Differences between the original iPhone and the Chinese one. Display replacement cost. Questions about headphones

Today we will look at methods for identifying a new generation of fake iPhone 5S, which have massively inundated Russian market. Despite appearing in selling iPhone 6 and 6S five remain the most popular iPhone in Russia.

Forget the articles where they wrote about fake Android-based iPhones with an opening plastic back cover. The new fakes have no plastic, the size and weight of a real iPhone, the box is made of high-quality cardboard and is embossed.

Essentially, these are used (second-hand) phones, after a breakdown and unofficial repair, where almost everything can be replaced, from the body and display to the camera and cables. In this case, it may turn out that the battery has not been changed, but it has already worked for about a year. Due to these features, this type fakes are called “transformers”.

iPhone 5S transformers are available from “gray” sellers who sell uncertified illegally imported phones. More often these are little-known online stores and shops on radio markets. In such stores you can buy quite normal iPhone, produced for other countries. But when selling “transformers,” the seller never warns the buyer that the phone is not original.

Here are ways to distinguish a fake iPhone 5S from a real one:

1. Checking iPhone for authenticity by serial number and IMEI.

The serial number is located on the box. If the serial number is in order, then you can open the box to make sure that the serial number of the phone is the same as on the box, and then proceed to inspection and testing.

One of the most reliable methods for identifying a fake is to check the serial number in the Apple database https://checkcoverage.apple.com when purchasing.

If you see “Sorry, this serial number corresponds to a product that has been replaced.” (We're sorry, but this is a serial number for a product that has been replaced.), this means that this faulty iPhone was accepted by Apple under warranty and then stolen from Apple. (Apple does not officially acknowledge or comment on massive leaks of decommissioned phones.)

If the device is original, the system will recognize its model and display information about the warranty status.

More detailed information You can get information about the phone on the websites

You will be surprised to know that the 32GB iPhone you bought was actually a 16GB iPhone all along.

2. Body

The case of the fake iPhone 5S is rougher than the original one, the side edges are sharp and unpleasant to the touch.

3. Pin for removing the SIM tray

This hairpin is even over its entire area and is made of high-quality metal.

4. Printing

Marking on the box. The printing of the top barcode sticker is of noticeably poor quality.

5. Packaging details

There are still many details of the package that are unnoticeable at first glance, which can be seen when compared with the original phone. For example, different envelopes with documents, different quality of headphone and headset cable winding, different trays for the phone and others.

Attention! Do not confuse these fake transformers with refurbished phones. Refurbished iPhone 5s ("refurbished" or "How to new iPhone") is an official product Apple and has an official guarantee. The term Refurbished (Refreshes, refs, refreshes, etc.) is not correct to use in relation to fakes that no one has officially restored.

Year after year, the popularity of smartphones produced by Apple is growing more and more. Many people simply cannot imagine themselves without another “brand new” model. But there are incidents with too risky designs that are radically different from their predecessors. This, for example, happened with the iPhone 6. Enlarged iPhone diagonal 6, its smooth corners were not to the taste of many users. Due to this, counterfeits began to appear in the form of Chinese pseudo-iPhone 5s. Let's look at how to distinguish original iPhone from Chinese.

The technologies possessed by counterfeit manufacturers are high, making it difficult to identify a counterfeit. We will try to understand the signs that allow us to distinguish the original and answer the question, “how to distinguish an iPhone 5s from a fake?”

To make your own iPhones Chinese manufacturers They use technologies similar to the original components: heavy-duty glass and metal. And they never use it Chinese characters when applying markings on the body of a counterfeit. Due to the skills of counterfeit manufacturers, many buyers focus on how to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original. And there are differences.

How else can you check your iPhone?

The real iPhone 5s is a monolithic case that can only be opened by unwinding. Counterfeits are usually noticeably lighter than the original. The original should not contain:

Antenna
Stylus
Chargers from USB and mini-USB
Memory cards
Dual SIM cards

Fakes usually do not have such settings menu items as “Software Update” and “Siri”.

How can you determine and distinguish the original iPhone?

Complete set, of course. So, the complete set of a genuine iPhone.

iPhone device packed in film.
Headphones packed in film. They are covered with a metal mesh and are white in color.
Charger with cable packed in transparent film.
Documents for a smartphone and a device for opening a SIM card. Apple logo stickers.

Whether an iPhone is Chinese or not can be distinguished by paying attention to the neatness of all the included components. In the original they are laid out neatly. The wires are rubberized and quite flexible to the touch; the hard parts of the headphones are smooth without corners.

You can check the authenticity via the Internet. By following the link https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynam..., you can find out all the information about the device, of course, provided that it is genuine.

Pay attention to the material from which the iPhone case is made. The original has aluminum gold, gray and white flowers. Fakes may differ quality material housings.

How to distinguish a Chinese iPhone from the original if you have checked everything visually

In the “About this device” sub-item in the “Settings” menu you can find the serial number, which must match the number on the smartphone case. The phone menu design should match the features of the original iPhone. Counterfeits usually run on Android OS or Windows Phone.
If you went to the app store and opened Google Play Market, then this is a fake. Also, when connected to a computer during synchronization via iTunes, it is the iPhone 5s that should be displayed, this is proof of the originality of the device.

How to distinguish an original iPhone and warnings you need to know

There are many offers on the Internet to buy iPhone 5s, but remember: only an official representative Apple can give you a guarantee of the authenticity of the device.

How to distinguish a fake by its software components

When checking for originality and turning on a genuine iPhone, a black screen and a white bitten symbol are visible, or vice versa.
All signs of iOS and in no case should there be elements similar to Android.
With the advent of iPhone 5, fingerprint identification function appeared. Touch ID is built into the Home key. In the corresponding sub-item we activate the “add fingerprint” designation and if following the instructions no unlocking actions occur, then it is a fake.
WITH using iCloud can be entered, thereby activating account or turn it off. In a fake, the system will request account activation Google posts, Mail, etc.
All actions on transitions to the menu should be smooth and clear. The fakes show slowdown or you have stumbled upon a higher quality fake.
The memory capacity of the original iPhone 5s must be at least 16 GB.
It is necessary to note the difference in price. An original iPhone cannot cost a couple of hundred dollars, unlike a Chinese one.

Even the best quality counterfeits can cause unexpected difficulties when working with an iPhone. But if you are not too demanding in the operation of phones, then a high-quality fake can help you save on buying a smartphone.

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”)

Second in “quality” iPhone version- models that were brought by you personally or by the 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 model corresponds to which region). 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 provided by the last two 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, Qatar,B - 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. Official guarantee Apple operates only in the country where it was officially released for sale - and Russia is classified by Apple only as a European region.

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

There are times when iPhones linked to American operator, can't update to the new one iOS versions. 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 communication): 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 been full check and replacement of the screen, case and battery 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 come with the same warranty as regular iPhone- that is, a year (in Russia - two), plus free telephone consultations in the first 90 days. If with Refurbished by iPhone If any warranty incident occurs, Apple will repair it free of charge at an authorized service center or just 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, as well as new number assigned to each replaced part. The latest software is installed on the gadget. Each item comes with 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 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 - motherboard- and add living details to it, like working battery, new in appearance, but the plastic case is not original. 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 appearance 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.

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 for buying an iPhone, it is better to do this 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. At detailed consideration 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. Original box and fake documents are misleading - you don’t expect such a serious trick anymore.

How to tell the difference?

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.

With poor lighting and insufficient testing, even our editor couldn’t 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 screen iPhone 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 a 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 iPhone copies 7 is made according to the pattern. Doubts arise - maybe fakes are made in a nearby workshop at Foxconn factories?

But here protective glass 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 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, That's why inexperienced user may not be recognized.

However, an avid iOS fan should quickly see absence branded services Apple. There is nothing associated with the company. Of course, iTunes Apple Music and other branded iOS features does 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 an independent device.

The incredible similarity between the iPhone SE and the iPhone 5S has given rise to an entire industry of counterfeits. It is constantly developing and improving, and it employs real specialists. In this article we will tell you how to distinguish real iPhone SE from fake, created from the iPhone 5S.

The first rule when buying a new one compact smartphone Apple should be maintaining calm. If the seller is in a hurry, it is better to refuse this deal, even if it is very profitable. In general, the excessive difference with other offers for buying an iPhone SE second-hand should also make you think - the stingy one pays twice.

Carefully inspect the packaging; counterfeits often have crooked stickers and blurry fonts. The easiest way is to immediately compare the box from this iPhone SE with those from the Internet, fortunately, the Internet is now everywhere, including in cafes, where purchase transactions usually take place. Of course, professional deceivers cannot be exposed this way; their printing and materials are no different from those used by Apple.

Take the device in your hands: on the back there must be an inscription with the name of the smartphone, where “SE” is located below “iPhone” and is highlighted in a square with rounded corners. It is very important to pay attention to the chamfers of the device, because on the real one they are matte and do not cut into the hand. U simple fake iPhone 5S for iPhone SE shiny edges, because the body in this case remains from the original model.

The smartphone should respond to lifting by activating the display thanks to the Apple M9 coprocessor. Naturally, the iPhone 5S has this ability and no software hacks can change this. Another sign of a fake is no entry point Live Photo in the camera app. So far, the creators of fakes based on the iPhone 5S have not been able to do anything about this, but it is worth keeping your eyes open in this matter.

Suspicion and attentiveness will not be superfluous, if only because the scoundrels have already thought of installing customized firmware in fake iPhone SE. They contain the correct IMEI, verified through a special Apple website, and even allow the smartphone to be identified as a real iPhone SE in iTunes. This is their latest achievement; previously, a fake could be easily identified this way.

So, let's put it on the list all the signs of a fake iPhone SE:

sloppy box;
mismatched IMEI on the box and on the smartphone;
glossy sharp chamfers;
The screen does not activate when picked up;
no Live Photo shooting in the camera app;
incorrectly detected in iTunes;
non-final firmware.

If there is a question regarding at least one aspect of the smartphone, refuse the deal, because, most likely, in front of you fake iPhone S.E.. Of course, you shouldn’t blame the seller indiscriminately, because it could be an ordinary unlucky owner who didn’t even know that he only owned a converted iPhone 5S.