Fake iPhone check: Top 8 ways to find if the iPhone being sold is fake
iPhones popular for their upscale technology and high-end features are the optimal choice for a multitude of users. Add on to it the class and design they uphold; they are quite the desirable smartphone. This exact thing also makes iPhones prone to be cloned and hence, you shall find a lot of duplicate and fake products in the market due to high demands for the device.
You are most likely to encounter fake deals in the grey and black markets. These are online and offline marketplaces that sell unauthorised, illegal, stolen, fake and cloned devices. It is quite essential to thoroughly check all the details before purchasing an iPhone. The safest method is to purchase from the primary market better known as the brand sellers, or the secondary market where refurbished and used phones are sold.
Below are the top 8 ways to find out whether the iPhone is authentic or fake:
1. Begin the checks with the physical condition of the iPhone; everything should be perfectly centred and coloured. Look at the case and the buttons, and their positioning. Look out for similar brand tags like ‘hiPhone’. When the screen is turned off, it will appear black. Compare the handset with an iPhone from a retailer’s website.
2. Turn the phone on and make sure it’s running iOS. If it’s running another operating system, it’s probably a fake. You can also check the iOS version by a tap on “Settings -> General -> About.”
3. Launch Siri by holding down the Home button for a few seconds. In the case where Siri isn’t enabled on your iPhone version 4s and later, it’s probably a fake iPhone.
4. The iPhone should be able to connect WIFI, Bluetooth, and Edge on all models and can also connect to 3G data networks. iPhone 6 and later models support the NFC for Apple Pay. If you purchase an iPhone that lacks the hardware to connect to one of these networks, it is likely fake or manufactured in another country. By restoring your iPhone and checking if the feature works, you can make sure that it is not a glitch.
5. Test whether you can swap the batteries and find a microSD card slot. Some cloned iPhones have these features, but the real iPhones do not. On a fake iPhone, a stylus may work, but not on a real iPhone.
6. There is a possibility that the iPhone is fake if it is not capable of connecting to iTunes. Make sure that you have the latest versions of iTunes and iOS before coming to this conclusion. Try restoring your iPhone through iTunes if you are unable to sync your iPhone with your computer. It is either a fake or damaged iPhone that doesn’t connect to iTunes or the app store after being restored.
7. The iPhone comes with built-in Apple-branded apps. These apps cannot be removed from an iPhone unless it is jail-broken. Some examples of built-in applications include “Calculator,” “Contacts,” “Compass,” “Music,” “Settings,” and “Photos.” If any of these applications are missing, the phone is jailbroken or fake. The original firmware can be restored by entering DFU mode and reinstalling the operating system. If applications are still missing, then the iPhone is likely fake.
8. Each iPhone is identified by a serial number. Using the serial number, you can determine whether or not it’s in Apple’s database. Tap “Setting-> General-> About” and the iPhone’s serial number appears, write down the serial number or keep the screen open. Visit –https://selfsolve.apple.com/agreementWarrantyDynamic.do and then input the serial number. Using this system, you will be able to find out if your iPhone is still under warranty. If the message “serial number is invalid” appears, your information may be incorrect or the iPhone is a fake.
It is always better to take precautions before you purchase an iPhone. Do not be swindled to buy from black market dealers just because the price they offer is lower. Many times, even if the iPhone is not completely fake, it might be a damaged handset which has been repaired with hardware parts of lower quality. This decreases the performance of the phone.
If you have already made a purchase and then figure that the iPhone is cloned or with fake parts, or is entirely fake, report to the concerned authorities as it can be a case of a stolen phone or technical malpractice.
Hope you have a secure purchase. To find used iPhones from authentic sellers, visit the homepage of “ORUphones” and find safe and great deals.
Visit ORUphones, the best app to buy and sell phones online, and also to check all the checklists that is mentioned above.