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Don't Get Zapped By Fake ElectronicsIdentify the Fake Apple iPod
Apple iPod Touch
iPod Touch 1st Generation iPod Touch 2nd Generation iPod Touch 3rd Generation iPod Touch 4th Generation iPod Touch 5th Generation iPod Touch 64GB iPod touch 32gb iPod Nano iPod Nano 1st Generation iPod Nano 2nd Generation iPod Nano 3rd Generation iPod Nano 4th Generation iPod Nano 5th Generation iPod Nano 6th Generation iPod Classic iPod Classic 1st Generation iPod Classic 2nd Generation iPod Classic 3rd Generation iPod Classic 4th Generation iPod Classic 5th Generation iPod Classic 6th Generation iPod Accessories iPod Apple case iPod Leather case iPod Belkin case iPod Coach case iPod Juicy Couture case For tips while shopping on ebay, or any other online venue, check out our guide for safe ebay shopping tips. The turorial should offer some good universal information which can easily be applied to any product listing on ebay. The ipod guide below deals only with the details of ipod, and does not get into important topics like seller feedback, return policy etc. These issues are all handled in our online buying guide. Price: This is an age old adage: “If is seems to good to be true, it probably is.” This is so obvious and cliché’ we hate incorporating it into our tutorials, but you would be surprised by how many ignore this. If the ipod price seems ridiculously low, it is either fake or stolen. Apple Logo: You would be surprised at how many fake ipods do not include the Apple logo. Always check the iPod for the logo, once the logo is discovered then a quick font inspection should be next. Also, inspect the ipod packaging. An Apple font: The Apple font is distinct enough to generally make a determination of the authenticity of the ipod in question. However, it is not unique enough whereas this would be obvious. [font images] Below is an image of a real vs. fake Apple font: 
Below is an image of a real Apple classic font: This image is show the consistancy of the Apple font. Notice the "a" on the real Nano and Classic ipod, both have the correct Apple font. The fake ipod has narrow letters and the "a" has an incorrect loop or curve at the top. Also, notice the classice logo on the box is embossed, not printed. Meaniing that it has texture, if you run your finger over it you will feel the logo. Beware of logos that are simply printed on the box, and not embossed, having no texture. 
UPC code: Check the UPC code at amazon.com. The reason Amazon is preferred over other UPC checking sites, is that is will show the exact prodcut with picture. Below is an image of an Apple iPod UPC code: The UPC is the entire code, even the numbers to the far right and left of the main code body. The full UPC code in the picture below is: 885909341320. UPC codes are generally 8-12 digits. 
USB connector: Sometimes a non-standard sized USB connection is used. Often times fakes may use a mini USB-B connector, the type that is commonly found on a digital camera. However, many of the fake ipods in the open market use the correct sized USB. So always take a couple seconds to look at size of the USB connector. Below is an image of an authentic ipod USB: 
iTunes or noTunes? When the ipod is turned on and connected to your computer, other than the Apple logo, iTunes should be prompted. This allows you to load, change, and configure you ipod’s music and videos. However, a fake ipod will not prompt iTunes. With a fake you will have to copy and paste your music into the device. All files will need to be dragged and dropped into the fake; this is fundamentally different than what happens with a real Apple ipod. If iTunes is not prompted, it is safe to say the ipod is counterfeit. Hardware: Check the power button. The power button on a fake may be of lower quality. If so, it will look and feel inferior to the authentic Apple power button. This is another example of the corner cutting associated with counterfeiting electronics. The faker assumes the buyer will overlook a detail like an inferior quality power button. More on real vs. fake ipod hardware below. Below is an image of a real vs fake ipod insides: Here you clearly see the difference in quality manufacturing. The outside of the fake may have looked pretty, but once the ipod is pulled open, the ugly truth surfaces. The real ipod circuits have the blue background, with the Toshiba brand, the fake has the green background and a no-name battery with what looks like yellow tape covering part of it. 
Below is a close up of the real vs. fake ipod battery: Here again you can see the authentic Apple ipod has a battery with the correct branding/warning/numbers [etc], but the fake has nothing but strange yellow tape. 
Gutting the iPod: We don't recommend a buyer rip open the ipod to tell if it is fake or not, we hope that that can be determined before hand, by checking for all the other tells first, Apple fonts, packaging, UPC codes etc. Showing the insides of the real vs. fake is just to shed light on the quality difference between the fake and real, and what that will mean to the consumer. A poor quality fake may work well for awhile, but you don't have to be an expert with electronics to see the insides of the fake iPod and infer that the shoddy work will eventually crap out on you. So if you plan to buy a fake ipod intentionally to save money, just remember that you get what you pay for, and it may end up costing more in the long run if you have to keep replacing the fake ipod because it eventually dies. [ebay] Apple iPod Touch iPod Touch 1st Generation iPod Touch 2nd Generation iPod Touch 3rd Generation iPod Touch 4th Generation iPod Touch 5th Generation iPod Touch 64GB iPod touch 32gb iPod Nano iPod Nano 1st Generation iPod Nano 2nd Generation iPod Nano 3rd Generation iPod Nano 4th Generation iPod Nano 5th Generation iPod Nano 6th Generation iPod Classic iPod Classic 1st Generation iPod Classic 2nd Generation iPod Classic 3rd Generation iPod Classic 4th Generation iPod Classic 5th Generation iPod Classic 6th Generation |
