one, it will.
Check The Size And Weight Of Your AirPods Pro
Another way to check and verify whether your Apple AirPods Pro is original is to check its size and weight. Most fake AirPods Pros fail to replicate the size of the original, and they might be smaller or larger than the original.
Similarly, you can check your AirPods Pro’s weight, as they usually weigh around 4 grams. If your AirPods Pro has a varying weight, you might be a victim of a counterfeit AirPods Pro scam.
Check The Buttons On Your Apple AirPods Pro
The original AirPods Pro has pressure-sensitive buttons, so you must slightly squeeze the stem to pick up a call or play pause music. However, the Fake Airpods have a touch-sensitive button.
Also Read: How to Use AirPods and AirPods Pro on Android and PC
Test Audio Quality And Latency
We also checked the latency of the Airpods Pro, and the result is pretty clear. The original Airpods are smooth, and the connectivity is quite quick. However, the fake Airpods have a lag when playing music.
Another thing worth checking is the audio quality; there will be a noticeable difference between night and day in the fake and original AirPods Pro. The original AirPods Pro boast crisp and clear audio with enhanced bass. You will get longer battery backup and better optimisation with iOS devices on the original AirPods Pro.
Check The Charging Port
The new AirPods Pro has a USB-C port, and you can get one with a Lightning port. Make sure to check whether your AirPods Pro can be charged using a USB or Lightning cable.
If you have put your AirPods on charging in the original AirPods Pro, you’ll get a device charging notification. However, in the fake one, you’ll not get any ping when charging your device.
Also Read: 6 Best Airpods Under 2000 In India
How To Get A Refund For Fake AirPods?
If you have purchased your fake AirPods Pro from an online store, then it is possible to apply for a refund or a return request. However, it is worth noting that most products have a return window of 7 days, so make sure to apply for a refund as soon as possible. Just follow these steps:
- Open your order or purchase history on the e-commerce platform.
- Tap on Return/Refund and enter the reason.
- Add images for your request, and you are good to go.
In most cases, the seller will refund your money if he believes your case is genuine and within the return window. Furthermore, if you have purchased the product offline, you must find and persuade the seller to get a refund. Make sure to buy Apple products from authorised sellers and online platforms like Flipkart and Amazon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my AirPod Pro is original?
To find out whether your AirPods Pro is original, you can check its serial number on the box and verify it by visiting the Apple website. You can also check other aspects, such as the build, box and audio quality of the AirPods Pro
How do I know if my AirPods are 100 per cent real?
You can check the model number and serial number of your AirPods Pro to verify whether they are 100 per cent genuine or not. Both them can be found inside the AirPods Pro case.
What is the Original AirPods Pro Model Number?
The AirPods Original models have the following model numbers:
- AirPods Pro (2nd generation with USB-C): 6A305
- AirPods Pro (2nd generation with Lightning): 6A305
- AirPods Pro (1st generation): 6A300
Conclusion
These are all the ways how you can check and differentiate between fake and original AirPods Pro. However, the key thing to note here does not just look and feel; it is also the sound quality of the Airpods Pro. The original ones will always perform much better compared to the Fake AirPods and will have increased battery life thanks to the optimisation of the iOS and Apple hardware. So our recommendation would be to skip buying fake Airpods and get a good quality TWS earphone at the same price range; it will have a warranty, good sound quality and features you can trust.
Also Read: How To Check Headphone And Earphone Sound Quality?
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