• How to recognize whether an iPhone is original or not. How to distinguish an original iPhone from a Chinese one

    Proven methods.

    The more popular Apple devices become, the more often you can see cheap Chinese counterfeits of original smartphones. And if a few years ago a fake could be identified by the characteristic crack of the case or a poor-quality picture on the display, now craftsmen are churning out almost perfect copies of the iPhone. So how can you avoid falling for scammers and buying “leftist”?

    The easiest way out is to buy an iPhone from an authorized dealer. The method is obvious, but it’s not suitable for everyone, because sometimes you want to buy a gadget, but you only have enough money for a used model. But in any case, if the situation persists, then it is better to save up and take an original and legally “clean” (I think there is no need to remind you about the frequent theft of phones) iPhone in a specialized store - this is the official Apple reseller in Russia.

    However, if you have your eye on a model on an ad website, a la Avito, and have seriously decided to purchase the model second-hand, then you need to know several distinctive features.

    Checking the serial number

    Whether you go to buy an iPhone alone or with a friend, be sure to arm yourself with a smartphone or tablet (you can even run Android) with Internet access. This is necessary for an absolutely accurate check of the originality of the purchased device. What should be done?

    Step 1. Go to the iPhone menu " Settings» → « Basic» →« About this device" and find the item " Serial number».

    Step 2. From your device, follow this link. The link leads to the official Apple website in the section for checking serial numbers.

    Step 3. In the window under the inscription “ Enter the hardware serial number"Indicate the serial number of the device being tested and click " Continue» .

    Step 4: If the iPhone is not Chinese, you will see its model and other information, such as whether you can get Apple phone support. Otherwise, you will see the message “ Unfortunately, this serial number is not correct. Please check your data and try again.", which means it’s better to bypass this would-be seller.

    Be careful when entering the serial number of the device, because due to an error in one character, you may think badly of the person and be left without a brand new (or used) iPhone.

    Opening our eyes wider

    No matter how high-quality the iPhone replica is, the creators of the clones are technically unable to do everything exactly like Apple’s. Therefore, even with a quick glance, without resorting to checking the serial number of the device, you can identify a fake. You need to pay attention to the following details:

    • There should not be any hieroglyphs, misspelled words or other calligraphic errors in the system.
    • On the back cover of the device there should be the following inscriptions: iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China, model number, certification marks (as in the picture).
    • An iPhone cannot have an antenna.
    • The iPhone also cannot have two SIM cards, a built-in memory card and charging from USB and mini-USB.
    • The back cover of any iPhone model cannot be removed until the securing screws are unscrewed.

    Another quick way to identify a fake

    A very simple and easy method - take your iPhone in your hands and go to the standard application App Store. Any, even the coolest Chinese iPhone will be forced to transfer you to Google Play, an application store for Android devices.

    This is what the App Store should look like:

    This is what Google Play looks like:

    In addition, you will not be able to find most Apple branded applications on Google Play. Try to search for applications such as Keynote, iMovie, Pages, Numbers, Apple Store - if they are not in the store, then this means that this is a fake, not an original iPhone.

    Another sure way to identify a Chinese iPhone

    Well, I would like to end this article with one more sure way, which will reveal even the most inveterate Chinese geniuses. To do this, you will need a laptop or personal computer (if the seller came to sell the iPhone directly to your home) with iTunes installed. You can download iTunes from the official Apple website.

    The thing is that when you connect your iPhone to your computer and turn on iTunes, the program should detect the device and try to synchronize it. If iTunes is silent like a guerrilla, most likely they are trying to slip you a fake, be careful.

    Read more about how to distinguish a real iPhone from a fake on our forum topic.

    Of course, every person, when buying an iPhone, wants it to be original. How to determine that a phone is not fake?

    Navigation

    Often, when buying a used or new iPhone, the question arises - how to understand whether it is original or not? There are several signs of how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from an original one.

    Packaging of the original iPhone and the fake: comparison

    Pick up the box and examine it. If it is original, then the cardboard will be coated, and the seams and corners will be even and smooth. At the bottom there is a sticker with information about the name, free space, IMEI and serial number. The inscriptions on the sides are made using embossing.

    Also look at the execution of the logo. The original apple should be bitten on the right side. Boxes with devices are packed in transparent polyethylene, which creates a vacuum inside. If it is not there, then ask the seller whether it was there at all or why it was removed.

    Some check gadgets for functionality when delivering orders. This is a common procedure and there is nothing unusual about it. Accordingly, the vacuum packaging is opened.

    But at the same time, its untouched part is not removed anywhere, and the courier will definitely inform you about the inspection.

    Equipment of the original iPhone and the fake: comparison

    Since the release of the very first iPhone, the equipment has remained the same as it was:

    • White headphones
    • Cable for connecting to PC
    • Charger

    Making copies of such things is quite simple, but you can make mistakes in the little things:

    • All cables must be neatly coiled and covered with wide, colorless films.
    • The wires should be soft and slightly rubberized. Chinese models are tough.
    • The plastic parts have smooth curves and are free of burrs.

    Appearance of the original iPhone and the fake: comparison

    iPhone - how to tell if it's fake or original?

    Now directly print the phone and pick it up. The display must have a protective film and a perforated tab on the bottom. The package includes a small instruction manual made of printed paper and bearing two Apple logos. Moreover, everything is done in high quality: the colors are saturated, the edges are clearly made, and the folds are sharp.

    The original models are of high quality. The case cannot be disassembled, that is, the back cover cannot be removed. When you first launch it, you will be presented with an Apple icon and then prompted to complete activation. Still not sure? Then open iTunes and connect your phone to your PC. iTunes will recognize it and display a corresponding message.

    The original device has bright colors on the display, excellent sound, clear pictures and a Russian-language menu. In addition, genuine iPhone only works with iOS system. The system is updated using iTunes.

    How else can you determine the originality of an iPhone?

    The most common mistakes of Chinese manufacturers are quickly identified:

    • An iPhone cannot have two SIM cards, a built-in stylus, a memory card slot or an antenna for watching TV.
    • The original model has a concave Home button, and versions 5s, 6 and 6+ have an active touch id.
    • The device should not have “brakes”, that is, the screen should respond to touches instantly.

    What signs of iPhones should not be taken into account?

    Chinese or original iPhone - how to tell?

    • The presence of hieroglyphs and the Made in China signature on the box should not alarm you. This marking is placed on gadgets assembled in Chinese factories, or they were produced for the Asian market. The Russian interface is included in any original build, so it will not cause problems for the Russian user.
    • If the iPhone does not ask you to activate it at startup, then most likely the seller did it himself before selling it to you, so as not to waste a lot of time. When purchasing, an iPhone cannot be checked without activation, since it will not allow you to make calls. Of course, the procedure is not long, but you must be connected to the Internet, and this is not always possible. To get rid of all doubts, you can connect your phone to a PC with iTunes turned on and an active Internet connection. It will find your smartphone, which will be your guarantee of its quality.

    Video: How to distinguish an original iPhone from a Chinese counterfeit?

    Increasingly, despite the fact that Apple has released version 8 of the iphon smartphone, Russian consumers are looking for information on how to distinguish the original iphon 5s from a fake. It is this question that we will consider in today’s review.

    How to distinguish an original iPhone 5s from a fake

    The very first and most important thing is that the original iPhone has an official serial activation code. When you connect the original iPhone, it should detect it and sync with it.

    If you are offered a smartphone that is not activated on the official website, then you can safely say goodbye to such a seller.

    iPhone box and contents
    The box of the original iPhone is made with high quality. There should be description and information stickers on the bottom of the box with the model number, serial number and IMEI. If these stickers are not present, then it is definitely a fake.

    Box Contents
    An envelope with a paper clip to open the SIM card slot. Original instructions, Apple logo stickers.
    Charger of American or European standard in a wrapper, although there are exceptions with a Russian standard plug.
    Original EarPods headphones in a square glossy package with rounded edges and an apple engraving. The headphones themselves can be distinguished by the metal mesh and the snow-white color of the headphones themselves.
    Original Lightning cable, also wrapped. You can distinguish it by its thin base. In most fakes it is more massive.

    Appearance of the original iPhone 5s

    The body of many replicas is made of plastic, while the original models are made of aluminum. The colors of the original iPhone are gray, white and gold.

    On the back cover of the smartphone there is the inscription “iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China.”

    Also, the model number and certification marks are indicated not only on the box, but also on the back cover of the smartphone. The nano-sized SIM card slot is on the right. There is also a serial number on the carriage, which must be identical to what is indicated on the box.

    The original iPhone does not have an antenna, memory cards, a stylus, two SIM cards, or USB or mini-USB charging.

    In addition, it is a one-piece monoblock. Therefore, the back cover can only be removed by unscrewing the fastening screws.

    iPhone software

    The original iPhone does not slow down (at least while it is new), has a bright display, good quality sound, and a menu in Russian. You also need to go to “Settings” - “General” - “About device” and find the serial number. It must match what is indicated on the box and SIM card carriage.

    Turn on the iPhone.

    During boot, you should see a black screen with a white apple (or vice versa) - the original loading screen.
    After loading, we should observe iOS and only iOS. Any hints about Android equate the iPhone to a Chinese copy.

    iCloud and accounts.

    Go to “Settings”, “iCloud”. Here we can add or disable accounts using Apple ID. If accounts are not enabled, click on "User" and if prompted to add a Google account, Mail, etc. then it's a fake.

    Starting with the iPhone 5s, a fingerprint identification sensor appeared

    It is built into the Home button (Touch ID), if this function is not present in the specified iPhone models, then it is a fake. Let's check the function of unlocking the phone with a fingerprint. Go to “Settings”, “General”, “Touch ID and password”, “Touch ID”, then click “add a fingerprint” and follow the instructions. We lock the phone and try to unlock it with our finger by placing it on the Home button. If nothing happens, or the phone simply cannot unlock, then it is a fake.

    The iPhone SE, which launched almost a year ago, can easily be confused with the iPhone 5S. Outwardly they are the same, the only difference is the “rose gold” color, but these are subtleties. And so, the “fives” in the favorite color Space Gray look the same, SE from 5S cannot be distinguished. You might say, “what about the small letters “SE” on the back of the case? So you can buy another case and replace it; the Chinese offer tons of components.

    And if so, it means you can make money on it. Fraudsters are deceiving people and selling completely wrong phones under the guise of an iPhone SE. Here is a story from the life that my friend encountered.

    We decided to find an iPhone SE on Avito and found a good option: a suitable price, excellent condition (according to the description), a complete set. And there are many such proposals there.



    As a result, after the purchase it turned out that it was a fake. They sold the 5S under the guise of iPhone SE.

    How did this happen? The procedure is as follows: jailbreak + restored motherboard from iPhone 5S + replacement of system files. The result is a Frankenstein phone: it looks like it's an iPhone SE nominally, but in reality it's an iPhone 5S.

    How to protect yourself from scammers? Check the box; for fakes it is slightly different, but it’s difficult to see the difference when buying a phone on the subway or in a cafe in dim lighting, especially when you don’t have the original one on hand.

    The best way to check is to enable recovery mode (DFU) and connect it to your computer. In DFU we enter this way: turn off the iPhone, hold down the buttons "Home" and "Power" for 10 seconds. Then release the “Power” button while holding the “Home” button pressed. We continue to hold the “Home” button until the computer sees the iPhone in DFU mode.

    But then you will have to take your laptop with you, checking your iPhone for counterfeit right on the spot.

    Here are some tips that my friends give so as not to run into a fake when buying:

    • iPhone SE of any color, but with a capacity of 64GB, is at risk - 16GB models cost significantly less and are not so attractive to attackers;
    • sellers with fresh profiles on Avito and will offer to meet somewhere on the run;
    • look carefully at the case: it is assembled from different components, so the color of the SIM card tray, volume and power buttons may differ slightly from the color of the case;
    • pay attention to the version of the installed iOS system - there is a suspicion that the fake is not compatible with iOS 10;
    • An easy way to check that iOS 10 is installed: when the phone is activated and locked, place it in your palm, and then just take it from it - the screen should light up without pressing any buttons.

    In today's article I would like to tell how to distinguish an original iPhone 8 from a fake one. Hopefully, if you read this article before buying an iPhone, you can avoid buying a fake phone or get your money back for a fake one. But let's hope this never happens.

    How to distinguish an iPhone 8 from a fake? To do this, always pay attention to the following:

    1. Carefully inspect the box: its design and appearance. This box is well made and has some unique design features.

    2. Accessories must look like Apple accessories and have the company's shape and design.

    3. During startup, if you see any Chinese language or Android logos, it is definitely fake. Don't be fooled by the Apple logos during boot, as fake ones usually add those for effect.

    4. There should not be any third party apps pre-installed like Twitter, Facebook or whatsapp out of the box. Also, if your device skips the installation process, then it is a fake.

    5. Fingerprint Scanner - This is usually fake, you can also register with your finger and then try using another finger to unlock. The fakes will open from any finger and only pretend to scan fingerprints.

    6. The display quality is poor compared to the real iPhone 8.

    7. In fakes, everything moves slowly and sluggishly, especially in transition animation and performance. The real iPhone 8 has no such problems.

    8. Remove and examine the charger. There must not be any hieroglyphs, and its weight must be at least 60 grams.

    9. Carefully inspect the headphones. Distinguish them from fakes the most difficult thing, because outwardly they almost do not match. But there is one caveat: the original iPhone has a soft headphone wire.

    10. Pay attention to the appearance of the device. As a rule, a fake is lighter and does not have any sound channels, so the volume level is low.

    11. Open the back cover of the phone. In fact, the original is a solid candy bar; a non-specialist cannot remove the back cover or somehow disassemble the phone.

    12. Study the software part of the device. Differences fakes From the original to the face, due to the lack of many functions, it offers a TV tuner, which is missing in the original iPhone.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Check the operating system version

    This is the easiest way to find out whether you are dealing with a fake iPhone 8 or not. Out of the box, the phone runs iOS 11, while Chinese copies, in most cases, run Android 5.0 lollipop or 6.0 Marshmallow, along with a skin that makes them look like iOS.

    On the home screen, tap settings > general > volume. Your device's iOS version should appear on the screen. If it's not iOS 11.

    Another sign that may mean that the phone is running Android is the color of the charge percentage. A real iPhone 8 should show it in white, while a fake one running Android shows it in blue.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Registration 3D Touch Display

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Check screen

    The original iPhone's screen should be clear. The iPhone 8 screen uses an OLED display, which has a higher pixel density, making the screen more contrasty, vibrant, and full of color. Fake iPhones have dull color screens due to the low cost of their parts.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Check the welcome screen

    This is also necessary, especially if you cannot distinguish a fake from an original by looking at the physical characteristics. Try turning off then turning on your iPhone. The fake iPhone will have a welcome screen like the words “Welcome”, while the original one will show you the logo on the iPhone. On the Home screen, you will see the iPhone Store icon. Try clicking on it. If it takes you to the Google store, then you know what you need to do...

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Check Siri

    The Siri app can only be launched on the original iPhone. Siri doesn't work on fake iPhone.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Try checking your operating system

    If you see any other apps that don't look like iOS apps, it's 100 percent fake. Apple only uses iOS as its official operating system.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Connect it to iTunes

    Another simple step that can easily help you spot a fake iPhone 8. If you connect it to iTunes and it doesn't show anything or you get an error message, it's clear that you have a cheap fake on your hands.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Check the serial number on the Apple website

    Go to your phone's Settings menu, then General > About, which will show the serial number. Go to the site and enter it in the specified field. This should tell you whether the phone is genuine or a fake.

    How to distinguish iPhone 8? Can you add to the home screen on iPhone?

    Most iPhone clones on the market run on Android. While iPhone clones are designed to mimic the real iPhone, thereby disallowing additional home screens, you can download launcher apps that will allow you to change your phone's default interface. Download launchers to your phone and use them as the default launcher.

    Final Thoughts

    I hope the tips above were helpful. And you learned how to distinguish an original iPhone 8 from a fake! If so, please share on social media. networks and write a comment.

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