In a striking comparison, a series of CT scans have demonstrated the vast differences between authentic Apple Inc. AAPL AirPods and their counterfeit counterparts, highlighting the inferiority in the latter’s construction and components.
What Happened: A report published Tuesday by Apple Insider has brought to light the stark contrasts between real and fake AirPods through CT scans.
The scans, conducted by the same company that analyzed Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 cable, revealed that genuine AirPods are finely engineered, whereas the counterfeit versions are crudely put together using substandard parts.
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As per the report, the CT scans revealed that knockoffs are often made with lower-grade materials, using simple wiring rather than flexible PCBs, and typically have just one low-quality microphone instead of the three advanced MEMS microphones in an actual AirPod Pro.
The counterfeits also contain added weights in their cases to give a false sense of quality, potentially tipping off consumers who are familiar with the real product.
Aside from the build, a significant downgrade in audio quality is usually an obvious sign of a fake, especially to those who have used authentic AirPods.
This examination highlighted the extent to which counterfeiters will go to imitate Apple’s designs, all the while compromising on the internal components, resulting in subpar performance and a diminished user experience.
Why It Matters: The issue of counterfeit electronics is not new for Apple.
In the past, authorities have taken action against such fraudulent activities. For instance, a counterfeit operation was raided in China back in 2010, when more than 1000 phone iPhones were confiscated.
In August earlier this year, roughly $400,000 worth of counterfeit Apple products, including Watches and earphones, were seized at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport complex and Ontario International Airport, reported NBC.
Moreover, the existence of such counterfeit products not only affects Apple’s brand reputation but also poses consumer risks, considering the potential for these products to fail to meet safety standards.
The continued circulation of counterfeit electronics also complicates legal battles for companies like Apple, such as the antitrust lawsuit the company faces alongside Amazon, alleging price manipulation on iPhones and iPads.
Image – Apple
This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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