iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max: 5 tips for spotting fakes
On 13 October 2020, Apple revealed its new generation of smartphones, including the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The big news this year on the design front is the return of straight edges, a design not seen since the iPhone 5S. Prices, meanwhile, remain as high as ever, with the iPhone 12 at £909, the iPhone 12 mini from £809, the iPhone 12 pro from £1159 and the iPhone 12 Pro Max from £1259.
These new models are, once again, high-performance and, unsurprisingly, very successful. However, with great popularity also comes a large number of counterfeits. Here are 5 tips to help you tell the difference between a fake iPhone 12 and the real thing.
1/ Inspect the packaging box
As with any product authenticity check, the first thing to analyse is the packaging box your product comes in. Generally speaking, the packaging boxes for real iPhones 12 and fake iPhones 12 may look similar, but what sets them apart is their quality. Counterfeit iPhone 12 packaging is made from a cheaper material than that used for the real Apple iPhone 12.
So when you open a fake iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max box, it's not unusual to find it in plastic packaging. When you open a real iPhone 12 box, you'll find the iPhone covered only by a tab that needs to be removed. The original box also contains information such as: the model, a description of the phone, the name of the country in which it is manufactured, the serial number and a barcode.
An authentic iPhone 12 packaging box
2/ Analyse these aesthetic details
The logo
When you want to find out whether you've purchased a genuine iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or Pro max, you need to analyse the logo on the back of your smartphone. On imitation iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max, the logo is often slightly recessed with a mirror finish.
On the left, an original iPhone 12, on the right, an imitation iPhone 12
The loading port
As with some details, at first glance the charging port on a fake iPhone 12 may look identical to that on a real iPhone 12, but when you analyse more closely you'll see that again, fakes are easy to spot. Some iPhone 12, Pro and Pro Max knock-offs have a plastic border around the charging port or a line etched around it in an attempt to replicate the original product.
Pentalobe screws
Located next to either side of the charging port, Pentalobe screws are a reliable step in verifying the authenticity of an iPhone. They have 5 screw head points and are fitted to all Apple iPhone models. These screws provide a tamper-proof system for the iPhone. Whereas on counterfeit iPhones, if you look closely, you'll see that normal crossed screws are used.
Here's where the Pentalobe screws are located on a genuine iPhone
3/ Check the screen and its brightness
The screen on the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max is a super retina, OLED screen, with a much higher pixel density and incredible colour accuracy. However, some fake iPhone 12s have a dull screen colour due to the poor quality materials used in their design. There's a difference in overall brightness, colours look washed out and aren't as dynamic as on genuine iPhone 12s.
You can see the difference in brightness between a real iPhone 12 on the left and a counterfeit iPhone 11 on the right.
4/ Test the camera
The real iPhone 12 has incredible camera quality. If your iPhone takes poor-quality or blurry photos, you're undoubtedly in possession of a fake iPhone 12. Don't hesitate to try out the camera modes, both photo and video, if the promises made by Apple at the big reveal of this iPhone 12 aren't kept, or if you simply can't find all the features listed on Apple's official website, you're definitely in possession of a fake iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max.
5/ Software checks
"Dis siri
The voice command feature can only be launched from a genuine iPhone. If this software doesn't work after your test, it's an iPhone 12 imitation. In fact, the Siri application doesn't work at all on replica iPhones.
iTunes and Apple Store
Of course, most counterfeit iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max devices run on Android, so they don't have iTunes or the Apple Store. If you click on these applications and are directed to a store other than Apple's, you are in possession of a counterfeit.
Integrated applications
When you switch on your iPhone 12, check the built-in applications such as Music, Photos, Calculator, etc. If one of these applications is missing, you're using a copy of iPhone 12.
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So if the price of this iPhone is too high for you, you can use Obvy to pay for your second-hand iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max in several instalments between private individuals.