What is better: a Chinese iPhone or an original? How to distinguish an original iPhone from a fake - the official method

After each presentation of smartphones from Apple, Chinese manufacturers rush to create cheaper and lower quality analogues of the iPhone. Previously, it was easy to distinguish a Chinese counterfeit from an original product: 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 for distinguishing an original iPhone 6/iPhone 6+ smartphone from a fake invention:

1. By appearance.
2. By device serial number.
3. 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 device’s hardware components, 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?

Only original iOS is installed in Apple smartphones. Counterfeits run on the Android operating system 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 launch the App Store (application store). The counterfeit iPhone will enable Google Play Market, the interface of which is radically different from the App Store service. 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

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 the 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

If you buy a new iPhone 8 256 Gb Rose Gold on the day of release, you still run the risk of running into a fake. A box packed in film is not at all a guarantee that you are not buying a “Frankenstein” assembled from spare parts from a dozen dead iPhones.

To bookmarks

In this large-scale guide, representatives of the service damprodam.ru, which deals with the purchase and trade-in of iPhones, talked about how to distinguish the correct new iPhone from a fake. And in general, what iPhones can be found on the “counters” of online stores in Russia.

Option No. 1: “white” iPhone (PCT)

The most “legal” option for purchasing a smartphone is a “white” phone with a PCT or EAC certificate. Many people get confused, but Rostest and EAC are absolutely similar certifications (the latter unites the Russian Federation, Balarus and Kazakhstan). The PCT marking should always be on the device box:

A phone with a PCT is a phone officially imported into Russia, which is sold at a recommended retail price, supports all necessary Russian frequencies and works with all Russian SIM cards. A phone officially imported into Russia must have instructions in Russian.

Many people think that Rostest physically tests imported phones. In fact, no tests are performed. The “PCT” sticker means that the supplier has notified the FSB that the devices contain encryption elements. Plus, I paid customs duty - a tax for importing goods. And finally, I issued a certificate of compliance of the device with the technical regulations of the Customs Union.

The main advantage of the “white” phone is that the iPhone with the PCT/EAC marking has a 2-year warranty, not 1 year.

Pros:

Guaranteed performance with all Russian operators and LTE frequencies

Minuses:

The phone is 10-20% more expensive than a “gray” device

2. iPhone from Europe (“without PCT”)

The second “quality” version of the iPhone are models that were brought by you personally or by a seller from Europe. They work fully in Russia, but have only a one-year warranty. But they are also serviced by official Russian Apple service centers.

Physically, they are no different from the “white” iPhones, they were made in the same factories, but they did not pay customs duties for them. And therefore they are 10-20% cheaper. If you buy an iPhone 7, you can save up to 10 thousand rubles.

But when buying any “gray” phone, you always need to check the model of the device (and know which region corresponds to which model). Some foreign iPhone models may not support Russian LTE frequencies or may not work with Russian cellular operators at all.

Pros:

-“Gray” phones from Europe are 10-20% cheaper than “white” ones, but technically they are no different from them

Minuses:

You support the informal market and do not pay additional customs duties

The warranty on the “gray” phone is not two years, but one year

How can I tell which country my iPhone is from?

Information about the country is carried by the last two Latin letters in your model code. You can find the code on the box or in the settings menu at: “Settings – General – About this device.”

What do the letters next to the model number mean:

A – CanadaAB – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, EgyptAE – Saudi Arabia, UAE, QatarB – Great Britain and IrelandBG – Bulgaria and so on. For Russia these are the letters RU

3. iPhone from the USA, UAE, Asia and other countries except Europe

Non-European phones can be a problem even if the device is “verbally” unlocked and should work worldwide. There are also often problems with the warranty for such devices. Apple's official warranty only works in the country where it was officially released for sale - and Russia, according to Apple's classification, only belongs to the European region.

It's a little easier if you buy an iPhone for the US market from a Russian store. Then it is covered by the warranty of the store itself. If the store closes, then the problem of the warranty claim falls on your shoulders. In rare cases, such phones may come with a worldwide warranty, which is also 1 year.

There are cases when iPhones locked to an American operator cannot update to the new version of iOS. Or they simply stop working with Russian SIM cards. True, Apple is now moving towards “equalizing” the characteristics for all countries, and such problems more often arise with early models (up to the 5th). But there is still a risk of problems. The list of models supported in Russia can be found below.

Pros:

The price is usually 10-20% lower

Minuses:

It is necessary to check the model of the device before purchasing

The warranty applies only to the region of purchase. We bought an iPhone for the US market - the warranty is valid only in the US, even if the phone itself was purchased on Gorbushka

There is a risk of blocking or inoperability with Russian SIM cards or LTE frequencies

How to find out your iPhone model?

Your phone model is also indicated on the box:

And on the phone itself, on the back side:

Which models are adapted for Russia (repair or replacement of other models may be refused, and they may also have problems with LTE or cellular communications): iPhone 7 And iPhone 7 Plus. Models A1778 and A1784 iPhone 6s And iPhone 6s Plus. Models A1688 and A1687 iPhone SE. Models A1723 and A1724 iPhone 6 And iPhone 6Plus. Models A1586 and A1524 iPhone 5s. Model A1457.

4. Refurbished by Apple

“Refurbished” iPhones are devices that were previously sold, but then returned to Apple due to a defect. Or which users exchanged for new ones as part of promotions, or returned within the first couple of weeks of use. The thing about a “real” refurbished iPhone is that it has undergone a full screen, case and battery replacement at the Apple factory.

Such models are usually 15-25% cheaper. Moreover, both new models and those that are no longer produced.

All refurbished iPhones have the same warranty as regular iPhones - that is, a year (in Russia - two), plus free telephone consultations in the first 90 days. If any warranty incident occurs with the Refurbished iPhone, Apple will repair it free of charge at an authorized service center or simply return the money.

How does the process of “restoring” such an iPhone take place at Apple factories?

All iPhones that fall under the restoration procedure undergo thorough diagnostics and are subject to performance tests according to the same requirements as tests for new products. All problematic parts in the device are replaced, and a new case and display are also installed. Next, the iPhone is returned marked “like new” to store shelves with an official warranty.

A refurbished product is no different in appearance from a new one, with the exception of packaging. All such products now come in plain white boxes with an "Apple Certified Refurbished" guarantee.

This iPhone receives a new serial number, and a new number is assigned to each replaced part. The latest software is installed on the gadget. Each product comes with an original operating system and a standard software package.

Pros:

The phone is 15-20% cheaper

The device has been fully tested and major parts replaced at the official Apple factory

Minuses:

You are buying a phone that has already been restored. Even at the official Apple factory.

Where can you see which iPhone you are buying: new or refurbished?

Go to your phone settings: “Settings → General → About this device.” The model number is displayed there. You need to check the first letters at the beginning of the serial number:

“M” means that the gadget is new, purchased in a store.

“N” - initially registered in warehouse stocks as a replacement model, may be a new device, or maybe “refurbished”.

“F” means that the smartphone is definitely one of the restored ones, that is, “refurbished”.

5. Chinese Refurbished

This is an iPhone clone. The Chinese or underground services are buying up “dead” iPhones. They take the only part that cannot be faked - the motherboard - and add real parts to it, such as a working battery, a new-looking but plastic non-original case. Next, they pack them in a new box, which they make themselves. They put a kit there in the form of Chinese headphones and a charger, and sell it under the guise of a new device. Those who have less impudence - under the guise of a Refurbished phone.

It is not easy for a non-professional to distinguish such a phone from the original. What to look for first: poor-quality box and packaging, creeping fonts, small gaps between the case and the screen and other visual flaws.

Minuses:

This phone is one big minus

Pros:

None

Once again, briefly:

1. “White” PCT models purchased in Russia from official partners have a warranty of not one, but two years.

2. Models purchased in Russia in unofficial stores (of which there are plenty on Yandex.Market) or in Europe, but with a model number adapted for Russia, have a 1-year warranty. They can be repaired in Russia at the SC in the same way as PCT models.

3. Models from the USA and other countries (except Europe) can be repaired under warranty only in the country where this model is officially sold. Well, or for money at any service center. In rare cases, such phones may come with a worldwide warranty, which is also 1 year.

4. Never trust only the appearance of the phone and its box. Check IMEI, model number, call statistics.

PR disclaimer on behalf of the authors of the post: don’t fool yourself and trade-in your old phones at damprodam.ru If you have a seven, we’ll give you at least 30 thousand for it, even for 32 Gb. We won’t press you for a discount on your purchase, promise a meeting “in the center of the hall” and not show up. Valuation of an old smartphone immediately on the website online. Then the master himself comes to you. You only pay the difference between the old and new iPhone.

Hi all! When buying such an expensive device as an iPhone, you always want to save money. Logical? Naturally. However, all official sellers often have approximately the same prices (recommended by Apple), which means that in order to buy cheaper, you have to turn to little-known stores or private advertisements.

And this is where an unpleasant surprise may await you and me, when the joy of the purchase may be replaced by disappointment that the device will turn out to be a genuine Chinese counterfeit. Therefore, it is better to prepare in advance and know the signs by which you can easily distinguish a real iPhone from a fake one. Which? Now we'll find out!

Since there are a huge number of “Chinese” iPhones, there are also a lot of signs by which they can be recognized - it makes no sense to indicate all of them, I will only give those that will absolutely accurately (and most importantly - quickly!) help you identify a fake iPhone.

What should be done?

• Check IMEI () - or (where it was purchased, is there a guarantee, what model, etc.). Naturally, if you enter a number and there is no information on it, then this is a reason to refuse the purchase. However, there is a certain nuance - some Chinese manufacturers manage to write the serial number from a real iPhone into a fake one, so you need to be quite careful and not limit yourself to this method.
• Just an ideal option - (laptop) and connect a smartphone to it. If the iPhone is original, iTunes will recognize it and allow you to work with it. The guarantee, as they say, is 100 percent, but you don’t always have a computer at hand :(
• The App Store must be present in the smartphone menu. Talk about the fact that it has been removed, you need to install it yourself, it is not in this version - complete nonsense. Run it - it should look like this.
• Please note that there are other standard applications from Apple in the menu - kiosk, tips, mail (find out!). Friends from the Middle Kingdom, as a rule, do not bother themselves much with copying them and something may be missing, but they should all be “in place” - that’s a fact!
• One of the simplest and most effective ways is to turn on the device, open the main menu and pay attention to the calendar and clock icons. The calendar should display the current date (if it is, of course), if not, then it should indicate the date that is currently in the iOS system. And on the clock icon the time is shown and the second hand “runs”. Always. It is in the menu, without going into the application. This is not and cannot be the case with any, even the highest quality Chinese counterfeit. This means that a quick glance at the device’s screen is enough to distinguish the original iPhone.

As you can see, there is nothing particularly complicated - authentication verification should not take much time.

About such things as the presence of two SIM cards, memory cards, a television antenna, “native” American assembly (by the way, find out where they are manufactured

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 bought secondhand 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 if you buy 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 lovers 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.

Proven methods.

The more popular Apple devices become, the more often you can see cheap Chinese counterfeits of original smartphones. And if a few years ago a fake could be identified by the characteristic crack of the case or a poor-quality picture on the display, now craftsmen are churning out almost perfect copies of the iPhone. So how can you avoid falling for scammers and buying “leftist”?

The easiest way out is to buy an iPhone from an authorized dealer. The method is obvious, but it’s not suitable for everyone, because sometimes you want to buy a gadget, but you only have enough money for a used model. But in any case, if the situation persists, then it is better to save up and take an original and legally “clean” (I think there is no need to remind you about the frequent theft of phones) iPhone in a specialized store - this is the official Apple reseller in Russia.

However, if you have your eye on a model on an ad website, a la Avito, and have seriously decided to purchase the model second-hand, then you need to know several distinctive features.

Checking the serial number

Whether you go to buy an iPhone alone or with a friend, be sure to arm yourself with a smartphone or tablet (you can even run Android) with Internet access. This is necessary for an absolutely accurate check of the originality of the purchased device. What should be done?

Step 1. Go to the iPhone menu " Settings» → « Basic» →« About this device" and find the item " Serial number».

Step 2. From your device, follow this link. The link leads to the official Apple website in the section for checking serial numbers.

Step 3. In the window under the inscription “ Enter the hardware serial number"Indicate the serial number of the device being tested and click " Continue» .

Step 4: If the iPhone is not Chinese, you will see its model and other information, such as whether you can get Apple phone support. Otherwise, you will see the message “ Unfortunately, this serial number is not correct. Please check your data and try again.", which means it’s better to bypass this would-be seller.

Be careful when entering the serial number of the device, because due to an error in one character, you may think badly of the person and be left without a brand new (or used) iPhone.

Opening our eyes wider

No matter how high-quality the iPhone replica is, the creators of the clones are technically unable to do everything exactly like Apple’s. Therefore, even with a quick glance, without resorting to checking the serial number of the device, you can identify a fake. You need to pay attention to the following details:

• There should not be any hieroglyphs, misspelled words or other calligraphic errors in the system.
• On the back cover of the device there should be the following inscriptions: iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China, model number, certification marks (as in the picture).
• An iPhone cannot have an antenna.
• The iPhone also cannot have two SIM cards, a built-in memory card and charging from USB and mini-USB.
• The back cover of any iPhone model cannot be removed until the securing screws are unscrewed.

Another quick way to identify a fake

A very simple and easy method - take your iPhone in your hands and go to the standard application App Store. Any, even the coolest Chinese iPhone will be forced to transfer you to Google Play, an application store for Android devices.

This is what the App Store should look like:

This is what Google Play looks like:

In addition, you will not be able to find most Apple branded applications on Google Play. Try to search for applications such as Keynote, iMovie, Pages, Numbers, Apple Store - if they are not in the store, then this means that this is a fake, not an original iPhone.

Another sure way to identify a Chinese iPhone

Well, I would like to end this article with one more surefire method that will reveal even the most inveterate Chinese geniuses. To do this, you will need a laptop or personal computer (if the seller came to sell the iPhone directly to your home) with iTunes installed. You can download iTunes from the official Apple website.

The thing is that when you connect your iPhone to your computer and turn on iTunes, the program should detect the device and try to synchronize it. If iTunes is silent like a guerrilla, most likely they are trying to slip you a fake, be careful.

Read more about how to distinguish a real iPhone from a fake on our forum topic.