If you are not buying an iPhone from an official reseller, or you inherited the phone from a relative, and you have reasons to doubt the authenticity of the smartphone, then our tips will help you check the originality of the iPhone 6 s. In addition, we will talk about common methods of deception used by scammers. This information will allow you to buy an original iPhone and not waste your money.
Low prices
The first and most obvious sign is the low cost of the device. Nobody will sell the original for pennies; the cost of the real thing reaches 60,000 rubles for some models. It is better to purchase such equipment from official dealers in specialty stores; you can also order delivery on the Apple website itself. If you have found a place where you can profitably buy (as they tell you) a real iPhone 6, it is better to immediately use additional parameters to determine whether the smartphone is a real “Apple” smartphone.
If you buy a used device, be sure to find out the reason for the sale, service life and availability of documents. It is better to ask about everything at once to get more information.
What you need to know about refurbished devices
Refurbished iPhone 6s are available for sale. But not everyone understands what it is.
There are 2 options:
- Officially restored
. These are devices that were found to have defects during pre-sale preparation, as well as during the first year of operation. Users had them replaced under warranty. These smartphones are sent to factories. They are being repaired there. And again they end up on the counter. But already with the Apple Certified label. Their special feature is a big discount. The equipment is identical. But another box. She is white. No images. The model is written on the front side; - Unofficially restored
. These are purchased non-working phones. They are repaired and also resold as new. Alas, not everything is repaired efficiently. There are no guarantees for the safety of working condition. There are almost no original parts. This is the processor, motherboard, and Touch ID. The rest is replaced with cheap analogues. The equipment is also non-original. The box is identical to the original.
During official restoration, smartphones are sold through official dealers and representatives. They come with a good discount and a guarantee. It is at least 1 year.
Distinctive features
There are several points by which you can identify unofficially restored 6th generation iPhones:
- unofficial ones are sold in repair shops, as well as on social networks and kiosks;
- the cost is 2 times lower;
- the components look like new, as if they have not been used, and the phone itself is already worn in places;
- uneven gaps on the body;
- serial number mismatch;
- Some elements and functions may not work.
Buying an iPhone 6 like this is dangerous. This is a risk. And often unjustified.
Equipment and external parameters
Before you take a closer look at the iPhone 6, take a look at its packaging and components.
A dishonest manufacturer and trader can be identified immediately; you can distinguish it this way: on the side of the box there should be the word “iPhone”; on counterfeits, “iPhone 6” is most often indicated.
In addition to the smartphone itself, the package contains the following items:
- headphones;
- Lightning cable;
- charger;
- a pair of Apple stickers;
- documentation;
- a paper clip designed to remove a SIM card.
If the composition of the box differs from what is listed above or the quality level of the items raises suspicions, they are planning to sell you a fake. When something is missing, you should ask the store why it happened.
On the back cover of the original there are the inscriptions “iPhone, Designed by Apple in California, Assembled in China”, there is also a model code and certification marks.
On Chinese iPhones, some other phrases or signs are often added. It is also worth immediately noting that Apple equipment is assembled only in China, but the quality of this assembly is not even close to Chinese copies, it is easy to distinguish, the corporation carefully monitors its production.
Before removing the back panel of the iPhone 6, you need to unscrew the screws; there is no other way to remove it, but if it can be easily removed, this is a fake. In addition, the proprietary device does not have a front-facing peephole above the microphone. Also, true representatives of the “apple family” do not have such features that are often found in Chinese units:
- no retractable antenna for radio and TV;
- there is no slot for a flash drive, there is only space for a SIM card;
- It does not charge from USB or mini USB connectors (exclusively Lightning).
Most users are accustomed to having the ability to insert an additional flash drive into their phone, but the iPhone 6 does not provide this option. In addition, not a single iPhone in its entire history has ever supported a memory card. This is worth remembering and recognizing the original in time.
These devices have decent functionality, but if the seller decides to show you the antenna and says that the device has a TV, leave immediately. There are no and never have been digital and analog TV in devices of any iPhone series. Also on the original body there should not be:
- hieroglyphs;
- numerous connectors;
- easy-to-remove rear panel with screws;
- extra SIM slot (iPhones do not support 2 SIMs).
You can twist the device, evaluate the quality - it should not creak, make extraneous sounds, and there should be no play. It is worth noting that this gadget has a non-removable battery, you can easily distinguish it by it.
What should be in the iPhone 6 box and its appearance
Before you begin inspecting the device, pay attention to the box and its contents. Unscrupulous manufacturers and sellers very often “burn” on the following point: on the side of the package it should simply say “iPhone”, but not “iPhone 6”.
In addition to the device itself, the box should contain:
- Headphones
- Lightning cable
- Charger
- Two stickers with the Apple logo
- Documentation
- SIM slot opener
If the equipment is different from that described above and/or the quality of the materials is suspicious, then this is a fake. If the kit is incomplete, be sure to find out from the seller what this is connected with.
Check imei and serial number
During the purchase process, in any case, you should check the serial number of your smartphone. To do this, it is better to have a mobile device with Internet access. On the iPhone you are inspecting, you need to go to:
- settings;
- basic;
- about this device;
- serial number.
Then take your old phone and go to the official Apple resource in the serial number verification sub-item (checkcoverage.apple.com) and enter the combination of the gadget you are checking.
The service will provide all the information about the device, but only if it is not a fake. If there is an error, they give you a fake smartphone. In the process of writing the number, you should not be distracted, otherwise you may mislead yourself and the seller. You can also check imei, it will show the characteristics, and if necessary, help you find and block the device in case of theft.
There is another way of inspection, but it is very complicated - you need a computer. If you can connect to a PC, you can conduct a test using iTunes - it always recognizes the original and ignores the fake. This method is the most accurate; the Chinese have not yet figured out how to bypass it.
How to distinguish an original iPhone 6 from a fake?
Apple devices have gained such high popularity among gadget lovers all over the world primarily due to their build quality, the materials used in the production of components and the installed software, while in counterfeits all of the above are of low quality in order to save money spent on production of funds. Basically, only the appearance is faked. In order not to fall for the bait of “hack workers”, you just need to learn to pay attention to the following details before buying an iPhone :
Package
Image 2. iPhone 6 packaging.
- The first thing that catches your eye after purchasing a smartphone is its packaging. Apple pays a lot of attention not only to the quality of the devices themselves, but also to other elements of the kit, including the box. All inscriptions on it must be made extremely clearly and accurately, and despite the fact that most original iPhones are produced in Chinese factories in one way or another, not a single Chinese character should be present on the box and all inscriptions must be made exclusively in Latin.
- However, the accuracy of the inscriptions and drawings is not yet an indicator that what you are looking at is not a fake. The packaging itself and the paint used for text and drawings must also consist of high-quality materials. You can check this with your finger, running it forcefully over the inscriptions and drawing. If after this procedure the font or design is smudged, and the coating has peeled off the packaging, then without any doubt you are holding a fake in your hands and you should refuse to purchase this device.
Accessories
Image 3. Complete iPhone 6 kit.
If you checked the packaging and did not find any complaints about it, then the next step in checking the iPhone for “originality” will be to become familiar with the contents of the box. To do this, you need to open the package and check that it contains the following kit elements:
- the device itself, the screen of which must be covered with a protective film;
- headset;
- Lighting cable;
- power unit;
- special key-clip for removing the SIM card;
- a set of documentation and a pair of branded stickers with the Apple logo;
The first thing you should pay attention to is the stickers, since manufacturers of fakes quite often forget about them and do not add them to the kit. It may seem to you that you need these stickers as much as a fish needs an umbrella, but their absence indicates that this is not an original iPhone .
In addition, all of the above listed elements of the kit must be carefully arranged in the box according to their sectors and cells, and not lying around haphazardly. If you find the opposite, then this fact also indicates that a copy of the smartphone has fallen into your hands.
Design, build quality and materials
Image 4. Distinctive design features of the original iPhone 6 and the fake.
- Before going to the store for a new iPhone, it is strongly recommended to ask your friends for the original and carefully study its appearance down to the smallest detail, including the materials of the case. For example, the old iPhone 4S has two characteristic stripes on the top sides pressed into the body, while the fake one does not have these stripes.
- As for the iPhone 6 model, it is almost impossible to distinguish the original from the fake by design. Unless the fake may have the inscription “ Made in China ” at the bottom of the back under the Apple logo. on the original iPhone 6 .
Image 5. The difference in the display image of the original iPhone 6 and the fake one.
- In addition, the cases of all smartphone models from the iPhone are made of pure aluminum, while fakes are made of plastic and weigh much lighter than the original. But if you cannot distinguish a smartphone by its weight, try lightly pressing on its back panel. If it bends, then you are holding a plastic fake in your hands. In addition to pushing the back panel, there should be no squeaks or extraneous sounds when pressing on the iPhone body, since the original iPhone has high-quality build quality.
- You should also pay attention to the smartphone display. On the original iPhone, the image seems to lie on the surface, while on the fake one there is a certain depth to the image.
Software
Image 6. Difference in software between iPhone 6 and fakes.
- It's no secret that Apple installs software exclusively of its own design on its gadgets, namely the iOS . Of course, thanks to open system code and root rights, today it is possible to give the Android operating system, which is installed on copies of Apple gadgets, the appearance of iOS , but no one is able to fake the App Store .
- It’s quite easy to check which operating system is installed on your gadget. You must be connected to the Internet and open the App Store . If instead of the Apple store the interface of the “Android” Google Play , then, without any doubt, you have in your hands a fake copy of the original.
Price
- Most often, inexperienced users who dream of purchasing an Apple device fall for tempting offers to sell an iPhone at a reduced price. Remember that all smartphones and tablets from Apple are sold at a fixed price, and the difference between them in different stores can be a maximum of 2-3 thousand rubles. Therefore, if you see an offer to sell an iPhone 6 for just 20,000 rubles, avoid such an offer. The probability that you will be sold a fake is 99% .
In conclusion, it should be said that there are still many ways to check an iPhone . For example, get its serial number on a special Apple service . If you become the owner of a fake iPhone, then after entering the serial number the service will give you a message similar to the following: “ Unfortunately, this serial number is not correct .” However, the methods listed above are the main ones and will help you distinguish the original from the fake even before purchasing the device.
Let's check the operating system
The difference between the iPhone 6, even from a high-quality fake, is that all Apple technology uses only iOS, while the copies operate on the Android platform (the general visible shell has simply been changed). To check, go to the App Store; if you get to the Play Market, then this is a fake. In addition, the Android store will never have proprietary software, for example, iMovie, Pages, Numbers and others.
All of the above verification methods apply not only to the sixth version, but you can check an iPhone of any series. Knowing how to distinguish an original iPhone 6 from a fake, you can always not only save yourself from buying an unnecessary low-quality device, but also save money and nerves. What do you think about this? I look forward to your comments.
Sincerely, Victor!
Summary
There is one more trick that will help distinguish a copy from the original - iPhone 6 only works on iOS. Since this operating system is closed source, developers of counterfeits have no choice but to install Android on their products. Sometimes copies can look very real, so it’s a good idea to try going to the App Store. If the transition is successful, then you will see a real iPhone 6 with iOS on board, and if you get to Google Play, feel free to refuse the purchase - you will see a Chinese iPhone.
iPhone
Criterion No. 2. Box
Not only the cost, but also the packaging will help you understand whether this is an original or a fake.
Here are some of the box features of the real sixth iPhone:
- material – thick cardboard;
- all corners are straight;
- there is a logo;
- At the bottom there is a white sticker with the model name, serial number and IMEI on it.
Rice. No. 1. Original box
Criterion No. 5. Works correctly with iTunes
iTunes is a proprietary program designed to operate Apple smartphones and tablets, as well as computers (or rather, connect them and transfer files). It only detects iPhones and iPads.
If you connect a fake to your computer and launch iTunes, this program simply will not detect anything and, of course, will not work. You can download iTunes at apple.com.
Therefore, be sure to try connecting to your computer and launching iTunes.
Rice. No. 4. iTunes with iPhone connected
