How to spot a fake AirPods Pro 2 from a real one

From checking serial numbers to packaging, there’s more than one way to know if your AirPods Pro 2 are real

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The best way to tell if your AirPods Pro 2 are fake is by entering their serial number into Apple’s "Check Coverage" website.
• This website will tell you if the AirPods are registered in Apple’s system, which all real AirPods are.
• You should also look for typos on the packaging and defects on the earbuds and the charging case, and check if they connects with your iPhone in the right way.

Just like fake AirPods Max, fake AirPods Pro 2 are widespread. Some shady sellers are never ashamed of selling fake Apple products, so if you can’t tell the difference between real and fake second generation Apple AirPods Pro, you could be tricked into buying them.

To prevent this from happening, we will explain how to tell if AirPods Pro 2 are fake.

How to spot fake AirPods Pro 2

Check The Packaging

The materials of the retail box

The first thing you can do to check whether a pair of AirPods Pro (second generation) is fake is to examine its retail box. The real AirPods Pro 2 are packaged in a sturdy, high-quality white box with a picture of the AirPods on the front. Fake AirPods Pro (2nd generation), on the other hand, will probably be shipped in a box made of lower-quality materials.

Look for typos in the printed text

You won’t find any spelling mistakes on an official AirPods Pro 2 box made by Apple. But you may see different typos on a fake Apple AirPods Pro 2 box. There might also be some inconsistencies in the font size and style of the text.

Look for the AirPods serial number printed on the box

The retail box of authentic AirPods Pro 2 also has the serial number of the earbuds printed on it, which can be checked in Apple’s warranty coverage status tool. . So if the retail box of an AirPods Pro 2 doesn’t have a serial number, or if it does, but Apple’s coverage status tool can’t recognize it, then you’re definitely looking at AirPods Pro 2 replica.

Check the accessories in the Box

Inside the box of a genuine AirPods Pro (2nd generation), you should find the following:

• AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
• MagSafe Charging Case (USB‑C) with speaker and lanyard loop
• Silicone ear tips (four sizes: XS, S, M, L)
• USB‑C Charge Cable
• Documentation

At first glance, the AirPods Pro 2 clone can look perfectly fine with a complete set of accessories inside the box. Some counterfeits include all the usual papers and instructions, along with second generation AirPods Pro that look legitimate, a charging cable, ear tips and more.

However, you should carefully inspect the included accessories. For example, if the print quality of the documentation is moderate and the type is blurred, it’s fake.

Inspect the AirPods Pro 2

Apple AirPods Pro 2 only come in white. . You can’t buy red, green, or black AirPods Pro 2—they don’t exist. If the AirPods Pro 2 color isn’t white, they are fake, so don’t buy them.

The AirPods Pro feature a set of black stripes on each earbud that incorporate a metal grille, serving either as microphones or for acoustic relief. Authentic AirPods Pro 2 are designed in such a way that the metal grille’s black color matches seamlessly with the surrounding black stripe, making them nearly indistinguishable. Contrarily, AirPods Pro 2 replica can be identified by the lighter shade of black used for the grille.

Also, look for the optical sensors on the bottom of the AirPods Pro 2 earbuds — these are used to “tell” the earbuds when they are in your ear. . It’s unlikely knockoffs would include this expensive feature.

Inspect The Charging Case

Front of the case

While the front of fake AirPods Pro 2 charging cases may look similar to the genuine product at first glance, copycats have a hard time replicating the LED light opening. The LED light on authentic AirPods Pro 2 cases is flush with the case and covered by a thin, transparent layer. Conversely, counterfeit AirPods Pro 2 cases typically have a pinhole in that spot instead. Granted, you probably won’t be able to notice it at first glance, but if you view the case from an angle, you will be able to spot it.

Also, there is a difference in the LED light itself between the genuine AirPods Pro 2 and their fake counterparts. The light is more focused and contained on the genuine AirPods Pro 2. On the counterfeits, however, the LED light bleeds into the case plastic.

Side of the case

Genuine AirPods Pro 2 case has a lanyard loop on the right side. This might seem like a simple feature for a counterfeiter to include, but you’d be surprised: many fakes don’t bundle in this feature.

Back of the case

There are three things to look for here. Firstly, you should inspect the hinge of the case, as counterfeit cases often have hinges that appear slightly different. The hinge should be completely flat, and all joints should be evenly spaced.

Secondly, take a look at the button located at the back of the case. This button lets you pair the AirPods Pro 2 with other devices. In real AirPods Pro 2 cases, the button is totally flat with the rest of the case, fitting the circular opening perfectly. In contrast, counterfeit cases often have a slightly wobbly button with some curvature where the plastic was cut and processed to fit. Also, if the button pokes out at all, or feels loose, chances are that it’s fake.

The last thing you can check is the text, "Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China." Some fake AirPods Pro 2 cases may not have this phrase, while others may have it placed incorrectly.

Bottom of the case

The latest AirPods Pro 2 look a lot like the original model, but they’ve swapped out Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for a standard USB-C port on the case. It’s interesting to note that counterfeit AirPods Pro 2 come with fake charging cable. Although these fake AirPods can be charged using either the counterfeit cable or authentic Apple cables, the fake cable will not function with genuine Apple devices.

By inspecting the bottom of an genuine AirPods Pro 2 case, you will definitely notice that the charging port has been installed very securely. The metal ring is slightly protruding from the case, but there is no visible hole or ring in the plastic. It’s just as if the port has been tightly inserted into the case.

In contrast, the charging port on a counterfeit AirPods Pro 2 case looks like it has been "sunk in" the plastic a bit. Furthermore, the metal collar at the top of the port is much deeper on genuine AirPods Pro cases than on fake ones. If you examine the inside of the fake charging port, you will notice plastic at a much earlier stage than you would on the authentic product.

There’s a speaker at the bottom of the case to help you locate it when lost. Fake AirPods Pro 2 case may have a speaker in a different location, or no speaker at all.

Opening the flap

Ever since the original AirPods, everyone has been obsessed with the nice, clicky flap. It opens decisively and stays open. It closes with a satisfying click.

Fake AirPods Pro 2 cases usually have a very loose flap, which you can wiggle around even when it’s closed. When you open it up — it might not even stay open, with its springs gently pushing it back into the closed position.

Wireless Charging

The AirPods Pro 2 charging case supports Qi wireless charging. It’s unlikely copycats would throw in this expensive feature. Try putting your AirPods Pro 2 case on a Qi charging mat. If it doesn’t get any power, it’s a replica.

Sound Quality

Of course, you are probably wondering if AirPods Pro 2 knockoffs sound as good as the originals. The short answer to this question is no. The longer answer is that the fake AirPods Pro sound middy and tinny. There is no bottom end; there is no sparkle in the highs, and they don’t offer much clarity. The fakes also lack perks like active noise cancellation.

Check the Serial Number

There are a few ways to tell if your AirPods Pro 2 are fake just by looking at them, but if you’re not sure, try out the one surefire method: Ask Apple.

Apple runs a website that lets users check if their products are still under warranty. This is great for checking real products, of course, but it also has the added benefit of telling you when you’re using a fake product. Just enter the AirPods Pro 2′ serial number and, if you find them there, they’re the real deal. If you don’t, you’ve spotted fake AirPods Pro 2. Here’s what to do:

1. In your web browser, go to Apple’s coverage checking tool.

2. Find your AirPods Pro 2′ serial number. You can find this number in two ways.

   • First, if your AirPods are connected to an iPhone or iPad, you can open the Bluetooth menu and tap the i icon next to their name. The serial number will be listed on the page that opens.

   • Second, you can find the serial number written on the inside of the case, in the space that your left AirPod head sits in.

3. Enter the serial number, the CAPTCHA, and click Continue.

4. If the tool returns information for that serial number (especially a valid purchased date), the AirPods Pro 2 are real.

Try to Pair Them or Check Battery Life

Another reliable way to tell if AirPods Pro 2 are fake is by doing something only real AirPods Pro 2 can do.

When you try to pair AirPods Pro 2 to an iPhone or iPad, or open already-paired AirPods Pro 2 near those devices, a window pops up on the device’s screen. That can only happen with genuine AirPods Pro 2 because that feature relies on the H2 chip, a communications chip Apple created for the AirPods Pro 2. It’s extremely unlikely fake AirPods Pro 2 could mimic that feature.

So, to spot fake AirPods Pro 2 using this trick, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the AirPods Pro 2 are charged.

2. Hold the AirPods Pro 2 next to an iPhone or iPad, which has Bluetooth turned on. Open the AirPods Pro 2 case (while leaving the earbuds in the case).

3. If the AirPods Pro 2 have already been set up with this device, the battery screen will appear. That means your AirPods Pro 2 are genuine.

4. If the AirPods Pro 2 haven’t been set up with this device, wait for the connection screen to appear. If it does, your AirPods Pro 2 are the real thing.

If you follow these steps but don’t see the popups mentioned in steps 3 or 4 on your device’s screen, we’re sorry to tell you, but your AirPods Pro 2 are fake.

Check The Price

Have you heard the saying, "if it’s too good to be true, it probably is"? Well, this definitely applies when shopping for Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds online. The retail price for AirPods Pro 2 is $249. So, don’t fall for those amazing deals that offer the earbuds at an unbelievably low price. More often than not, these deals are too good to be true, and the AirPods being sold are just cheap knockoffs.

To lower the chances of encountering such scams, we recommend that you only buy from reputable sources. Stick to purchasing from the manufacturers’ official online stores or trusted retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Yes, you still might find fishy deals there, but since these sites have good return policies, you will be able to receive a refund in case you buy a fake product.

Bonus tips to spot fake AirPods Pro 2

• Fake AirPods Pro 2 won’t appear in the Find My app when you connect them to your device.
• Once you’ve paired your AirPods Pro 2 with an iPhone or iPad, open the Bluetooth menu and tap the i icon next to their name. You should see a page full of information about them — if all you see are Device Type and Forget This Deviceoptions, they’re fake.

Conclusion

To identify fake AirPods Pro 2, you should compare their case and the earbuds with an original pair of AirPods Pro. If you don’t have any AirPods Pro available, feel free to come back to this article and compare the earbuds in your hands with the photos we have provided.

Our advice is to buy only genuine products. Genuine products meet specific safety standards and are often tested and verified by regulatory bodies. Counterfeit products don’t undergo the same testing and could put your health at risk.

Also, genuine products are made with high-quality materials and are made to last a long time. Counterfeit products are usually made with cheap materials and break easily.

So, next time you see a tempting deal offering a pair of AirPods Pro 2 for one-quarter of their original price, just pass that deal up and head to Apple’s official store and get a new pair of AirPods Pro 2 from there.