Want to learn how to spot a fake iPhone 13? If you want to buy a new iPhone 13, then you most likely want to know whether what you’re buying is a fake or real Apple iPhone 13. This article will guide you on how to identify a fake iPhone 13 and distinguish it from the original.
The more trade and sales migrate to online, the more of a risk of getting fake iPhones. It has become a very lucrative business for deceitful phone manufacturers. Fake iPhones used to be SUPER obvious, but the market is getting much smarter as time goes on. In this article, I’ll explain a few tips to look for when determining if your iPhone 13 is genuine or fake.
You can also use the tips on this guide to spot a fake iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
Let’s begin with the external features. This is where the knock off iPhone 13 is VERY similar to the un-trained eye.
Check the packaging/Build
Just like fake iPhone 12, the packaging is one of the first features that you should check when trying to spot a fake iPhone 13. The outside might look exactly like the original packaging; however, it’s usually made of a bit cheaper material. Sometimes when opening these boxes, the phone is in a plastic wrap, rather than its distinct pull off tabs. There may also be product instructions with giant foreign characters. The genuine iPhone 13 box contain information such as the model, description of the phone, the country name where it is manufactured, serial number and a bar code that ensures this is a genuine product. A fake iPhone 13 box won’t include these extra details about your device. When you take the fake iPhone out, you should also notice a distinct weight difference.
Look for a memory card slot
The iPhone 13 does not feature a memory card slot. If you see a memory card slot at the back or the side of the device, then start backing out because you are looking at an Iphone 13 copy version.
Check the Apple logo on the back of the iPhone
Once you get the phone unwrapped, just flip it over and look at the logo on the back of the iPhone. Although this can look similar to the original one, there are usually slight, small errors that distinguish a fake. An iPhone 13 replica has a slightly recessed logo and/or a mirror finish. An authentic Apple logo should not feel raised or textured. If rubbing your finger across the logo feels different than rubbing across anywhere else on the back of the iPhone, the phone is likely not original.
Check the charging port
Moving to the next tip on how to spot fake Apple iPhone 13, we can look at the bottom of the phone, which will give away a few different factors to determine the validity of this device. Generally, a fake iPhone 13 will have a plastic border around it or just simply and engraved line around the port to simulate the same build as the original product.
Check the Penta lobe screws
Next to the charging port you can see some of the common screws used in all the iPhone products. These are called Penta lobe screws, simply meaning they have 5 screw head points. The fake iPhone 13 have normal cross screws which can be a dead giveaway if you pay attention to such a small element.
Check the camera body
Next you can look at the camera build from the back. This is not from within the app itself but just the camera alone. Usually in the fake iPhone 13, recedes a bit, giving the camera less height than that of the original iPhone.
Now let’s turn on the iPhone. Here are where things get seemingly weird.
Check the welcome logo
The welcome logo is the first thing that you see when you turn on an iPhone. This is not something you experience usually on fake iPhone 13. Usually you get a screen with the word “Welcome” rather than the original Apple logo. This is a complete dead giveaway of a fake device.
Check the IMEI/Model number
An original iPhone 13 box should display a model number, serial number, and IMEI. These numbers should match what you see when you you go to Settings > General > About. If these numbers don’t match the box it came in, then it clearly is a knock off attempt at an iPhone 13.
Test the serial number of your iPhone
Another way to spot fake iPhone 13 is by checking the serial number on Apple’s Check Coverage website.
You can easily find the serial number of your Apple iPhone 13 by going to Settings > General > About > Serial Number.
Now, go to https://checkcoverage.apple.com and enter your iPhone serial number to see if it is a real iPhone 13. Entering the iPhone’s serial number into Apple’s warranty status website should display the model, warranty period, support status, and other information about the phone. If you see a message that says ”We’re sorry, but this serial number is not valid,” then your iPhone 13 is a clone.
Check the camera app
Now we’ll get into the camera within the app itself. Knockoff iPhone 13 NEVER have the top of the line camera in them so you will notice a distinct difference in the quality. Remember how cameras looks back in the mid 2000s? That’s pretty much what you will get. It’s like the quality went back to standard definition. Unless you’re so outdated with smartphones, there is no way you wouldn’t notice the quality difference when using either the selfie camera or the rear facing camera.
Check the iTunes and App Store
Here is the biggest difference betweenreal and fake iPhone 13. Most fake iPhone 13 devices are running off Android because they can adjust the interface’s skin. Android devices DO NOT have an iTunes or App store. If you click these, it will redirect to another app and/or go to a google play store. If these apps do anything besides open the expected apple stores, then it is fake software and a clone iPhone 13.
Look for Apple’s default apps
The iPhone 13 come with certain apps installed, including the App Store, Settings, Compass, and Safari. If you see a Play Store app on your iPhone 13, it’s a dead giveaway that you’re using an Android that was made to look like an iPhone 13.
Check the Screen brightness
Generally, the first thing you’ll notice is that the screen is not as vibrant as it should be in the fake iPhone 13. Colors look washed out and overall you think your brightness setting is turned all the way down.
Pay attention to the price
Another warning sign is that the clone iPhone 13 devices are much cheaper than the original model – though not always, as some vendors try to sell these phones for just slightly less than original value, preying on people’s ignorance. If the device is being sold far cheaper than a regular iPhone 13 suggested price, then think twice before buying the product. If the price is too good to be true, chances are, it’s a counterfeit iPhone 13.
iPhone 13 Clone – Final Thoughts
At first glance, it is quite easy to mistake a clone for an original iPhone 13, as the makers pay high attention, especially to the phone’s appearance. Let us know if you’ve spotted any fake iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, or iPhone 13 Pro Max and be careful when buying or trading online with these distinct feature differences!