Like the iPhone is not fake. How to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake? Main methods

A person who prefers Apple products to other brands will be able to easily distinguish an original smartphone from a Chinese counterfeit. But if you decide to buy an iPhone for the first time, you need to know how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original in order to avoid problems in the future. Such ignorance, as a rule, is expensive, since the cost of a fake in this case is equal to the cost of a real phone. By the way, price is the first criterion that you should pay attention to when purchasing. does not happen, remember this, so if you are offered to buy the latest model phone from Apple for a symbolic amount, do not rush to make a “profitable” purchase. Make sure that what you get is not a Chinese copy of the iPhone.

Where to buy?

If you want to become the owner of an iPhone, we advise you to consider only well-known stores as places to buy. They should specialize in selling such equipment, and ideally be an official dealer of Apple products. Even if you are well aware of the characteristics of the iPhone 5S, the chance of getting the original from your hands is minimal. Of course, now you can find advertisements for the sale of used iPhones from their previous owners, but it is almost impossible to buy the latest models in this way. Suspicious street stalls, as well as dubious personalities offering here and now to buy a new original phone “for only 10 thousand rubles” are ways with a high degree of probability to give away your money for a cheap fake. Dishonest sellers take advantage of your ignorance in the question of how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original. Have you ever compared these devices? We will tell you how to distinguish an iPhone from a fake, and we hope this information will help you avoid mistakes.

Apple has become a global brand for a reason. The company’s specialists produce their products of deliberately high quality, and this makes any “Apple” product stand out on store shelves. Moreover, this feature is visible in everything, and smartphone packaging is no exception. Firstly, the box should not have any defects (dents, torn corners, uneven seams, scratches, signs of tampering, etc.). Secondly, take it in your hands and evaluate the sensations. The original packaging gives the impression of plastic, it is so neatly and pleasantly made, although, naturally, the material used is ordinary. And thirdly, pay attention to such details as stickers and inscriptions on the box in which the IPhone 5S lies. How to distinguish a fake with their help? All names of the device, as well as the logo of the manufacturer, must be embossed according to the rules, and they must be located on the sides of the box. In addition, check for additional vacuum transparent plastic packaging.

Now we turn the box upside down and see if there is a sticker with the model name. If you have an original iPhone in your hands, this part will also contain information about the device’s memory capacity, IMEI number, batch number and product series. And even a bitten apple - the traditional Apple logo - should be carefully examined. A cheap Chinese copy may be identified by an apple with a notch on the left, which is incorrect.

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original: external differences

The next stage of recognizing a copy is inspecting the smartphone itself and working with it. Also, first of all, let's evaluate it. We have already mentioned the highest build quality of original Apple equipment. If you remember this, then all sorts of defects on the phone’s body, even subtle ones, will indicate to you that this is a Chinese fake. The original is distinguished by the impeccable quality of fit of all panels, the absence of backlashes, gaps, chips, creaks or recesses. The front panel should have the factory one. As a rule, the original one has a perforated tongue at the bottom. It is needed to quickly and easily remove protection from the display.

And the most important feature that an original Apple phone cannot have is a removable back panel! A real iPhone is a monolithic device that cannot be disassembled by hand. If you have a known original iPhone, we can advise you to put the two devices side by side and compare them visually. The “Chinese” will stand out with a more elongated body format.

First impression: let's look at the menu

Next, for testing purposes, turn on the phone. When you turn on the original iPhone for the first time, a logo will appear on the display, and then a prompt will appear to activate the device. True, this point does not always help to correctly determine the originality of the device; the fact is that many real iPhones go through the activation procedure in the store before hitting the counter. This is also associated with premature opening of packaging - at some points they are required to check for serviceability. If you still have doubts, look at the display, listen to system sounds and music - the colors should be bright and the sound should be clear. We hope it is clear that a high-quality iPhone is distinguished only by a menu in Russian and a high-quality built-in camera. Here I would like to tell you how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original in the fastest way. The secret is that the original device only supports a specific operating system - iOS, updates of which are available through the iTunes service. So, if you connect the device to a computer, this application will automatically recognize the original device and send a corresponding notification to its owner! Unfortunately, such a quick and high-quality check is only possible after purchasing the phone.

Differences between menu items and operating features

So, we turned on the phone and are thinking about how to distinguish an iPhone from a fake. It should be remembered that there are differences between them in the Settings menu. For a non-original version it will be incomplete, or rather, it will not be possible to see the “Phone Model” and “Serial Number” items there.

Keyboard

Do you doubt that this is an iPhone 5S? How to distinguish a fake? Go from the settings, for example, to the “Messages” menu and try typing any text. The appearance of the visual keyboard that appears is another method of recognizing Chinese production. The latter has a keyboard design similar to the keyboard design of Samsung Galaxy series phones; it consists of separate touch buttons with letters and the ability to switch characters. Often these keyboards also support the Swype function.

Slow work as a clear sign of “Chineseness”

But, probably, the first thing that will catch your eye when you turn on the Chinese copy is the braking. Sometimes this gets to such an extent that the phone can only unlock the keys the fifth time! A high-quality iPhone instantly responds to the touch of your fingers (and only your fingers!), and unlocking it won’t take even two seconds.

Includes original Apple device

The list of additional devices included with the phone has remained unchanged since the first day of iPhone production. Thanks to this, the equipment of the original device, which we present below, has become a kind of standard. If you don’t know other ways to understand whether you are being offered to buy an iPhone 5 or how to distinguish a fake, it will be enough to remember this list and compare the availability of all the parts. In addition to the device in the box you will also always find:

Envelope containing color instructions inside. It, in turn, is produced in printing and has a high-quality appearance; there will be no tears, cuts, dents, stains, crumpled corners and blurry text indicating a low level of printing, and other defects. On the cover you can see two Apple logos pasted on.
Soft flexible headphones.
Data cable.
Original charger (its standard weight is 60 grams).

All these things are made in white colors. Cables should be folded as neatly as possible, have wide transparent ties (to prevent unwinding) and placed in additional plastic packaging. Headphones from the original iPhone are always pleasant to hold in your hands; they have a soft, flexible rubberized wire. Their plastic parts must not have defects (chips, scratches, sharp corners, protruding areas of material, burrs, etc.).

How to distinguish an iPhone from a fake the first time?

The following signs that we list are characteristic only of non-original products! If you find at least one of them when buying an iPhone, rest assured that this is a Chinese handicraft product:

Finally

Chinese engineers, of course, are becoming more and more creative from year to year, and one can only envy their hard work. Therefore, counterfeits are increasingly taking on the features of original products and flooding the technology market. We told you how to distinguish an iPhone from its Chinese counterpart, but the conclusions suggest themselves. Alas, a similar Chinese design does not at all mean the completeness of functions that is inherent in high-quality products. Therefore, before you decide to buy a phone from Apple, remember this material and ignore suspiciously “profitable” offers from unverified sellers. Forewarned is forearmed!

A few years ago, a fake iPhone was easily identified by the characteristic cracking of the case and a fuzzy image. Now craftsmen have learned to make devices that are outwardly indistinguishable from the original. Therefore, we have to understand a little deeper. To learn how to distinguish an original iPhone 5S from a fake, read our article.

Pay attention to the packaging

First, the box must be sealed in transparent polyethylene. There may be cases where the packaging is opened to check if the iPhone is turned on. But in such a situation, part of the film still remains, and the delivery service notifies the customer about the inspection.

Secondly, coated cardboard is used as the box material. Corners and seams are free of defects and there are no dents or damage to the surface. The apple is bitten on the right. The logo and side inscriptions “iPhone” are made using embossing. At the bottom of the box there is a sticker indicating the IMEI and serial number of the device.

Sticker with serial number and IMEI

Check using Apple service

This method allows you to detect even a high-quality fake with one hundred percent probability. To do this you will need a PC or laptop with iTunes. The program is available on the official website. When you connect the original iPhone, it should detect it and sync with it.

Appearance

Usually the fake body is made of poor quality plastic. The original models use aluminum. Color: grey, white and gold. On the back cover there is the inscription “iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China.”

This is what the inscription on the back cover of the original iPhone 5S should look like

The model number and certification marks are also indicated here. 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. It is worth paying attention to the weight. The lightweight device is a fake.

No USB or mini-USB

Internal differences

The original iPhone does not slow down, has a bright display, clear sound, clear photos, and a menu in Russian. Moreover, the meaning of words, case and other characteristics do not cause suspicion. 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.

Serial number and IMEI

In the settings there should be the items “Software Update” and “Siri”. They are usually absent in fakes.

One hundred percent verification is the AppStore. It will detect Android even if it is very well disguised as iOS. If the user selects this service, the fake will redirect him to GooglePlay.

Left - Google Play, right - AppStore

How to distinguish an original from a fake by serial number?

To do this, you will need a phone or tablet with Internet access.

You need to go to your iPhone in “Settings” - “General” - “About this device” and find the serial number.
On another device, go to the official Apple website in the section for checking serial numbers.
Enter the serial number and click the “Continue” button.
If the iPhone is original, the service will provide information about it. Otherwise, the message “Sorry, this serial number is not correct” will appear. Please check your data and try again."

It is worth paying attention to the number itself. If it starts with "5K", it indicates a refurbished unit. It is possible that the iPhone was assembled from parts of various smartphones, after which it was tested and resold.

Model components

The complete contents of the box are as follows:

iPhone (new sealed in film),
headphones (packed in film),
charger with data cable (packed in film),
documents and a paper clip to open the SIM card carriage.

Everything should be neatly laid out. Unlike hard and plastic counterfeits, the original wires are soft and rubberized. The hard parts of the headphones and connectors are smooth, without sagging or sharp corners.

Things that shouldn't scare you

These are not signs of counterfeit:

Hieroglyphs on the packaging and the inscription “Made in China”. These signs are typical for original devices manufactured at Apple factories in China, or intended for sale in Asian markets. A Russian user will not experience any problems using such an iPhone.
The phone does not require activation when turned on. This is possible if the seller carried out this operation before the sale, so as not to waste time during the transaction. If doubts remain, then you need to use the iTunes method given above.

How to distinguish the original iPhone at first glance? (table)

Video: 4 characteristics that help identify even a high-quality fake

The buyer can be sure of the originality of the iPhone 5S only if he orders the device from an official dealer. In other cases, you need to pay attention to the signs described above. Knowing about them, the user can easily distinguish a low-quality copy from the original.

Due to the extraordinary popularity of iPhones, growing every year, more and more people want to get their hands on them. Chinese craftsmen immediately sensed the prospect of profit and began churning out fakes of varying levels of quality. Some copies are so good that even a professional cannot immediately distinguish the substitution. Let's figure it out.

Package

First of all, the whole box should alert you. Already at the initial stage of acquaintance, it will help to immediately distinguish a fake. The outer packaging of the iPhone looks like this - a pure white box embossed in the shape of the smartphone itself. There are no pictures on top that imitate his “desktop”. On the side there should be the inscription “iPhone”, without the suffix “6”. The apple logo is also required.
This is what you will see when you open the branded packaging.
The box, and the iPhone itself, must be covered with a transparent protective film. There should be no air bubbles under it, glued at the factory, it is evenly applied to the surface.

An important point is that the presence of the original box with receipts is a necessary condition for providing a guarantee and technical assistance when identifying problems with the device. So don’t be fooled by stories about packaging lost during a move when you pick up a used iPhone. A knowledgeable user who is familiar with the terms of use of brand gadgets will never make such an oversight.

Equipment and serial numbers

Be sure to check the IMEI written in three places: on the sticker attached to the box, on the iPhone itself (it is engraved on the back panel), and in its settings (in the Basic section, opening the “About device” item or dialing *#06#) .

If at least one of the three options does not match, this iPhone is not original. Sometimes unscrupulous sellers pack a fake or non-working (or stolen, locked) iPhone in a new original box. If IMEI is not in the settings at all, do not even think about buying such a smartphone - it will be inoperable. The absence of a code is clearly the result of an inept “unlocking”, and such a device cannot be restored.

The same applies to the serial number - it is indicated either on the back of the box or in the “About the device” section. If you are planning to buy a used iPhone 6, do not forget to take with you any gadget with Internet access so that you can immediately “punch” the information about the iPhone using the serial number. To do this, go to the AppleCare service and enter the code. The system will give you all the support information available for this device.
If the service gives an error or says that the number entered is incorrect, there is a 99% chance that they are offering you a fake smartphone.

Purely externally, the smartphone must be well assembled - large gaps between the body blocks, squeaks when pressing the display, or “crunching” of the Home button are unacceptable. By the way, in the fake device the Home button is not functional and does not have a built-in sensor that scans the owner’s fingerprints. It just launches the menu - nothing more.

Pay attention to the nano-SIM card slot. The original device has only one slot, if they offer you an iPhone with 2 SIM cards, they are deceiving you. Also, it should not contain any foreign parts. A normal slot looks like this.
If you see such a picture, it means your iPhone is “unlocked” by hardware using the Gevey turbo-SIM overlay, which removes the software lock on a specific (often American) telecom operator.
The locking is installed completely legally - at the factory, because Further sales of the smartphone will be handled by the selected mobile operator. These are significantly cheaper. But the buyer, under a special agreement concluded upon purchase, undertakes to pay the operator a certain amount monthly - it turns out something like an installment plan. The average duration of such an agreement is two years.

Therefore, if you absolutely do not understand how to use a turbo-sim, and in case of failures you cannot cope on your own, it is better to refrain from such a purchase.

Accessories included in the delivery set must be additionally packaged.
So the headphones – EarPods – are neatly placed in a transparent case made of flexible plastic. The plug for the socket and the lightning cable are secured with a transparent silicone tie. By the way, the type of plug may change depending on the market of which country the iPhone is aimed at - this is normal.

You should also be wary of the non-original cable included in the kit. Some sellers of used iPhones put in a fake cable when selling to newbies. There is no characteristic marking on it. You can distinguish the original by the inscription along the entire length of the wire: With such a cable you will not be able to connect your smartphone to a computer, and without this you will not have access to the lion's share of user capabilities, because It will be impossible to sync and share data via iTunes. You will have to buy it separately, and so you understand, the cost of a meter cable in the AppStore starts from 1,590 rubles.

Checking the system

One of the most important qualities of the iPhone is its unique operating system - iOS, which is rightfully considered the most stable and secure. It is designed specifically for iPhones (iPads), which is why the devices work flawlessly.

If you have an idea of what the iOS ecosystem looks like, be sure to navigate through several tabs on your desktop. Sometimes you can’t tell a fake by looking at the menu; scammers have even managed to copy the visual image of the iPhone operating system interface. In fact, all counterfeits run on Android, so you shouldn’t even hope for any of the advantages that iPhones give to the buyer. For example, when you go to the App Store, when you click the icon, the gadget redirects you to the Play Store, and all other standard iOS applications are also replaced with Android counterparts.

The popularity of the iPhone all over the world has led to counterfeits increasingly appearing on the market. And if a couple of years ago it was not difficult to determine whether an iPhone was real or not - by a faded screen, poorly assembled body and other external signs, then today a fake iPhone from certified The device can be very difficult to distinguish. We'll look at how to distinguish an original iPhone from a Chinese one in this article.

not to run into a Chinese iPhone: surefire ways

The simplest but correct solution is to purchase a gadget from certified seller - equipment store. But if money is tight, and you really want to buy a long-awaited new smartphone from Apple, you have to resort to buying a dubious device or a used device.
However, if you don’t need a phone urgently, it’s better to wait a month or two and start choosing a real iPhone in certified store. Better yet, order the device directly on the official Apple website. In this case, you will be confident in the originality of the smartphone, and you will not have to think about how to distinguish an iPhone from a fake.
However, there are situations when a gadget is purchased second-hand or from a dubious online store (for example, ordered on a Chinese website). How to check the quality of the device in this case, and how to distinguish a real iPhone from a fake one?

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone: checking the serial number

When going on a deal to purchase an iPhone, regardless of where it takes place - in a store or during a personal meeting with the seller, be sure to take with you a device that has Internet access. It could be a netbook, etc. You will need access to the network to recognize a fake.
What exactly needs to be done before purchasing?
1 . Go to the main settings of the smartphone menu, select the section that contains information about the device, and then the serial number.
2. Connect to the network on the device you took with you and go to the official Apple resource in the section dedicated to checking serial numbers.
3. In a special window, enter the number of the purchased device and agree to the verification by clicking on the “Continue” button.
4 . If the iPhone is original, the system will provide detailed information about it - model description, terms of technical support, etc. If the device is fake, made in China, you will receive a message that the number is incorrect, and a request to enter a different number again.
Punching the serial number is the easiest way to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original and how to find out, when buying a gadget, who its real manufacturer is - the world-recognized Apple company, whose products are of high quality, or a little-known company from China. The quality of smartphones in these two cases will be different. By purchasing certified product, you will receive the opportunity to warranty support and repair the device in the future. And by buying a fake for 100-200 dollars cheaper, you can add a lot of unnecessary problems with it, because often such devices fail within 2-3 months after the start of operation. Therefore, the question of how to distinguish an iPhone released by Apple from a fake is extremely important for all fans of this company’s devices.

How to distinguish an original iPhone by appearance

Carefully examining the appearance of the device is another sure way to distinguish an iPhone from a fake. Even today, when a Chinese counterfeit is often not much different from the original, it is still possible to identify it.

Ways to distinguish a fake smartphone from an Apple one by the appearance of the device:
The presence of one or another error, hieroglyphs, etc. is strictly not allowed in the system.
The back panel of the smartphone must contain the inscription iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China, as well as the specific model number and certification signs
If there is an antenna on the device, it means it is a fake phone.
This gadget also does not have compartments for 2 SIM cards, a USB charger, or a built-in memory card.
To remove the back cover of the original device, you need to unscrew the screws - it won’t just come off.

How to distinguish a real iPhone using the App Store

This is one of the simplest methods for identifying a Chinese counterfeit of a popular smartphone. In order for them take advantage, you need to log into the App Store application from the iPhone model you are going to purchase. After that, even a fake gadget will redirect you to Google Play. Now we need to look more closely.
This is what it looks like on the App Store screen:

And here it is - Google Play:

Next, in the Google Play search, you need to try to find such popular applications as iMovie, Pages, Numbers, etc. If you don’t find any, this is definitely a fake and not an original Apple gadget model.

The most reliable way to expose a fake: iTunes

The iTunes utility, or rather, checking an iPhone with its help, will help expose even the highest quality fake. In order to take advantage In this way, you will need a laptop or computer with the iTunes program installed. As a rule, experienced users of Apple gadgets always have this utility.
Everything else is simple. When you connect the device to your computer, it should immediately recognize it. If the program does not react in any way to the connected device, be careful and take your time with the purchase; most likely, this is a fake device.

Tips from experienced users

Experienced iPhone users have long learned to identify fakes from the original. Some sensible tips on how to easily and quickly expose a fraudulent seller:
The box in which the device is supplied must be durable and of high quality. The inscriptions on it should be clear and bright, there should be no blurry letters or numbers.
External damage to the new device is not allowed. Any visible scratch on the case or inside the device should alert you.
The serial number must be the same both in the smartphone settings and on the box. If at least one digit is different, you have a “gray” gadget.
When installing a SIM card, the device should automatically detect the local network, and a test call made from the device should be successful. Just note that the sound during a conversation may not be loud, i.e. The seller did not have time to remove the protective film from the device.

Demand creates supply. Chinese manufacturers have long established the production of products from well-known brands. Apple devices are no exception. I was prompted to write this article by a couple of cases when, faced with a fake, I could not unambiguously determine the authenticity of the iPhone. You turn the phone in your hands, and everything seems to be in place, but something is not right. Let's try to determine what you should immediately pay attention to when buying a phone second-hand. There is no point in analyzing in detail the difference between the original iPhone and its Chinese counterparts. There are quite a few similar “leftist” manufacturers, and everyone tries in their own way. In addition, counterfeits are found in all previously produced and released generations of smartphones. And it will probably be the same in the future.

I would like to immediately warn you against unnecessary fears. On the back cover of the iPhone there is an inscription "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." This is the honest truth, and you shouldn’t be afraid of it. All original iPhones are assembled in China at special Apple factories. Non-original iPhones are also assembled in the same country.

It is worth noting that checking the authenticity of a phone using the IMEI number through the SNDeepInfo service may not lead to anything. I came across a fake iPhone, where in the paragraph about this device the real IMEM and the current firmware version were registered. This data corresponded to a real Apple phone.

Let's try to identify the main differences, first external.

It will be difficult for a person who has never held his own iPhone in his hands to determine the originality of the device. Moreover, even an experienced user of Apple products will have a hard time understanding what the catch is. At first glance, the fake iPhone looks quite believable. The differences are in the little things. In general, the ideal way is to have the original iPhone with you for comparison.

1. In all existing iPhones to date no memory card slot, no retractable antenna. These improvements from Chinese manufacturers have never been used in native devices.

2. The SIM card slot for iPhone5, iPhone 4 (4S) is located on the side. They are designed for nano-SIM for iPhone 5 or micro-SIM for iPhone 4(4S), respectively. For first generation devices and 3G, 3GS it is on top. Phones only have one SIM!

3. The back cover of a real iPhone cannot be removed, and there is no access to the smartphone’s battery. No removable covers!

But the main differences are determined in the work. You need to turn on the device.

The native iPhone runs on the iOS operating system. Counterfeit iPhones use different firmware. Due to this, programs from the App Store cannot be installed on this device.

4. Open the "Settings" - "General" application. Pay attention to the Russian menu. Russian is one of the most difficult languages and correctly translating the menu is not an easy job. If there's something wrong with cases or abbreviations like "Return", then it's not an iPhone.
The menu items here differ from the original. Usually fakes do not have "Software Update" and "Siri".

5. Click on the App Store icon. See what the content store offers you. All programs on iPhone are installed from this store. If, when you click on the App Store icon, you are transferred to Google Play, then you do not have an original phone.

6. If possible, connect the device to your computer. When you connect your iPhone to your computer, iTunes recognizes it. The fake phone will not sync with iTunes at all.