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You are here: Home / Tips and Tricks / How to spot a fake Apple HomePod (second-generation)

How to spot a fake Apple HomePod (second-generation)

Last Updated: November 19, 2023 by Moses Gitari

Fake HomePods are widespread. We explain how to spot fake HomePod2.

Two HomePod (2nd generation) devices are shown on a white background.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • To spot a fake HomePod 2, check the device’s serial number in Apple’s coverage checking website. If the website says the serial number is invalid, the HomePod 2 is fake.
  • Plug the HomePod 2 to a power outlet and place your iPhone or iPad next to it. If a setup window doesn’t pop up on your device’s screen, the HomePod 2 is fake.

The markets are inundated by fake HomePods. HomePod 2, in particular, is a common targets for counterfeiters and some of them look exactly like the real thing — but they never sound like it. Here’s how to be sure you’re getting the genuine article.

How to Spot a Fake HomePod 2

How to know if HomePod 2 is Fake: Inspect the packaging

The first thing you can do to check whether a HomePod 2 is fake is to examine its retail box. The real HomePod 2 is packaged in a sturdy, high-quality box. Fake HomePod 2, on the other hand, will probably be shipped in a box made of lower-quality materials.

You won’t find any typos on an official HomePod 2 box. But you may see different typing errors on a fake HomePod 2 box. There might also be some inconsistencies in the font size and style of the text.

Carefully look at the packaging of the HomePod 2 box, and if you notice spelling mistakes, double spaces, printing issues, and pixelation in photos, the HomePod 2 isn’t genuine.

How to Identify a Fake HomePod 2: Check The Design

The design of the HomePod 2 can also signal to you whether it’s fake or genuine. The HomePod 2 is cylindrical in shape. It’s wrapped in an acoustics-friendly mesh fabric, and comes in white or midnight.

On top of the mini is the only interface on the device itself, a flat plastic touch-sensitive pad that you can tap to play and pause your tunes, advance or go back, change the volume, and summon Siri. It has multicolored LEDs under it that light up and swirl around whenever Siri is listening or responding. It will glow white when music is playing or green when you’re using the speaker as a speakerphone for calls.

The second-generation HomePod has a detachable power cord rather than a captive one. (A 20-watt charging brick comes in the box.) The cord has a braided exterior and is color matched, portraying a polished look. The cord is about five feet long.

There are no audio ports on the back of the second-generation HomePod, just a fabric-wrapped USB-C cable.

There’s also no physical buttons to power on or activate Siri on HomePod 2 .

Inside, a single, large 4-inch speaker faces upward, while an array of five smaller tweeters is arrayed around the bottom of the HomePod 2. In addition, four microphones arrayed around the middle of the HomePod 2 are there to listen for your voice.

If you notice unexpected features, like unofficial colors, audio ports, physical buttons, or non-detachable power cord, the HomePod 2 is fake.

How to Know If HomePod 2 is Real: Try to set it up

Really, the easiest way to spot fake HomePod 2 is to try setting it up. As with other HomePods, this speaker is for Apple users only. Those without an iPhone running iOS 16 or newer, or an iPad running iPadOS 16 or newer cannot set it up, while Android and PC users cannot connect to it at all.

When you plug a new HomePod 2 to a power source, it should be automatically detected by your iPhone or iPad. It’s extremely unlikely fake HomePod 2 could mimic that feature.

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

  1. Place the HomePod on a solid surface with at least 6 inches of space around it and plug it into power. Wait for a chime and a pulsing white light to appear on the top of it.
  2. Unlock your iPhone or iPad and hold it next to HomePod.

  3. A user holds their iPhone over HomePod (2nd generation).

  4. The setup screen will appear on your iPhone or iPad screen. That means your HomePod 2 is genuine.

Sometimes genuine HomePod may have setup problems. If the setup screen doesn’t appear, try locking your device and unlocking it again. If you tried locking and unlocking your iPhone or iPad and holding it next to HomePod, but you still don’t see the setup screen, the HomePod 2 is probably fake.

How to Tell If HomePod 2 is Fake: Check the Serial Number

As we’ve explained above, you can tell if the second-generation HomePod is fake just by looking at it, but if you’re still in doubt, 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 a product is fake.

To use the site, you’ll just need the HomePod serial number. Here’s what to do:

  1. Find your HomePod 2’s serial number on the bottom of speaker.
  2. Once you have the HomePods’ serial number, head to the Check Coverage website and enter it into the field at the top, then fill out the CAPTCHA and click Continue.

  3. If the website returns information about that particular serial number, the HomePod 2 is legit. But if Apple’s website can’t recognize the serial number, then you’re definitely looking at fake HomePod 2.

How to Spot a Fake HomePod 2: 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 HomePod 2 online. Don’t fall for those amazing deals that offer the speaker at an unbelievably low price. More often than not, these deals are too good to be true, and the HomePod 2 being sold is just a cheap knockoff.

The retail price for a HomePod 2 is $299. If you are being asked to pay much less than that—say, $100 for HomePod 2 – it might not be real.

Conclusion

We hope you can now identify a fake second-gen HomePod and distinguish it from original. To lower the chances of purchasing a fake HomePod 2, you can check for a few things before placing the order to safeguard your money. Read seller reviews, read user reviews on the listing, and avoid suspiciously good deals. We also recommend that you only buy from reputable sources. Stick to purchasing from the Apples’ online store or trusted retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Yes, you still might encounter fake HomePod 2 there, but since these sites have good return policies, you will be able to receive a refund in case you buy a fake product.

Editors' Recommendations:

  1. How to spot a fake iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
  2. How to spot a fake AirPods Max from a real one
  3. How to spot a fake AirPods Pro 2 from a real one
  4. How to Spot a Fake HomePod mini in 5 easy ways

About Moses Gitari

Moses Gitari is the Editorial Director of iPhoneArena and has been writing about iPhones, iPads, Macs, accessories, and software for over 10 years.

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