I have long wanted to write a review on this topic, but the presence of only the original headphones from the iPhone 5 kit and the absence of a fake on my hands did not give me such an opportunity. On one of the forums, I noticed a similar comparison and asked the author to allow his post on our blog. He kindly agreed, for which many thanks to him.
The review will be presented without revisions and comments, only citation. If you have any additions or comments - please write, please be sure to consider.
So:
"I want to highlight a little the topic of fakes and original earpods.
I have two headsets, one original and the other fake.
After all, everyone who wants to purchase a headset from apple wants to be sure that the headset is original.
A fake headset purchased for 100 UAH (400 rubles). Original for 450 UAH (2000 rubles).
We start with an external examination.
Plastic boxes are completely identical everywhere there are apples and the inscription earpods.
In both boxes the headsets sit equally tightly do not fall out and do not rattle.
It’s almost impossible to distinguish between the boxes
(on a fake, the paper box is a little worse in manufacture and the print is a bit paler.
But this is only visible if you keep two boxes side by side).
Inspect the headphones.
All holes are identical and cannot be distinguished by them.
On my copy of the fake on both headphones in the main hole, you can see through the mesh that the internal holes are slightly offset from the main hole. On the original, all this is smooth.
Joints on fake are more pronounced on the original less noticeable.
Inspect the remote.
On a fake, the longitudinal gap between the two halves is uneven in length and has a wedge-shaped shape.
The minus key and the middle button are pressed clearly and clicks loudly and clearly. The plus key is pressed indistinctly and does not click (it works normally).
On the original, the gap between the halves of the remote control is uniform in length and the keys click much quieter and softer.
We pay attention to the overall quality of workmanship.
The rubber tubes that are installed wherever the wire enters the plastic parts on the fake have an edge around the edges.
There is no flash on the original.
The color of the wire and plastic parts is almost the same.
A fake headset sometimes does not work out pressing the remote.
If you spin a little jack in the jack starts to work.
On the original, this is not noticed by me.
The sound on the fake is worse.
A separate question is whether the original headphones cost the money they ask for from us?
They suit me perfectly because of the remote control, which is very necessary when listening to audio books in a foreign language.
It is not always possible to make out everything that is read, therefore there is a need to rewind and listen again.
This eliminates the need to remove the handset from your pocket and make a bunch of unnecessary movements in crowded public transport.
Actually, for listening to audio books, both headsets are equally suitable, the difference is either insignificant or not found by me.
When listening to music, the difference is very noticeable.
Conclusions: you can confidently distinguish a fake only after a careful examination and listening.
It is impossible to do this when buying from a photo. All external features are identical.
Be careful when buying. All the recommendations that I found on the Internet do not make it possible to distinguish the original from a fake. Except listening.
"Can be supplemented by operating experience.
The original headset, forgotten in a shirt pocket, was washed with the spin, and despite this it continues to function properly.
Fake despite the fact that it was operated very little, the buttons on the remote control do not work or the sound disappears.
"The original has been used for slaughter for more than 2 months, and there aren’t any flaws."
Choosing the perfect headphone is a daunting task, requiring time, numerous sound tests and frequency response comparisons. Complicating its abundance of fakes in the market for mobile audio equipment.
What to look for when buying headphones
1st place
If you are serious about earphones, buy them on the official websites of manufacturers, from authorized distributors, or at 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. It is worthwhile to be suspicious of sellers with AliExpress: some of them offer real headphones, but most of them are counterfeit.
Check the reputation of the store where they looked after the goods. Deceived customers often share information about failed purchases. If the store was caught selling fakes or reviews about it cannot be found, it is 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 such headphones at a great discount is simply not practical.3. Packing
Sometimes it’s not difficult to distinguish an original from a fake. Counterfeiters rarely copy design, fonts, and packaging material with 100 percent accuracy. Find a photo of the real headphones in the box and compare with what they sell to you.4. Appearance and quality of materials
Visible burrs and uneven seams, traces of hardened glue, cheap plastic and a flimsy cable signal the poor quality of the goods. Naturally, these signs can not be in genuine headphones of a reputable manufacturer.
Top cover from the original Audio-Technica headphones, bottom from fake. Fake gives low-quality printing and seams.
Sound
Even high-quality headphones are good in different ways: they differ in their emphasis on 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. The popularity of the model
As a rule, the abundance of fakes is the destiny of prestigious headphones. If you buy EarPods or some Beats not in official stores, most likely you will get a fake. But if you focus on less popular models, then the risk will significantly decrease 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 does not make sense to fake. For example, you can be almost sure of the authenticity of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro or Grado SR80E.
Which headphones are most often faked
1. EarPods
EarPods - headphones that are standard on the iPhone and iPod. It is difficult for users to abandon the usual headphones when they are lost or broken. And therefore EarPods are in constant demand.
In the product name on AliExpress, the words Apple, EarPods and iPhone appear. But even with a cursory glance, it becomes obvious that this is a fake.
\
Original EarPods at 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 give themselves out as slots at the headphone mounts.
In the original EarPods, the gap between the plastic elements is almost imperceptible. The visible gap, like the model on top, is a sign of a fake.
2. AirPods
AirPods - Apple Wireless Headphones. Having appeared on sale at the end of last year, the plugs attracted the attention of users with a proprietary laconic design, compactness and convenience. But these headphones have a significant drawback - a high price.
It was this that 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 a lot of types of such headphones. Some of them really turn out to be quite good, others are ordinary Chinese marriage.
Replica AirPods on AliExpress.
Original AirPods at the Apple Store.
The main factor when buying AirPods is the price: even a second-hand 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 headphone models, many of which have become popular and spawned thousands of fakes.
A common feature of many fakes of German plugs can be called not enough elastic and too thick cable. For the rest, it is worth relying on your feelings and comparing the product with the original.
With full-size headphones, everything is less and less obvious, so try to follow the general rules.
Such headphones are sold on one of the pages of VKontakte for a couple of hundred rubles
Sennheiser released the headphones from which the copy was made until October 2012 / ebay.com
Sennheiser fights fakes. On the official website of the company posted a list of models that are discontinued and can not be sold in stores. The manufacturer also recommends paying attention to the presence on the packaging of a QR code and a sticker indicating that the importer is LLC Sennheiser Audio.
QR code on the packaging of the original Sennheiser / old.sennheiser.ru headphones
4. Beats Electronics Headphones
Original Beats Solo 2 / apple.com Many criticize Beats Electronics' frequency response for biased sound, others consider the headphones unreasonably expensive. High price and popularity are the main reasons that fakes are found on sale at least as much as original headphones.
The announcement of the sale of fake headphones on the page "VKontakte".
Original Beats Solo HD at M. Video (the store is the official distributor of Beats Electronics).
Many fakes copy originals very reliably. But the basic rules for buying Beats can still be made.
Pay attention to the serial number at the bottom of the package: it should be printed on the sticker, and not on the box itself. Too many hieroglyphs is a sign of counterfeiting. There may be no tongue inside the package of fake headphones, with which a 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.com Bluedio recently appeared on the Bluetooth headphone market, but now you can stumble on fakes of various models.The hologram is located on the packaging of the Bluedio headphones. For the original product, it is blue with a noticeable overflow, for fakes it is blue, the overflow is barely noticeable.
If we are talking about earplugs, pay attention to the ear pads: they must 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 a 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 was due to a misunderstanding.And please do not try to sell a randomly bought fake under the guise of the original. Help others better: disseminate information about an unscrupulous store, tell us in the comments about your bad experience.
Apple has launched AirPods wireless headphones in the iPhone app. They look very cool and stylish. The most ideal option for iPhones!
And it’s not at all surprising that copy manufacturers also want to cash in on the sale of such cool related products. Indeed, on the same Aliexpress there are a dime a dozen offers of wireless headphones for iPhones. And the prices are very attractive. That's just almost certainly the headphones will be fake. How not to fall for the tricks of fraudsters and distinguish the original from the copy - more about this in this article.
For a comparative experiment, two pairs of fake headphones and one pair of original ones were taken. At first glance, they are no different from each other, but if you look closely, you can still find the differences.
What is the difference between packaging copies and the original Apple AirPods
If you never see the original Apple AirPods box, you can easily buy a fake, because the boxes are very similar. But there are some nuances:
- The original box is made of quality cardboard. She is not puffed on the sides. The fold lines are straight.
- On the sides of the box should be marked with a barcode, information about the country of origin. Fakes are most often pure white or with Chinese characters.
- The image of the headphones on the front of the box is printed on top of the box, not printed on it. By running your fingers over it, you can feel the relief.
- There should be no “ears” for store hooks on the box.
- On the bottom of the box is a case with headphones and a charging wire. There is also information about the manufacturer. Please note: on one fake box there are no inscriptions at all, and on the other they are not completely executed, and in different font and brightness.
How to buy an original cheaper than a store
If you still want to buy the original, it is most profitable to do it on Tmall - at the time of writing 12 599 rubles. Upon purchase, you will receive an official guarantee from Apple in Russia and fast delivery - in Moscow it is even possible on the day of order!
1st place
If you are serious about earphones, buy them on the official websites of manufacturers, from authorized distributors, or at 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. It is worthwhile to be suspicious of sellers with AliExpress: some of them offer real headphones, but most of them are counterfeit.
Check the reputation of the store where they looked after the goods. Deceived customers often share information about failed purchases. If the store was caught selling fakes or reviews about it cannot be found, it is 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 such headphones at a great discount is simply not practical.
3. Packing
Sometimes it’s not difficult to distinguish an original from a fake. Counterfeiters rarely copy design, fonts, and packaging material with 100 percent accuracy. Find a photo of the real headphones in the box and compare with what they sell to you.
4. Appearance and quality of materials
Visible burrs and uneven seams, traces of hardened glue, cheap plastic and a flimsy cable signal the poor quality of the goods. Naturally, these signs can not be in genuine headphones of a reputable manufacturer.
Top cover from the original Audio-Technica headphones, bottom from fake. Fake gives low-quality printing and seams / doctorhead.ru
5. Sound
They are even good in different ways: they differ in accenting 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. The popularity of the model
As a rule, the abundance of fakes is the destiny of prestigious headphones. If you buy EarPods or some Beats not in official stores, most likely you will get a fake. But if you focus on less popular models, then the risk will significantly decrease 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 does not make sense to fake. For example, you can be almost sure of the authenticity of the Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro or Grado SR80E.
Which headphones are most often faked
1. EarPods
Original EarPods / walmart.com EarPods - headphones that are standard on the iPhone and iPod. It is difficult for users to abandon the usual headphones when they are lost or broken. And therefore EarPods are in constant demand.
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 give themselves out as slots at the headphone mounts.
In the original EarPods, the gap between the plastic elements is almost imperceptible. A visible gap, like the model above, is a sign of fake / macster.ru The most reliable way to identify a fake is to expose a dubious product compared to the original EarPods.
2. AirPods
Original AirPods / apple.com AirPods - Apple Wireless Headphones. Having appeared on sale at the end of last year, the plugs attracted the attention of users with a proprietary laconic design, compactness and convenience. But these headphones have a significant drawback - a high price.
It was this that 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 a lot of types of such headphones. Some of them really turn out to be quite good, others are ordinary Chinese marriage.
The main factor when buying AirPods is the price: even a second-hand 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 headphone models, many of which have become popular and spawned thousands of fakes.
A common feature of many fakes of German plugs can be called not enough elastic and too thick cable. For the rest, it is worth relying on your feelings and comparing the product with the original.
With full-size headphones, everything is less and less obvious, so try to follow the general rules.
Sennheiser fights fakes. On the official website of the company there is a list of models that are discontinued and cannot be sold in stores. The manufacturer also recommends paying attention to the presence on the packaging of a QR code and a sticker indicating that the importer is LLC Sennheiser Audio.
QR code on the packaging of the original Sennheiser / old.sennheiser.ru headphones 4. Beats Electronics Headphones
Original Beats Solo 2 / apple.com Many scold Beats Electronics' frequency response for biased sound, others consider the headphones unreasonably expensive. High price and popularity are the main reasons that fakes are found on sale at least as much as original headphones.
Many fakes copy originals very reliably. But the basic rules for buying Beats can still be made.
Pay attention to the serial number at the bottom of the package: it should be printed on the sticker, and not on the box itself. Too many hieroglyphs is a sign of counterfeiting. There may be no tongue inside the package of fake headphones, with which a 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
Original Bluedio T2 / megaelectronics.com Bluedio recently appeared on the Bluetooth headphone market, but now you can stumble on fakes of various models.
The hologram is located on the packaging of the Bluedio headphones. For the original product, it is blue with a noticeable overflow, for fakes it is blue, the overflow is barely noticeable.
Hologram on the packaging of the original Bluedio / expert-auto.com.ua If we are talking about earplugs, pay attention to the ear pads: they must 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 a 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 was due to a misunderstanding.
And please do not try to sell a randomly bought fake under the guise of the original. Help others better: disseminate information about an unscrupulous store, tell us in the comments about your bad experience.
You shouldn’t go to the market for them - there you will definitely not find a headset of good quality, except for a copy or a fake. So, if you go to a good trusted store, you are unlikely to need to check the headphones for originality. But if you are brought into some unknown market, then one or two minutes will be enough for you to determine whether you have a fake AirPods headphone or the original.
7 key signs of fake AirPods
We list 7 main aspects by which you can distinguish a fake from the original:
- too low price. For the original AKG K872 you will give at least $ 200;
- you do not see the barcode on the package. For example, if the original Beats has a barcode, then the fake label is a barcode sticker;
- sound quality is not encouraging (suspiciously dull sound);
- the quality of the packaging itself is significantly different from the original. If the seller is trying to convince you that the headphones are really branded, while the box is yellowish and does not have a logo, then it is better to refrain from buying such "branded" headphones;
- the structure is significantly different from the original;
- special errors in the name. Always spell the headphone model index;
- too much advertising on the package. Original manufacturers try to avoid excessive advertising, as Apple products are known worldwide for their quality and excellence. That is why the sellers of this company do not need to praise their products. So if you see that there is an overabundance of advertising messages on the packaging, such as "Ultra-Super Bass," then be skeptical and incredulous about this inscription.
Sometimes original AirPods do not sit well in the ears, so this indicator cannot be used to determine the authenticity of the device.
2 main attributes of a quality copy
Now we have figured out how to distinguish a fake from the original. But what to do with a copy of the headphones? After all, copies have the maximum resemblance to the original headphones. That is why seriously prepare before going to the store. Download some of your tracks in Flac, WV, or APE format.
Some obvious signs of a fake (copy):
- Connect your AirPods to your Android gadget or iPhone and turn on the music. If you hear a sound as if from your head - this is a fake. This should not be. If you get a not-so-expensive sports model, then you can still come to terms with this drawback. But if you buy a model of "luxury" level, then such things are unacceptable.
- The sound has an unbalanced sound. This also should not be. Problems with frequencies should not arise.
Where not to buy AirPods
Try to purchase such products in trusted stores that provide customers with documents and a guarantee. Such stores are reliable, because even if you ruin the headphones through your own fault or not your own, you can return the goods.
It’s definitely not worth buying a headset in the following places:
- In the online store. If you are looking for headphones from the Middle-End category, then you should not risk it and use Internet services.
- On Avito. Buying electrical appliances with your hands is risky. A hand-held purchase cannot be called safe. Most likely, the battery charge of the AirPods, purchased from hand, will not last long.
- In supermarkets, kiosks and markets. Here you will definitely find only copies and fakes.
- In the underground. This is the most unreliable place to buy high-quality headphones, they will last you no more than three weeks.
How to still distinguish the original Apple Earpods headphones
By what characteristics can you distinguish the original Apple Earpods for IPhone headphones from a copy or fake:
- You can easily notice the seams.
- No brand logo of the original manufacturer. The logo must be extruded.
- The buttons on the control unit are too tight.
- There is extruded text HTP.
- There are visible gaps.
- The packaging is of very poor quality (blurry picture).
- The wire is too thin and fragile. In addition, it is poorly fixed.
Photo: the main signs of a fake Let's look at how to distinguish a Chinese fake of Apple Earpods headphones from the original ones:
- many Chinese copy companies produce headphones in the same box as the original ones, so it's hard to tell them apart. But if you look at the base of the box, you will not see the Apple logo that every original should have;
- the original headphone weighs three grams more than a fake;
