How to spot fake AirPods Pro

Copies of AirPods Pro are common in markets and online listings, and some look almost identical in the box. This checklist uses Apple's own tools, like model numbers, the coverage check and the iPhone verification alert, to help you test a pair before you pay.

Pair the AirPods Pro with your iPhone before handing over money. Watch for a Cannot Verify AirPods alert, then open Settings > Bluetooth > the info button and check that the model name, model number, serial number and firmware make sense. Enter the case serial at checkcoverage.apple.com and make sure it shows the same AirPods Pro model. A matching serial is a good sign, not a guarantee, so test noise cancellation too and buy from Apple or an Apple Authorised Reseller when you can.

• 1. Start with where you are buying: The safest route is the Apple Store, the Apple Store app or an Apple Authorised Reseller. Apple's India contact page links to a Reseller Locator, so you can check a shop's claim before you trust it. A deal that is far below the usual price from an unknown seller is a reason to slow down and run every check below.
• 2. Match the serial on the box and the case: Apple prints the serial number next to the barcode on the original box and on the underside of the charging case lid. The two should match exactly, letter for letter. Check the bill as well if the seller has one, since Apple says the serial also appears on the original receipt or invoice.
• 3. Run the serial through Apple's coverage check: Go to checkcoverage.apple.com and enter the serial from the case lid. A genuine pair should come up as the same AirPods Pro model the seller described, with its coverage status. If the serial is not recognised, or it comes up as a different product, walk away. Copies sometimes reuse a real serial, so a clean result alone does not prove the pair is real.
• 4. Check the model numbers on the earbuds: Each earbud has a small model number starting with A printed on its underside. Compare it with Apple's list: for example, AirPods Pro 2 with the USB-C MagSafe case are A3047, A3048 or A3049, and AirPods Pro 3 are A3063, A3064 or A3065. Earbud numbers that are missing, blurry or belong to a different generation from the box are a warning.
• 5. Pair with your iPhone and watch for an alert: Open the case near your unlocked iPhone and connect. If iOS shows Cannot Verify AirPods, with a message that the headphones could not be verified as genuine AirPods, Apple is telling you they may not be the real thing. Do not buy a pair that triggers this alert.
• 6. Read the details in Settings: Go to Settings > Bluetooth and tap the info button next to the AirPods. The About section should show the correct model name, model number, serial number and a firmware version. Compare the firmware with the latest version listed on Apple's AirPods firmware page. A pair that hides these details or shows nonsense values is suspect.
• 7. Test the Pro features properly: Put both earbuds in and switch between Noise Cancellation and Transparency from the AirPods settings on your iPhone. On a real pair, the drop in traffic or fan noise with Noise Cancellation is obvious. Also check that the case charges, both earbuds play clearly, and that the AirPods show up in the Find My app once paired.
• 8. Look over the hardware, cautiously: Buyers often point to rough printing, loose case hinges, uneven seams, a lighter feel or a case that will not close with a firm magnetic snap as signs of a copy. These are not official Apple checks and good copies can pass them, so treat them as hints that back up the digital checks above, not as proof either way.