Photo 291188496 © Kawee Wateesatogkij | Dreamstime.com
The best way to ensure you’re buying an authentic, authorized product is by purchasing it directly from the official store itself. One customer, however, said they received a knockoff iPhone after ordering it from Apple UK’s website.
In a bizarre episode of online shopping gone awry, a Reddit user who goes by the moniker ‘theEdmard’, and is addressed by 9to5Mac as Ed, recounted receiving a counterfeit iPhone 15 Pro Max even though it was purchased through Apple. What was expected to be a legitimate purchase turned into a perplexing discovery of a knock-off Android device, cleverly disguised with an iOS 17-style skin.
The initial suspicion arose when the user noted a screen protector on the phone, which made him wonder if Apple had sent him a returned model. His doubts intensified upon powering up the device, as the screen’s lighting revealed it wasn’t the OLED quality expected of an authentic iPhone.
I got a fake iPhone 15 Pro Max from Apple
A Reddit user from the UK, theEdmard, told about how he bought an iPhone 15 Pro Max on the official website, and received a fake on Android. Apple tech support said they would need two business days to check. pic.twitter.com/ILFHE2QbkN
— Yaroslav Gavrilov (@appletester_rus) November 14, 2023
Further confirming the deception was a noticeable “chin” at the bottom of the screen, a feature absent in real iPhones.
Phone Repair Guru, who acquired a similar fake iPhone for US$220, shed more light on this “SCARY GOOD” imitation device in a detailed 14-minute teardown. The video highlighted the build quality, software mimicry, and pointed out discernible differences when placed next to an actual iPhone.
While the counterfeit iPhone 15 Pro Max boasted a high degree of resemblance in hardware and software, including a premium feel, an action button, and even packaging complete with Apple’s braided cable and logo sticker, its true nature was revealed upon closer inspection.
The device faltered in its screen and camera performance compared to a genuine iPhone. Notably, it failed a blowtorch test, starting to melt and thereby betraying its non-titanium construction. Additionally, the front camera’s subpar quality and the device’s overall “chin” were dead giveaways of its inauthenticity.
The YouTuber also shared a tip for identifying fake iPhone packaging: under a black light, an authentic box will reveal the Apple logo and iPhone name on the pull tab strip, whereas fakes will not.
Ed, who said he raised his issue with Apple’s support staff, suspects his order was swapped out somewhere along the line. He warned others to be more vigilant with their phone purchases, as the knockoffs could be used as a ploy to steal customers’ data.
According to the user, Apple sent a real iPhone 15 Pro Max via DHL the next day. “I’m [writing] this now on my new real iPhone 15 Pro Max,” he shared in his edited post.
[via 9to5Mac, Mashable, AppleInsider, images via various sources]
by rrollins
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