Until now, iPhones could not distinguish well fake AirPods from the original ones. With iOS 16, that’s all changing.
Apple’s AirPods are the most popular Bluetooth headphones out there. But not everyone can afford to buy it. That is why there are numerous imitations circulating in online shops such as Wish, which are often sold as original or “refurbished” AirPods. TECHBOOK found out for itself that counterfeit AirPods are not so easy to distinguish from the original. That’s why Apple is now resolving the issue in the form of an iPhone update.
iOS 16 solves the fake AirPods problem
Until now, fake AirPods were indistinguishable from the original in the iPhone settings. From the setup to animations to the range of functions, there is no discernible difference in “good” fake AirPods. Even the model and serial number are present. Functions such as active noise canceling and transparency mode on AirPods Pro can also be set. Users could therefore only be sure with the TECHBOOK tips for recognizing counterfeit AirPods.
With the release of iOS 16, that’s all changing. With the new iOS version, iPhones can now detect fake AirPods and display a warning:
What are the consequences of the warning?
Apple has one specifically for the warning function support page created. This explains how users should proceed in such a case. This is how fake AirPods can be connected to the iPhone via the Bluetooth settings despite the warning. In this case, they should work like normal Bluetooth headphones. However, a permanent message then appears in the settings. Apple also emphasizes that fake AirPods may not work as expected. The company also recommends contacting the seller in the event of counterfeit products.
We hope that Apple will continue to improve the warning function. The makers of counterfeit AirPods are now very good at disguising their products as genuine goods. It is to be expected that they will find new ways to circumvent Apple’s warning.