How does a Chinese iPhone differ from the original? How to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake? Video: recognizing the original iPhone

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

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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 normal 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 connection 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 have them hard.
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. Included in the package small instructions, made of printed paper, and having two Apple logos. Moreover, everything is done in high quality: the colors are saturated, the edges are made clearly, and the folds are sharp.

The original models are different high quality. The case cannot be disassembled, that is back cover cannot be removed. When you first start it will be displayed apple icon, and then a proposal 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 display, excellent sound, clear pictures and Russian-language menu. In addition, genuine iPhone only works with iOS system. The system update is carried out using iTunes.

How else can you determine the originality of an iPhone?

Most common mistakes 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+ 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?

The colossal popularity of the iPhone has long been the basis for the release huge amount his fakes. Replica manufacturers have learned to copy quite accurately appearance and even the materials of the original body. Not every person will be able to distinguish these devices at first glance. Sometimes even owners of the original can be fooled by holding a well-made copy in their hands. Let's figure out how the Chinese iPhone differs from the original?

There are a great many Chinese iPhones. They are very different from each other and we will not generalize them into one class of devices. To make a comparison, we will not talk about very poor copies, where the design does not match, the screen quality is scary, the stylus and TV antenna stick out, and there are every second slowdowns during operation. Everything is clear with them - they do not pretend to fool anyone. These are simple phones for those who need a cheap device for a couple of months with the pretense of having at least some appearance.

There are copies of the iPhone that are very decent in appearance/content, completely copying its design, Retina screen, and even the appearance of the operating system interface. For a cool copy you will have to pay an amount (approximately $250-400) comparable to the cost of a strong branded Android smartphone. Inside such an “iPhone” there will be a dual- or quad-core processor from the MTK series, 1-2 GB, a camera from 5 to 13 megapixels. Weight, size and appearance will correspond to the original.

What is the difference between a high-quality Chinese iPhone and an original?

The main difference between a Chinese iPhone and an original one is the lack of an operating system. iOS systems. Thanks to it, excellent stability, speed and smooth operation are achieved. Any good copy will work under Android control with themes installed on top that copy iOS interface. But no skins, even if they 1 in 1 repeat the animations of the iPhone, the design of its shortcuts, the location of buttons, menus, etc., will give the kind of performance for which many people love the iPhone so much. This is the main difference between a high-quality copy and a real iPhone. Many Android smartphones have the most powerful processors(2-4 cores plus a frequency of more than 2 GHz), 2-3 GB of RAM and are still often inferior in performance to the iPhone 5 with its dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM.
Many copies support dual SIM cards, which the original does not. Most often, to install SIM cards on a fake, you need to remove the back cover. In the original, getting to the battery is not easy, and the SIM card is inserted into a retractable tray on the left side of the device.
The Chinese copy, like any other Android smartphone, supports the function removable disk. That is, you can simply connect it to a PC or car radio as a flash drive. This is, of course, convenient, but in the original there is no such opportunity. Synchronization with a PC occurs only through a proprietary iTunes player. In addition, the memory of the original cannot be expanded by installing microSD cards, which is often found in copies.
The iPhone's USB (lightning) cable differs from the usual microUSB connector used everywhere in Android smartphones.
The “Home” button on an iPhone is always slightly depressed, and in fakes it often protrudes above the surface of the case.
All stickers on the original box are glued evenly, the inscription “iPhone” and the Apple logo are made using embossing.
The original box contains color instructions excellent quality, as well as 2 stickers with a bitten apple with rich colors, clear edges and sharp bends in the corners. Also on the device itself there should be protective film, on the bottom edge of which there is a perforated tab for peeling it off.

conclusions

The main things you should pay extra for when buying an original iPhone are build quality and iOS, which provides a couple of serious advantages: speed/stability and access to proprietary software.

Read, memorize, distribute - throw 10 thousand down the drain everyone can.

Comment from an M.Video expert

Counterfeits of flagship devices, as well as counterfeits of luxury brands of clothing, shoes and bags, unfortunately, always find their audience. There are people who knowingly buy fakes. But we are not talking about them.

Our task is to warn those people who, out of ignorance, carelessness or even naivety, acquired under the guise original device fake. They will be truly disappointed with the quality of the device and its capabilities.

If buying an iPhone or other flagship device is beyond your means, there is always an alternative - buying a flagship in installments. Or choose another more budget-friendly device with decent technical characteristics. And if the buyer is ready to buy an iPhone, it is better to do it in trusted places - from official Apple sellers.

Instead of a preface

M.Video experts shared something surprisingly similar to the real one. iPhone smartphone. The device was spotted on sale in some Russian online stores under the guise of an original device. The first fakes arrived in Russia a week after the presentation.

[UPDATED] After working on the article, it became known that customs officers in one city shared information about the detention several thousand iPhones without boxes. Upon closer examination, they all turned out to be very exact copies.

Bought for only 10 thousand rubles! And if it weren’t for comparison with a real device, the difference would not have been noticed immediately. The original box and fake documents are misleading - you don’t expect such a serious trick anymore.

How to distinguish?

The devices are as similar to each other as two peas in a pod. If I had not known that one of the smartphones was a fake, I could have been mistaken.

At poor lighting and due to insufficient testing, even our editor could not point his finger at the original iPhone. And after they put on the covers, the whole team got confused. And the traditional inclusion for checking the first 5 minutes did not bring the fake to light.

Let's take a closer look - there are still differences, but not everyone will notice them.

1. Screen with step

The fake iPhone we got our hands on is the best I've ever seen. At first glance, it almost perfectly replicates the original.

Upon closer examination, the most important difference was the screen. Original iPhone screen 7 continues the body. U fakes - a small step between the screen and the body. The same can be produced by a device repaired using non-original components.

No oleophobic coating- prints are collected perfectly, the screen is always dirty. There is no anti-glare either. It is impossible to use such a smartphone in any spot lighting conditions.

2. The body is like a bar of soap

A little later it catches your eye thickness protective glass on the screen. Yes, this is window glass, not a screen protector modern gadget! And the edges are noticeably rounder - like thousands of cheap Chinese smartphones.

Let's look from a different angle - the fake is almost one and a half times thicker! The neat edges turned into a hemisphere: even the Chinese cannot break the laws of geometry.

Where it leads? The slightest the impact will crack the screen like an eggshell.

By the way, please note: the inscription on back side device does not match the original one. There was an attempt to reproduce, but information and font do not match.

3. Poorly fitted elements

Instead of the usual “Home” key, the iPhone 7 uses Touchpad with vibration feedback. She only reacts to touch. The fake uses regular mechanical button. It presses and clicks. Creepy.

Surprisingly, the other buttons of the fake iPhone are very pleasant to press. Almost like the real thing, done.

They are a little higher, stick out a little more. Apparently for identification of devices at the enterprise, because the user will not identify the substitution. Only a true fan who has never used cases can do this.

But the hole in the case for the Lightning connector may well become a bright identification mark. This is not a hole, this is a hole! In which the connector dangles freely.

Even basement brands do not allow themselves to treat the most fragile link of a smartphone this way. With daily charging, the solder will fall off after a week or two, and you will have to take the device to the service.

5. Unprotected camera

Back cover Chinese copy iPhone 7 is made according to the pattern. Doubts arise - maybe fakes are made in a nearby workshop at Foxconn factories?

But here protective glasses There was clearly not enough for all devices. The camera of a real Apple smartphone is completely protected from external influences. No gaps - perfect fit, mosquito won't undermine your nose.

But between the lens and the camera rim of the copy, you can insert a sheet of paper. The furrow between them is striking, like a plowed section of a football field. It is doubtful that this is protection - more looks like the lens itself.

Quite in the tradition of counterfeit manufacturers: such a camera will fail very quickly. And if poor quality workmanship doesn’t finish it off, dirt will. It’s a shame to save money on glass of this size.

6. Operating system

There is no less of a catch here. When you turn it on for the first time, the fake smartphone behaves like a real one. Everything you need is present - both the boot screen and the operating system shell.

The developers of the add-on must be given their due - a colossal amount of work has been done. I want such a launcher for my Android device. It is VERY difficult to distinguish from iOS. If you don't look closely at the applications.

They are the ones who give away the fake. This set is, to put it mildly, unusual even Chinese Android, so an inexperienced user may not recognize it.

However, an avid iOS fan should quickly see lack of branded Apple services . There is nothing associated with the company. Of course, iTunes Apple Music and other proprietary iOS features do not work.

App store - yours, Chinese. The main language is English, the set of programs is from Play Market. But the choice is very poor. Naturally, installation is impossible.

Fortunately, the fake does not have pre-installed cross-platform applications. But if the manufacturer of the fakes guesses, some of the icons in the next revision of the fakes may turn out to be copies. Yes, and the set of applications can be adjusted.

By the way, proprietary for Android There is no “About phone” menu item. At all. Hardware combinations for engineering menu I couldn’t find one - the possibility was cut out by the manufacturer. Accordingly, it will not be possible to flash it.

When connected to third party devices(routers, elements smart home, and even a computer) a fake iPhone is identified as real. Even many services do not notice the substitution.

Such a mess has a terrible impact. And like an iPhone, you can’t use a fake, and you won’t be able to use the Android ecosystem.

Use of fake

The fake iPhone turned out to be very good. At least if it cost 5 thousand and was sold as a standalone device.

After each presentation of smartphones from Apple Chinese manufacturers They are rushing to create cheaper and lower quality analogues of the iPhone. Previously, distinguish a Chinese counterfeit from original products It was simple: poor assembly, low-quality display, cheap case materials. Modern manufacturers in China manage to create such exact copies that they are impossible to distinguish at first glance. But it’s possible!

There are several methods to distinguish an original smartphone iPhone models 6/ iPhone 6+ from a fake invention:

By appearance.
By serial number devices.
According to software content.

Genuine Apple devices do not support:

There should be no Chinese characters on the device body or on the charging cable. Apple labels all devices and accessories exclusively in English.

Determine the real smartphone by serial number

This method is the most effective and win-win. To use it, you need another gadget with an Internet connection.

The serial number of the original iPhone will allow you to display the model, memory capacity, detailed information about the hardware components of the device, warranty periods and other data known only to the manufacturer. When testing the number of a fake smartphone, the user will receive the message shown in the photo.

Method of checking the availability of rights to service and support

How do software platforms differ?

IN Apple smartphones Only original iOS is installed. Counterfeits work operating system Android with special shells, graphically modified for iOS. Even an inexperienced user who has not previously been familiar with the OS from Apple developers will be able to distinguish these two products: just run App Store(app store). Google will be enabled in a counterfeit iPhone Play Store, the interface of which is radically different from App service Store. A fake can also be detected when establishing access to iCloud or when connecting to iTunes.

Left - App Store on iOS, right - Play Market on Android

The appearance of the operating system can also be misleading. It is worth checking all menu items carefully, because Chinese manufacturers often make mistakes when Russifying a smartphone. If there is a flaw in the icon signature, it’s in your hands iPhone clone 6(s)/ iPhone 6+.

If during the purchasing process it is not possible to study the smartphone in detail, turn it on, and the packaging is carefully sealed, carefully examine the code printed on the box. There should be no hieroglyphs on it! When opening the packaging, be sure to match the serial number in iPhone menu with the number on the sticker - they must be identical.

To be sure to distinguish a device made by Apple from a fake, we recommend watching the video.

Video: recognizing the original iPhone

Modern gadgets are being counterfeited more and more often. And therefore every buyer should watch what he is buying. No one is safe from fakes. Not critical if we're talking about about an inexpensive device. But if you have to spend money on luxury gadgets, encountering counterfeits will bring a lot of unpleasant emotions. All this can be avoided. We will try to answer how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original. Apple products are counterfeited very often. But following simple rules, the user will be able to distinguish a fake from the original.

Price

Let's start with the simplest thing - the price. Apple produces expensive devices. How newer phone, the more expensive it is. In Russia they even began to complain about the cost of the iPhone 8.

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original? Too much low price device indicates that this is a fake. Chinese analogues are indeed sold very cheaply. By cost original iPhone It is almost impossible to find a fake in Russia.

Equipment

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone 5S from the original? It is worth paying attention to the box from the device and the packaging. Often it is in these areas that punctures are detected.

The iPhone box is made of durable and high-quality cardboard. There should be an inscription "iPhone" on the sides.

The original equipment is standard. Namely:

headphones;
cable for connecting to a PC;
charging unit;
instructions;
SIM card clip;
Apple stickers (2 pieces);
warranty card.

All components will be branded. They are neatly folded in a box. No chaos or scattered components.

Weight

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone 7 from the original? Just like any other version of Apple smartphones. Counterfeits are released with the same errors and shortcomings. Unfortunately, not everyone pays attention to them.

To avoid buying a Chinese counterfeit iPhone, the buyer must pick up the phone and inspect it. Usually counterfeit devices are lighter. This rule also applies to Charger. Ideally, its weight is about 60 grams. If the “charger” in the iPhone box seems weightless, this is a fake.

External flaws

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone 4S from the original? You should carefully consider the device. Without this, it will not be possible to bring the idea to life.

If you look closely at counterfeit Apple products, you will notice that they have a number of flaws. Experienced buyers will immediately recognize a fake. After all, the original iPhones:

no support for multiple SIMs;
no retractable antenna;
no radio;
There is no slot for a memory card.

Accordingly, if the user finds support for the listed features, he is faced with a fake. Also, the iPhone does not have a Mobile TV program.

Lid

Another feature that you will have to pay attention to is the body of the phone. From it it is sometimes possible to understand which smartphone a person is dealing with.

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original? Often, the case of fakes does not look very neat, but back panel easy to remove. This shouldn't happen. Original iPhones are monoblocks that can only be opened by a specialist.

Headset

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone 5 from the original? As we have already said, the device must have full set. Sometimes fakes are also packed to the maximum. But this does not mean that the buyer is looking at the original.

operating system

It would be a good idea to not only inspect the product you are purchasing, but also include it. If the seller refuses this service, most likely we have a fake. But why? How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from a fake?

It is necessary to carefully study the operating system of the device. Apple officially releases smartphones under iOS control. This is unique software.

Fake smartphones run either unknown Chinese operating systems or Android. At the same time, translation into Russian very often encounters errors. And the operating system itself contains Chinese characters.

By application

But that is not all. Today, owners of Apple devices advise each other on another rather interesting method of checking a device for originality. To do this you will have to turn on the phone.

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original? The buyer just needs to open the AppStore. U original smartphone the corresponding application will open. It may request data from AppleID.

Counterfeits also have an AppStore. Only when you launch it does the Play Market open. This is a clear sign that a person is buying a fake. Original iPhones similar problem do not collide.

Settings

Don't rush and turn off the device. In order to answer how to distinguish the Chinese iPhone 6 from the original, you can go a different way. Faster and more efficient.

This is about checking your phone settings. Original Apple products have an “About the device” item. It contains the serial number of the device and its model. Chinese analogues do not provide such information.

iTunes and checks

Many owners of Apple devices use another trick. It helps to quickly understand whether the device in front of us is real or fake.

We are talking about connecting to iTunes. All you need to do is connect your iPhone to your PC and launch the appropriate program. A genuine Apple device is recognized in iTunes. When connecting a Chinese analogue, the software will not “see” the phone.

number check

Particularly cunning buyers can 100% figure out what kind of device is in front of them. The technique proposed below is not entirely convenient, but it is guaranteed to indicate whether the person in front of him is a fake or not.

We are talking about checking the serial number of an Apple phone for service. To bring your idea to life, you will have to connect to the Internet.

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original? Required:

On your phone, go to “Settings” - “General” - “About device”.
Click on "Serial number".
Copy the resulting combination.
Open the website checkcoverage.apple.com.
Enter the "serial number" into it.
Click on the "Check" button.

Information will appear on the screen indicating whether the device is supported. by Apple. If not, then before us - Chinese fake. Otherwise the serial number will be verified.

We verify the data

When purchasing Apple devices, you should check all possible data about the device. After all, Apple devices are counterfeited extremely often.

Attentive buyers always check the data on the boxes with the information in the smartphone operating system. If some components do not match, the user has a fake iPhone in his hands. It's not as difficult as it seems!

Refurbished or fake?

We found out how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original. But today, counterfeits are found not only among new devices. Stores counterfeit refurbished Apple phones.

How to detect a fake? You have to remember that:

the refurbished iPhone has a perfect case, new battery and a screen that fits tightly to the rest of the components;
on the box with the iPhone there is no engraving of the phone, but there is the inscription “Refurbished” in English;
the original device is supplied in high-quality boxes and fully equipped;
All connectors on a genuine Apple phone are clean;
The camera of a real smartphone is located exactly in the center of the designated area on the back panel of the device.

In addition, the original refurbished iPhone comes with a one-year warranty. Therefore, you can check by serial number. All of the above techniques will help you make the right choice.