As one of the most popular smartphones on the market, the iPhone 14 Pro is also a common target for counterfeiters looking to make a quick buck. The proliferation of fake iPhones can make it difficult for consumers to determine if they’re getting the real deal or not. In this article, we’ll go over some tips on how to differentiate a fake iPhone 14 Pro from an original one.
The iPhone 14 Pro is one of the most popular smartphones on the market, and with its sleek design and powerful features, it’s no wonder that it has become a target for counterfeiters. It can be challenging to differentiate a fake iPhone 14 Pro from an original, but with some careful inspection, you can identify the key differences between the two.
How to spot a fake iPhone 14 Pro
Here are some tips on how to differentiate a fake iPhone 14 Pro from an original:
Check the packaging
The packaging of the iPhone 14 Pro is one of the easiest ways to tell if it’s authentic or not. The packaging of an original iPhone 14 Pro is well-designed, with high-quality materials and attention to detail. The box should be smooth to the touch and free from any dents or damage. The text on the box should also be clear and easy to read, with no spelling errors or grammatical mistakes.
When you open the box, you should find the iPhone 14 Pro sitting in a foam insert. The foam insert should fit the phone snugly, with no visible gaps or wobbling.
The thin paper box contains the iPhone and a USB-C-to-Lighting cable.
Other than the cable, you will get a SIM ejection tool for models with a SIM slot and one Apple logo sticker.
The packaging should also include a user manual and warranty information.
Check these items carefully to make sure they’re genuine. The manual should have clear, concise instructions, and the warranty information should include Apple’s contact details.
If the packaging seems flimsy or low quality, or if it is missing any of the items mentioned above, it is likely that you are dealing with a fake iPhone 14 Pro.
Check The design
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro features a surgical-grade stainless steel frame, glass rear and it delivers a solid and super-premium build quality. There’s also a refreshed design, just like its bigger sibling, the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The right-hand side of the original iPhone 14 Pro houses the power button. On the opposite side are the two volume buttons and the signature iPhone alert slider above. Some units have the nano-SIM tray a bit lower down the frame, but only it’s purchased outside the US.
If you live in the US, this year, the entire iPhone 14 lineup just uses eSIM with no physical SIM slot whatsoever.
The top of the iPhone 14 Pro is empty, sans an antenna line on the aluminum middle frame.
The bottom of a genuine iPhone 14 Pro houses the typical Apple lightning connector. Also, on this side, the main microphone and a dedicated bottom-firing speaker are found. The iPhone 14 has a hybrid stereo speaker setup with the earpiece acting like the second channel. It sits above the display but it’s not on top of the notch anymore. That’s because the original iPhone 14 Pro has said bye bye to the trusty notch we’ve seen grace the front of Face ID iPhones since the iPhone X in 2017.
In place of it is a wide pill-shaped cutout for Face ID and the front camera, which Apple calls Dynamic Island.
While the front of the iPhone 14 Pro is clearly quite different from its predecessor thanks to Dynamic Island, the rear sticks to its roots. The frosted glass panel features a large and prominent camera housing in the top left corner, with three lenses and the LiDAR sensor. The edges of the housing blend into the rear too, making for a smooth and seamless transition.
The original iPhone 14 Pro comes in five color options, comprising Deep Purple (which is beautiful), Space Black (which is also lovely in the flesh), yellow, Silver and Gold.
If you’re trying to spot a fake iPhone 14 Pro, looking for inconsistent design is one of the key things to watch out for. For example, the camera bump on the back of the fake iPhone may not be aligned correctly or may be the wrong shape. In addition, the buttons on the fake iPhone 14 Pro may be a different size, shape, or placement than on the original iPhone. Moreover, the ports on the fake iPhone may be in a different place or may be a different shape than on the original iPhone 14 Pro. Also, the fake iPhone may be a different weight or dimensions than the original iPhone 14 Pro. Besides that, the color tone of the fake iPhone 14 Pro may be slightly different than the original.
These inconsistencies suggest that the fake iPhone 14 Pro was not designed with the same attention to detail as the original, and may use different or lower-quality components. If you’re not sure whether an iPhone is authentic, compare it to images and information about the original iPhone 14 Pro in this guide, and look for any design differences that may indicate a fake.
Check the build quality
Apple has a great track record when it comes to impeccable build quality. The iPhone 14 Pro is no exception. The build quality of an original iPhone 14 Pro is exceptional, with high-quality materials and attention to detail. Its body is a "glass sandwich" with scratch-resistant Ceramic Shield on the front of the device, an unnamed glass at the back and an aluminum middle frame to hold everything together, and it’s something that counterfeiters often struggle to replicate. The phone should feel solid and well-built in your hand, with no creaking or flexing.
The buttons on the genuine iPhone 14 Pro should also feel firm and responsive, with no mushiness or sponginess. The screen should be bright and clear, with no dead pixels or discoloration.
If the phone feels flimsy or poorly constructed, or if the buttons and screen feel cheap and unresponsive, it’s likely that it’s a clone iPhone 14 Pro.
Look for the Apple logo
The Apple logo is a trademark of genuine Apple products and should be present on the back of the iPhone 14 Pro.
The logo should be crisp and clear, with no visible blurring or smudging. If the logo looks faded or poorly printed, it is likely that the phone is a fake. You should also check that the logo is in the correct position and is not tilted or misaligned.
You should also check the logo on the boot screen when you turn on the device. A genuine iPhone 14 Pro will display the Apple logo during startup.
Check the charging port
The charging port of a genuine iPhone 14 Pro is precisely machined and fits snugly with the lightning cable. If the charging port is loose or doesn’t fit the cable well, it is likely that the iPhone is a fake.
Check the buttons
The buttons on the iPhone 14 Pro should feel responsive and provide tactile feedback when pressed. If the buttons feel mushy, sticky, or do not provide any feedback, it’s likely that it’s a knockoff iPhone 14 Pro.
Check the camera
The camera is one of the most important features of the iPhone 14 Pro, and it’s also one of the most difficult to replicate.
Look closely at the camera module on the back of the phone. The rear camera should be a triple-setup with a LiDAR scanner. The lenses should be flush with the surface of the phone, and the prominent camera housing in the top left corner should have three lenses and the LiDAR sensor. If the camera looks misaligned or poorly constructed, it is likely that the iPhone 14 Pro is a fake.
Check the screen
The screen is another critical component of the iPhone 14 Pro, and counterfeiters may not be able to replicate its design and functionality accurately.
The Apple iPhone 14 Pro has a 6.1-inch OLED display on board and it’s stunning. The blacks are lovely and black, colours are rich, vibrant and punchy and there’s ample brightness.
While it’s still a 6.1-inch OLED, it has a smaller pill-shaped cutout, can be as bright as 2,000nits. The cutout is arguably the most iconic iPhone 14 Pro series feature, which actually comprises of two small cutouts – one pill-shaped and one round. Apple has turned this into a feature with various cool animations for notifications and calls it Dynamic Island.
More exciting however, is the fact that the iPhone 14 Pro offers Always-On Display technology, possible thanks to the drop in bottom refresh rate. This allows some information to remain on the display in a dimmed state even when the screen isn’t on, and it’s something that counterfeit manufacturers of been unable to replicate.
Test the touch screen by tapping on various parts of the display and checking for responsiveness. If the touch screen does not respond well or doesn’t have Dynamic Island or Always On Display features, it is likely that the iPhone is a fake.
Check the software
One of the easiest ways to identify a fake iPhone 14 Pro is to check the operating system. Apple’s iOS operating system is unique to their devices and is not available on any other phones.
The original iPhone 14 Pro runs on the latest A16 Bionic chipset, which offers a great performance compared to the iPhone 14 Pro replica.
You should check that the phone is running the latest version of iOS and that all of the features are working correctly. You should also check that the icons and user interface look authentic and are not blurry or poorly designed. You can also check for any pre-installed apps that may be suspicious or unfamiliar. If there are any issues with the software, it is likely that the iPhone is a fake.
Pay attention to the price
If the price of the iPhone 14 Pro seems too good to be true, it probably is. Counterfeiters often sell fake iPhones at prices that are significantly lower than the retail price of an original iPhone 14 Pro.
While there are legitimate reasons why an iPhone 14 Pro might be sold at a discount, such as a refurbished or used phone, you should be wary of prices that are too good to be true.
If you’re buying a new iPhone 14 Pro, compare the price with other reputable retailers to ensure that you are paying a fair price for a genuine device. If you’re buying a used iPhone 14 Pro, do some research to find out what the going rate is for the model and condition you’re looking for. If the price is significantly lower than other listings, it could be a red flag that the phone is fake.
Check the serial number
Every iPhone has a unique serial number that can be used to verify its authenticity. You can find the serial number of an iPhone by going to Settings > General > About. The serial number should match the serial number on the box.
You can also use Apple’s official website to check if the serial number is valid. If the website says the serial number is invalid, it’s a good indication that the phone is a fake.
Conclusion
Differentiating a fake iPhone 14 Pro from an original can be challenging, but with some careful inspection, you can identify the key differences between the two. By checking the packaging, the Apple logo, the build quality, the camera, the operating system, the serial number, and the price, you can ensure that you are purchasing an original iPhone 14 Pro and not a fake.
It is important to note that purchasing a fake iPhone 14 Pro not only means that you are not getting the high-quality device that you paid for, but it can also be dangerous. Counterfeit iPhone 14 Pro can have poor battery performance, be prone to overheating, and can even catch fire or explode. Therefore, it is essential to be vigilant when purchasing an iPhone. Only purchase iPhone from reputable sellers or directly from Apple. By doing so, you can ensure that you are getting a genuine iPhone 14 Pro and that you are keeping yourself safe.
