How to Spot a Fake iPad Air From a Real One

The iPad Air has seen more than its fair share of fakes. Here are some tips to help you spot the counterfeits and make sure you’re buying the real thing.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• To tell if iPad Air is original or fake, go to Apple’s Check Coverage website and enter the iPad’ serial number — located on the back of the device. If the website says it’s unable to check coverage for the serial number you’ve entered, it probably means the iPad Air is fake.
• You can also look at the details of the iPad Air. Check the packaging of the iPad Air for any grammar or spelling mistakes. If you spot printing mistakes on the retail box, the iPad Air is fake.

Apple iPad Air command a premium price, making it attractive to counterfeiters, and unless you buy the device direct from Apple or a reputable retailer, there’s a chance that you’ll end up with a fake device. So how can you ensure that the iPad Air is legitimate? There are lots of telltale signs that any product has not been made by Apple, and the iPad Air – which has seen more than its fair share of fakes – is no exception.

I’ve spent years using various iPad Airs for both entertainment and work and have tested all of the current and recent models to know how to distinguish original from fakes.

Here are some tips for figuring out if that iPad Air you are about to purchase is real or fake:

Best Ways to Spot a Fake iPad Air

How to Spot Fake iPad Air: Packaging, Manufacturing, and More

Let’s assume you’ve got the possibly fake iPad Air in your hand. Here are some things to check before you hand over the money. We can’t be certain it’s legitimate – it could just be a fantastic counterfeit – but these will rule out 95 percent of fakes.

• Scrutinize the Retail Box: Examine the retail packaging for iPad Air meticulously, checking for any spelling errors, variations in Apple’s font and colour schemes, or inaccurately printed details. If you spot any mistake, the iPad Air is fake.

• Request Multiple Retail Boxes: If feasible, ask the shop or store owner to present at least two additional retail boxes and perform a side-by-side comparison to detect any discrepancies or irregularities.

• Verify IMEI and Serial Numbers: For an added layer of security, consider unboxing the iPad Air in the presence of the seller immediately after purchase. Match the IMEI and serial numbers on the back of iPad Air with those printed on the box to ensure consistency and authenticity.

• Build Quality: Apple is famous for the very high quality of its devices. The ports and connectors are tight and sturdy, and the color of the iPad Air is clean and bright. If the tablet seem a little low quality, the parts are loose, or the color isn’t perfect, you might be dealing with a knock-off iPad Air.

• Look for a memory card slot: The iPad Air does not feature a MicroSD card slot, nor any kind of memory card slot. If the tablet has a slot for any size memory card, it’s likely an Android that has been reworked to look like an iPad Air.

• Price: Apple products aren’t cheap. The starting retail price for the latest iPad Air is $599. If a brand new iPad Air is being sold for much less than that, it might not be real.

How to Identify a Fake iPad Air: Check The Key Features

When trying to spot a fake iPad Air, you should check the key features of the device. Here are various iPad Air models and their main features:

iPad Air (5th generation)

• Capacity: 64 GB, 256 GB
• Colors: Space Gray, Starlight, Pink, Purple and Blue.
• Model number (on back cover):
  A2588 on iPad Air (5th generation)
  A2589, A2591 on iPad Air (5th generation) Wi-Fi Cellular
• The nano-SIM tray is on the right side on iPad Air (5th generation) Wi-Fi Cellular
• Touch ID sensor in Top button
• USB-C charging port

iPad Air (4th generation)

• Capacity: 64 GB, 256 GB
• Colors: Silver, Space Gray, Rose Gold, Green and Sky Blue.
• Model number (on back cover):
  A2316 on iPad Air (4th generation)
  A2324, A2325, A2072 on iPad Air (4th generation) Wi-Fi Cellular
• The nano-SIM tray is on the right side on iPad Air (4th generation) Wi-Fi Cellular
• Touch ID sensor in Top button
• USB-C charging port

iPad Air (3rd generation)

• Capacity: 64 GB, 256 GB
• Colors: Silver, Space Gray and Gold.
• Model number (on back cover):
  A2152 on iPad Air (3rd generation)
  A2123, A2153 on iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi Cellular
  A2154 on iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi Cellular (China mainland only)
• The nano-SIM tray is on the right side on iPad Air (3rd generation) Wi-Fi Cellular
• Touch ID sensor in Home button
• Lightening charging port

iPad Air 2

• Capacity: 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
• Colors: Silver, Space Gray and Gold.
• Model number (on the back cover):
  A1566 on the iPad Air 2
  A1567 on the iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi Cellular
• The nano-SIM tray is on the right side on iPad Air 2 Wi-Fi Cellular
• Touch ID sensor in Home button
• Lightening charging port

iPad Air

• Capacity: 16 GB, 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB
• Colors: Silver and Space Gray.
• Model number (on the back cover):
  A1474 on the iPad Air Wi-Fi
  A1475 on the iPad Air Wi-Fi Cellular
  A1476 on the iPad Air Wi-Fi Cellular (TD-LTE)–released early 2014
• The nano-SIM tray is on the right side on iPad Air Wi-Fi Cellular
• Lightening charging port

How to Tell If iPad Air is Fake: Check the Serial Number

The most foolproof way to tell if iPad Air is fake is to enter its serial number into Apple’s warranty coverage tool, and, if you find it there, it’s the real deal. If you don’t, you’ve spotted a fake iPad Air. Here’s what to do:

1. Find the serial number for the iPad Air:
   • If the iPad Air has been set up: open the Settings app and tap on General. Tap on About, then scroll down to find the serial number.
   • If the iPad Air hasn’t been set up: on the Hello screen, tap the (i) info button to see basic information about the iPad, including the serial number. You can also find the serial number for the iPad Air on the back of the device.
2. Open a web browser and go to Apple’s coverage checking tool.
3. Enter the serial number in the text field provided.
4. Complete the CAPTCHA and then click Continue.
5. If the tool returns information for that serial number (especially a valid purchased date), the iPad Air is real. If the tool says the serial number is in invalid, the iPad Air is fake.

How to Know If iPad Air is Real: Power on The Device and Try it Out

Fakes are most easily identified by their inability to replicate the interface and general user experience of a genuine iPad Air.

So, to spot fake iPad Air using this trick, try the following:

• Check the Apple Logo: Press and hold the iPad’s power button until you see the Apple logo. You’ll then see "Hello" in many languages. That means the iPad Air is genuine. If you try powering the device on but don’t see the Apple Logo on the device’s screen, the iPad Air is definitely a fake.

• Check the pre-installed apps: iPad Air comes with a variety of pre-installed apps including Messages, FaceTime, Safari, Mail, Calendar, Photos, App Store, and more. If you don’t see any of these apps, or see android apps such as Play Store on the iPad Air, it’s a dead giveaway that it’s an Android tablet that was made to look like an iPad Air.