Counterfeit Apple products are a really big problem. Earlier this year, over a thousand counterfeit AirPods and Apple Watches were seized by US officials .
Apple has a dedicated team to combat counterfeiting. While good knockoffs can look very convincing on the surface, an X-ray comparison reveals all the differences between real AirPods and the knockoffs.
See also: How to manually switch AirPods to another device in iOS 17
Jon Bruner at Lumafield compared the original AirPods Pro to two pairs of knockoffs (including some MacBook) on social media, the company , and in a YouTube video.
As shown above, the actual AirPods Pro (2nd generation) are on the left.
The three main differences revealed by the X-rays between the original headphones and the imitations are as follows:
- Batteries
- Circuit
- Build quality
On the subject of batteries, Jon Bruner states:
“Genuine AirPods feature carefully designed button cell batteries in each earbud. These batteries are designed to fit snugly into the compact shape and provide efficient power. In contrast, counterfeit Apple products like AirPods contain lithium-ion case batteries. These batteries are not only less sophisticated in terms of construction, but may also be less secure. The cases are so tightly packed into circular spaces rather than being custom-fitted to fit the user.”
When it comes to circuitry, X-rays reveal that the real AirPods are “a marvel of miniaturization and mechanical precision.”.
This is due to "a combination of rigid and flexible printed circuit boards, in order to achieve compression of components and utilize every millimeter of available space."
On the other hand, fake AirPods feature simpler electronic components that are connected together. This reduces the available space. The fakes have fewer microphones and less control circuitry, which affects their sound quality.
Finally, in terms of build, Lumafield said the differences were “dramatic.”
One of the fake products does not offer wireless charging (as no coils are visible in the scans), while the other product does have wireless charging coils. However, it lacks magnets to secure the real AirPods case to the Apple Watch charger.
Counterfeit AirPods use internal weights to try to mimic the weight of the genuine product, offering a deceptive tactic to create the impression that they are heavier. While counterfeits may resemble the original product in appearance, the use of low- quality weights not only affects the tactile feel, but also reduces the overall lifespan of the product.
Read more: Apple: Will the Airpods Max be upgraded in the future?
Source: 9to5mac.com
