Andrew O'Hara
With the launch of iOS 16, users will be able to identify counterfeit sets of AirPods and AirPods Pro, helping solve a rampant issue on the secondhand market.
We've written copiously about the ongoing issue of counterfeit AirPods. Knockoff version of AirPods and AirPods Pro is prevalent on secondhand market sites like eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace.
Counterfeiters have managed to clone nearly every aspect of the AirPods experience, from the packaging and hardware to the pairing process, making it hard for would-be buyers to know whether a set of prospective earbuds are genuine or not. Even the serial numbers on fake sets can show on Apple's site.
Our general recommendation is to buy solely from authorized Apple resellers or Apple itself but that hasn't stopped users looking to score a good deal.
As first spotted by 9to5Mac, in iOS 16, when you attempt to pair a set of counterfeit AirPods or AirPods Pro, an alert will appear that lets you know that Apple was unable to verify the buds as legitimate. This will help anyone buying a set of AirPods if they are able to test them on their iPhone before paying.
If you are in the market for AirPods or AirPods Pro, check out our price guide for the best sale prices on new models from official resellers without worry.
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2 Comments
How do counterfeiters get the serial numbers to match on Apple’s site?