How to identify an original iPhone 4 from a fake. Such a flawless iPhone

Demand creates supply. Chinese manufacturers have long established the production of well-known brands. Apple devices were no exception. I was prompted to write the article a couple of cases when, faced with a fake, I could not unequivocally determine authenticity iPhone... You twist the phone in your hands, and everything seems to be in place, but something is not right. Let's try to determine what you should immediately pay attention to when buying a hand-held phone. It makes no sense to analyze in detail the difference between the original iPhone and its Chinese counterparts. There are quite a few similar "left" manufacturers, and each is trying in his own way. In addition, counterfeits are found in all previously produced and released generations of smartphones. And it will probably be the same in the future.

Just want to warn against unnecessary fears. The back of the iPhone has an inscription "Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China." This is true, and you shouldn't be intimidated by it. All original iPhones are assembled in China at special Apple factories. Non-original iPhones are also assembled in the same country.

It is worth noting that checking the authenticity of the phone by the IMEI number through the SNDeepInfo service may not lead to anything. I met a fake iphone, where the real IMEM and the current firmware version were registered in the paragraph about this device. This data was consistent with a real Apple phone.

Let's try to identify the main differences, at first external.

A person who has never held his own iPhone in his hands will find it difficult to determine the originality of the device. Moreover, even experienced user Apple products will not be easy to understand where the catch is. At first glance, the fake iPhone looks quite believable. The difference is in the little things. In general, the ideal way is to have the original iPhone with you for comparison.

1. In all existing iPhones no memory card slot, no pop-up antenna... These improvements from Chinese manufacturers have never been applied in native devices.

2. The SIM card slot for iPhone5, iPhone 4 (4S) is located on the side. They are designed for nano-sim for iPhone 5 or micro-sim for iPhone 4 (4S), respectively. First generation devices and 3G, 3GS have it on the top. Phones only have one SIM!

3. The back cover of a real iPhone cannot be removed; there is no access to the smartphone battery. No removable covers!

But the main differences are determined in the work. You need to turn on the device.

The native iPhone runs under the iOS operating system. The counterfeit iPhone uses different firmware. In this regard, programs from the store App Store cannot be installed on this device.

4. Open the application "Settings" - "General". Pay attention to the Russian menu. The Russian language is one of the most difficult and it is not an easy job to translate the menu correctly. If there is something wrong with cases or abbreviations like "Return", then this is not an iPhone.
The menu items here are different from the original. Usually in fakes there is no "Software Update" and "Siri".

5. Click on the App Store icon. See what the content store has to offer you. All programs on iPhone are installed from this store. If clicking on the App Store icon takes you to Google play it means you do not have an original phone.

6. If possible, connect the device to your computer. When connecting iPhone to your computer, iTunes will recognize it. Fake phone won't sync with iTunes in any way.

Since the time when gadgets from the world-famous giant Apple began to appear on the mobile phone market, Chinese experts immediately took up the "dirty business". Celestial factories are tirelessly trying to copy Apple products, offering consumers a cheap counterfeit with a variety of in-demand functions, and they also sell these clones at the price of the original iPhone phones.

In addition, when a customer chooses a brand new iPhone 4s on a store counter, not every seller will happily tell what he has in his hands instead of the original - a replica, a clone, or generally a low-quality fake. Therefore, the information provided in this article will help you not to make a mistake when buying a popular mobile phone and pay your money for a truly high-quality and original product. Here's how to tell the difference between a genuine iPhone 4s and a cheap knockoff.

Box and its contents

Before you give a lot of money for a gadget that at first glance resembles the desired iPhone 4S, carefully consider the packaging and what is in it. So, we check the package contents:

• the box must be sealed! Even if you are considering a genuine iPhone, the unsealed boxes may contain accessories that have been replaced with cheaper ones;
• charger and cradle. The mobile phone is supplied with an original charging adapter, which must bear the inscription FLEXTRONIX or FOXLINK. If on charger at least one Chinese character was found - feel free to return such an accessory to the seller. The weight of the adapter itself should be approximately 60 grams. The apple cradle weighs approximately 80 grams. Unlike the Chinese counterpart, the inscription “Designed by Apple in California Assembled in China”, which is located at the bottom, should be embossed, and not just printed, as is done on Chinese counterfeits. The Chinese counterpart does not implement the sound output function, while the original accessory has 2 sound recording channels;
• USB cable. The original USB cable on the side of the phone connector should not have any latches;
• headset. It is almost impossible to distinguish the authenticity of the headphones from the iPhone 4S with the naked eye, but in the original headset the cable is softer than in its counterparts.

The device and its characteristics

1. Brand logo. The Chinese iPhone can impersonate the presence of the wrong logo. The true apple logo is the apple bitten on the right side. IN Chinese counterfeit it can be bitten on the left side.
2. Screen size. If you pick up the original iPhone 4S and the Chinese iPhone, the former should have a larger screen. This difference is clearly visible, and a fake can be recognized with the naked eye.
3. The back of the iPhone 4S. In addition to the logo and inscriptions on the back of the mobile phone, the Chinese iPhone pretends to be a removable back cover of the battery compartment, while the real gadget is made non-separable, and the original phone cannot be disassembled without the use of an additional tool. In addition, the Chinese "miscarriages" may have an Android inscription on the back cover. This operating system has nothing to do with Apple products.
4. Built-in memory. The original iPhone 4S has no data on the back cover internal memory smartphone. The Chinese "iPhone" can be recognized by the presence of a memory expansion slot for microSD cards.
5. Software and PC communication. As mentioned above, the original iPhone and all genuine Apple products do not have Android! Apple releases its gadgets with its own branded software iOS. When connected original phone to personal computer data transfer and file exchange should be carried out only with the help of special software iTunes. If the connected gadget is not found iTunes, then you have a Chinese counterfeit in your hands.

It is incredibly popular not only among users mobile technology but also among numerous Chinese manufacturers. Copies of the "apple" gadget (often extremely low quality) are widespread in Russia - you can be sure that if the seller offers an iPhone for a pittance, the original is out of the question.

Better to buy an iPhone on the networks cellular communication or large electronics stores - in this case, deception is excluded. However, if you think that giving 50 thousand rubles for a gadget in the salon is too much, and you prefer the option of buying "hand-held", remember that you are taking risks. With such a transaction, special attention should be paid to the inspection and verification of the iPhone.

Visual inspection is not always effective, because the "Chinese masters" have already got used to designing forgeries that are outwardly identical to the original. However, it is not necessary to neglect the inspection - the check will save you from acquiring the lowest quality "fake" and it will not take much time.

Signs Chinese iPhone- this is:

The presence of two or three slots for SIM-cards

Genuine iPhone supports only one "SIM", which is placed in a special tray, removed from the device with a needle.

Removable battery

This feature overlaps with the previous one. If you see the seller remove the iPhone battery in order to deliver under her SIM cards, wind up the deal immediately.

Screen diagonal inappropriate to the original

Remember these characteristics:

It is not worth approaching the measurement of the diagonal too pedantically: the same iPhone 5 has a diagonal, to be precise, is not 4 inches, but 4.065. Being overly nit-picking can lead you to miss out on a good deal.

Antenna

Sellers present the antenna as an advantage - supposedly it will be possible to listen to the radio without connecting a headset. In fact, the presence of a retractable antenna is a sign of a "fierce" counterfeit.

Screen grain

If you can manage to turn on your iPhone prior to purchase, it will be great. An experienced Apple user will always distinguish an original from a fake one by only one gadget screen - the original has a display created using RETINA technology, which has a very high pixel density.

Poor logo

If the legendary "bitten apple" on the back of the device is a sticker or painted, there can be no two opinions - they are trying to sell you a copy.

Stylus included

No modern manufacturer (including Apple) now produces gadgets with resistive displays. Among the originals, the stylus in the kit can only be found on the Samsung Note series.

"Sticky" sensor

If you have to make an effort to, for example, swipe from right to left to go to another screen, you are dealing with a "fake".

The presence of touch buttons

There is only one button on the front of a real iPhone - “ Home”And she is physical.

Hieroglyphs in large numbers

Even if iPhones are assembled in China, they are still being developed in the United States. Hieroglyphs should meet you only once - when, after the first launch, the smartphone greets you on different languages... The interface of the original device is Russified.

Please note: the inscription on the back of the gadget “ Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China"Shouldn't scare you! Both real iPhones and fakes are assembled in China - the difference is that the originals come from special Apple factories.

How to distinguish an iPhone from a fake: other ways

If outwardly the iPhone does not show any signs of a Chinese counterfeit, use other verification methods:

Check the Settings menu

Follow the path " Settings» — « The main"And try to find the section" Software Update". In original devices, it is located right under the section " About this device».

There is no this section in the settings of Chinese fakes.

Pay attention to the quality of the Russification of the menu. The Russian language is considered one of the most difficult, so spelling mistakes in the names of sections and paragraphs of Chinese iPhones are not uncommon.

Check Siri

The presence of the Siri voice control program distinguishes the original iPhone from a fake - the Chinese have not yet learned how to integrate this program into their "fakes". Just hold down the " Home»For a few seconds and see the result.

Go to AppStore

The iOS operating system is closed source, so third-party developers cannot install it on gadgets. All Chinese counterfeits work on Android or simple handwritten platforms... You can check which OS is on the gadget by visiting the app store. If you are using Android, then clicking on the AppStore icon will take you to Google Play - this is another surefire way to distinguish a “natural” Apple product from a fake.

If the smartphone runs on a self-written "operating system", you won't be able to get into any of the app stores at all.

Connect your gadget to iTunes

This way to distinguish the original iPhone from the "fake" is the most effective and simple, but it requires a computer or smartphone at hand. When connecting original iPhone via USB cable iTunes will definitely try to recognize and synchronize it. If iTunes remains indifferent, most likely, in front of you is a fake.

Also check Apple smartphone for originality, you can use the serial number and IMEI - read how this is done.

Is it possible to distinguish the original from the copy by the package contents?

The object of verification when buying an iPhone should also be the package bundle. Remember: iPhone equipment has never changed... The box should contain:

The envelope, inside which the colored instruction is located. The instruction has a high-quality look and two stickers with Apple logo on the cover. The needle for removing the SIM should also be located in the same envelope.

SZU white weighing about 60 grams, manufactured in factories Foxlink or Flextronix... There is no need to take scales with you to check the iPhone: all the information must be present on the charging itself.

USB cable... The original cable can be distinguished from a fake by the inscription “ Designed By Apple ... "- it is barely visible on the real product, but on the copy it is applied with bold paint. The cable is also white.

Headphones. It is most difficult to distinguish them from a fake - outwardly, a complete copy is likely. "Fake" can be detected by touch - the wire of the original headphones is softer - however, such a check makes sense only when there is something to compare with.

The absence of one of the elements of the kit, as well as the presence of an extra one, is a signal to cancel the deal to buy an iPhone.

Pay attention to such a trifle as the packaging of accessories: all components must be neatly packed in a box and wrapped in transparent film. The absence of a film and "chaos" in the opened box do not always indicate that the iPhone is fake or used - perhaps the sellers simply used accessories for their own purposes, which, however, is also unpleasant for the buyer and unacceptable. If possible, ask for the iPhone from the warehouse in a sealed package.

Conclusion

The huge number of Chinese counterfeit iPhones can be easily explained: Apple does not fight plagiarism in the Middle Kingdom. There are two reasons: firstly, many small industries are located in China, and it will still not be possible to sue large sums of money from them, and secondly, to be at enmity with Chinese manufacturers- it means to turn against yourself the largest sales market. Americans themselves do not suffer from Chinese counterfeits: their standard of living allows them to purchase original devices and not seek savings. But for Russians, who traditionally strive for cheap prices, the "Chinese flood" is a problem. To avoid deception, you need to buy smartphones only from well-known dealers, avoid adventurous offers and, when checking, pay attention to those aspects that are described in this article.

Copies of the super popular iPhone 4 gadget can have such a high level of external performance that the question of "How can you still distinguish a fake from the original" and not give a decent amount into the hands of fraudsters is becoming increasingly relevant. Not so long ago in the hands of French journalists there was a "double" of the iPhone 4 of such quality that only very knowledgeable users could distinguish it from the original. Be sure to read and save the information below on how to distinguish an iPhone 4 from a fake.

Physical differences between the original iPhone 4 and a fake

The following tips will help you know how to distinguish an iphone 4 from a fake. First of all, when buying, pay attention to the packaging itself. An open box is the first signal of the need for the most thorough analysis of the purchased product. Consider how the stickers are applied in relation to the text. Apple staff will never allow themselves to stick them upside down. If the packaging is opened, then the iPhone may be genuine, but the headset may be replaced with cheap Chinese counterfeits.

Next, consider a charger. If the original product weighs - 60 grams, then the copy - 40. In addition, the original must be labeled "FOXLINK" or "FLEXTRONIX". Availability on charger Chinese characters speaks for itself.

Move on to inspect the stand. How to distinguish an iphone 4 from a fake by its stand? In the original version, it weighs about 80 grams and is equipped with two sound recording channels and a gray rubber backing. The manufacturer's lettering with a logo is embossed. The fake cradle is much lighter and the lettering is just printed.

The original USB cable must not have latches on the side of the phone connector. But the question of the authenticity of the headphones is more difficult to understand. The fake copy is almost identical to the original one, only it has a harder wire.

How to distinguish an iphone 4 from a fake using care? Sometimes a fake can be betrayed by one simply funny circumstance - its logo has an apple bitten on the wrong side. As for the screen, the genuine iPhone 4 has a larger screen, but this is determined only by comparing with the original, or perhaps by measuring. An easily removable cover also gives out a copy, since the cover of the original is a structure that is not so easy to remove. The copy does not contain cloths and devices designed to remove the SIM card.

Software differences between the Apple smartphone and its Chinese counterpart

How to distinguish an iphone 4 from a fake? The main difference between the software part of the counterfeit smartphone is that the iPhone 4 is controlled by iOS 4. The Chinese counterfeit has an inferior version of the OS with slow action. From a software point of view, we can state that the stuffing of an ordinary phone is inserted into the case, stylized as an iPhone.

In Chinese imitation, the WI-FI function is not supported, there is no virtual keyboard. Touch screen, unlike the original, can respond not only to fingers, but also to pens and styluses.

One of the visible features of the counterfeiting is the presence of grammatical errors in the menu. The original device, unlike the Chinese counterpart, does not have a TV function.

Check your device's memory - the iPhone has 16GB of built-in memory, and the counterfeit has a flash drive.

The most in an efficient way How to distinguish an iphone 4 from a fake when buying is a comprehensive acquaintance with the original copy of the iPhone 4 or the presence of a genuine model for verification of copies at the point of purchase. Such preliminary measures will save you from wasting money on the purchase of a low-functional unreliable copy.

The iPhone has been the most popular smartphone for a very long time, despite its high cost, and therefore there is nothing surprising in the fact that “apples” are counterfeited by all and sundry.

However, it is not so difficult to distinguish a fake i-device from the original, if, as they say, you know where to look. In this article, we will tell you how to distinguish an iPhone 4S from a fake, however, the recommendations presented will be relevant for any i-smartphone model.

Of course, if you go to buy a device in a reputable electronics store, you will not need to type in the query "iPhone 4S how to distinguish a fake" in a search engine, but if you find a more economical option, little-known store, do not immediately abandon the deal, you just need to prepare for the purchase.

Yes, at first glance, the original iPhone and the fake one look like two peas in a pod. However, if you put them next to each other, the differences will become obvious. Of course, you will always find different "shoals" - some "geniuses", for example, will make a "bull's eye" on the back panel of a different size, the second - will put the wrong inscriptions on the same back panel(for example, they will indicate the capacity of the built-in memory) or make it in the wrong font, others - otherwise they will design the camera .... In general, scammers will definitely make one or a couple of inaccuracies.

You, of course, can come across very good fakes, or even outright hack-work. For example, those with a traditional size SIM slot instead of a microSIM slot.

By the way! Some scammers even install a dual SIM slot in the iPhone and try to convince the buyer that this is such a special super cool version of the "apple". If you didn't know before, keep in mind that all real iPhones support work with only one SIM. At least for the moment.Just as there is no iPhone with two SIMs, there are no antennas and support for memory cards.

If you include the original and the fake, the differences will again catch your eye. In a cheap Chinese counterfeit, for sure, there will be a problem with Russification, the presence of applications that should not be and, on the contrary, the absence of programs that are necessarily present on the original.

Such a flawless iPhone

Great, you say, how to recognize a fake if you have an original at hand with which you can compare it, we know. But what if there is no opportunity to conduct a "confrontation"? Do not worry, everything is simple here too and only your attention is needed.

It is known that Apple zealously cares about the quality of products, so every detail should be perfect in the original - from the first screw to the last letter on the package. Let's take a closer look at the device in front of you.

Packaging

First, let's look at the packaging - the image of the iPhone on the box and the inscriptions should be done neatly, on English language, no hieroglyphs are allowed. Have you noticed a greased letter? Before you is a fake - you don't even need to get the device out of the box! Apple handles all applications on the box with high quality paint, and the workflow is perfectly fine-tuned to eliminate splashes like smudged paint.

Equipment

Has the box been thoroughly visually inspected? Moving on! We study its contents. There are tons of iPhone 4S unboxing videos online, and you can watch them carefully how neatly and even carefully all the components are laid. Noticed a mess? This means that the gadget comes under suspicion. By the way, regarding the package bundle, along with the iPhone 4S there are - a cable for charging and synchronizing with a PC, network adapter, a headset, an i-clip, it is also a needle for opening a SIM slot, and, finally, documentation.

Assembly

Didn't the box arouse suspicion? Then the device itself remained. And here not only the eyes, but also the hands should be attentive: press all the buttons - the stroke of the original keys is clear and even, suppress the device here and there (without unnecessary fanaticism), there should be no squeaks and extraneous sounds. And finally, just ask yourself a question - how does the smartphone feel in the hand, the original iPhone 4S is made in a high-quality all-metal case, and the fakes are riveted from plastic, which is disguised as metal, and the case is not devoid of backlash and inconsistencies.

Hardware and software quality

Another stage of control - we turn on the smartphone and examine the display. How to distinguish the original iPhone 4S? It has a high-quality Retina screen, the picture seems to lie on the surface and looks very cool. The fake display, as a rule, does not strike with clarity, and in general it can be called quality at a stretch. One more thing - the camera - on the iPhone 4S it is already pretty good - in the daylight, the frames are more than worthy, but fakes are usually equipped with a camera for a tick, which takes just terribly low-quality pictures.

The speed of the device is another answer to the question of how to distinguish a real iPhone from a fake one. Freezes, slow work, lags ... all of these are not typical "jambs" for Apple technology. Yes, if the 4S is updated to the maximum possible iOS, there will be certain slowdowns in work. But! If you buy a new 4S, it must have iOS 5.0 installed and this model just flies on this version.

"Golden" rules

So, as you can see, even without having the original iPhone 4S at hand, it is not difficult to identify a fake. However, someone will say that all the recommendations specified in the previous section are relative - that is, if the user is inexperienced, he may find a fake camera cool, and a rather carelessly executed gadget - perfectly assembled. And besides, a fake can be very good in all respects. Well, the remark is accepted, then we put into motion the "golden" rules that will definitely put everything in its place.

Checking the serial number

Every iPhone has serial number, it appears on the box and in the menu of the device. Our task is to verify the authenticity of this very number. For this:

If the service did not give an error, then everything is in order with the serial number and the i-smartphone is genuine!

An important point! You need to look at the serial number in the menu, because it costs nothing to put a fake in the original box.

Go to the App Store application

All i-smartphones work on a closed operating system iOS and no fraudster can install it for a fake, in a fake iPhone you see a disguised Android in front of you - sometimes good, sometimes bad, but it's not difficult to understand xy from xy anyway.

Go to the App Store - a branded online store for applications for iOS devices. If you are holding a fake, Google Play will load (in the picture on the right) - a platform for programs and services for Android gadgets, and if the original is in the App Store (in the picture on the left).

Connect to iTunes

You may have noticed that the first two "golden" rules have one drawback. To check them, you need access to the network, and if there are problems with it, you will not be able to "punch" the serial number or enter the App Store.

Well, we have prepared one more tip for you. Going to buy an "apple", take a laptop with iTunes installed on it and connect your iPhone to it. If the program recognizes the gadget, then it is original, otherwise - in front of you is a fake.

Let's summarize

Well, now you know how to distinguish a real iPhone 4s and you are convinced that the original differs from a fake in many ways. In general, the main thing is to prepare for the purchase, and then you are guaranteed to insure yourself against a deal with scammers.