AirPods Max fakes look TOTALLY real to iOS including Warranty coverage!!

[Parowdy]

It’s driving people to buy at Apple or authorized resellers. So what’s the problem? (For them)

Good point, but that makes OP‘s question actually even more valid. How can Apple afford for people to think their products are trash? OP seems tech savvy enough to figure it out rather quickly, other people might just think their genuine Apple product is trash (without being a 2016-2019 MacBook Pro!)

 

[dotzero123]

I don't believe people will think Apple is making duds. The sound quality on the fakes will be a dead giveaway for most. They'll google their particular quality issues and find dozens of YouTube videos on how to spot a fake, and figure it out. They're also going to half expect it if they purchase from someone they don't know. Valid Serial Numbers could be shared between resellers or people who refurbish them. From what I've read, it's not hard to get the software to work with iOs. It's been going on forever and it doesn't appear that Apple is throwing any resources into fixing it. (They were too busy figuring out how to upgrade AirPods Max.)

 

[RecentlyConverted]

I contacted Apple. The support agent told me multiple people had contacted support about sound quality issues against the same serial number. Apparently a lot of people get these and don't figure out that they're counterfeit... they just call in with issues like "one side of the airpods sound weird".

She did not have a way to report a counterfeit in her system, she had to report it as a miscellaneous issue.

It appears apple is sitting on their hands on this issue, content with letting people learn their lesson.

Bad Apple! OP did sensible thing to check if headphones were real. If a warning had flashed up they wouldn't have bought. Apple needs to put their big boy pants on, and do the right thing. Flash up a warning and put the counterfeiters out of business.

 

[winxmac]

This is what I got when I checked an AirPods [1] and AirPods Pro [1]

We’re sorry, but this is a serial number for a product that has been replaced. Please check your information and try again. If your information is correct, you may need to contact us.

And for AirPods 2

Purchase Date: August 2023
Purchase Date: June 2022

All sealed but they were given as freebie after purchasing pre-owned iPhone...

The button on the AirPods [1] charging case was very hard to press so I was unable to pair it with my iPhone...