Apple products are among the most expensive on the market. People will go to great lengths to get their hands on them. Like other popular brands, Apple has its fair share of copycats. Be it an iPhone, iPad, or the Apple Watch, there are fake versions of each product available in the market.
The Apple Watch Series 7 is the latest release from the tech giant and just like its predecessors, there are already fake versions of the watch being sold online. This guide will help you spot a fake Apple Watch Series 7 so that you don’t end up getting duped.
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How to Spot Fake Apple Watch Series 7?
The following checks will help you to identify whether your Apple Watch is fake or not. You can apply the same checks to differentiate fake vs real Apple Watch Series 3, 4, 5, 6 and SE.
Validate the Serial/IMEI Number on Apple Check Coverage:
The fastest way to determine if your Apple Watch is fake or not is to enter the serial number on Apple’s Check Coverage website. If the watch is not registered in the system, there is a 95% chance it is a fake one.
To find the serial number of your Apple Watch Series 7 open the Settings app on your Watch and go to General -> About. Scroll down to find the Serial Number.
Alternatively, you can remove the band and check the slot for a small inscription.
Also, you can find the serial number in the Watch app on your iPhone. Just open the app, and navigate to General>About. Here you will find the serial and IMEI number of your watch.
Once you have the serial number, open this link in Safari or any other browser on your iPhone – https://checkcoverage.apple.com.
Enter the serial number of your watch in the box and fill in the captcha. Click on Check Coverage.
If there is no record of the watch in the system, it is likely to be a fake.
There is one drawback to this method: The IMEI/Serial Number is available on Apple Watch GPS + Cellular models only. What if you own the GPS version of the Apple Watch Series 7?
Check the Model Number:
One way to identify your Apple Watch is to validate its model number. All watches in the Series 7 lineup have a model number that starts with A24. For instance, Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS) has a model number A2473 for 41mm case size and A2474 for 45mm case size.
To find the model number of your Apple Watch, follow these steps.
- Open the Apple Watch App on your iPhone.
- Tap ‘My Watch’ and navigate to General>About
- Scroll down and find the ‘Model‘ Field.
- Tap the model field and it will update to a five-digit number, which is the watch’s model number.
- Make sure that the model number begins with A24.
Check the packaging:
The design of the packaging is one of the easiest ways to distinguish a fake Apple Watch from a real one. If the box has a different color or design than the official Apple Watch boxes, then it’s a fake.
The writing on the box should be accurate and without any spelling mistakes. The box should have a premium build-quality-Apple does not compromise on the design aspect even things as trivial as the packaging box.
Check the watch band:
The watchband is one of the first things that you’ll notice on an Apple Watch. It’s one of the areas where counterfeiters are likely to make some changes in order to save on costs. The bands on fake watches are usually made of low-quality materials and they don’t feel as good as the real thing.
If you take a close look at the band, you’ll notice that the stitching is usually not as precise on fake bands. Also, the color of the band may be slightly off when compared to an authentic Apple Watch band.
Another way to tell if the watchband is fake is by looking at the connectors. The connectors on a fake band are usually made of plastic and they don’t fit as snugly into the watch as the connectors on an authentic band
Check the display:
The display is one of the most important parts of any smartwatch and it’s also one of the easiest ways to spot a fake Apple Watch.
If you take a close look at the display, you’ll notice that the colors are not as vibrant as on an authentic Apple Watch. The fonts and graphics on fake watches also tend to be slightly off when compared to the real thing.
The touch screen of a fake Apple Watch is usually not as responsive as the touch screen of an authentic watch.
Check The Dimensions And Weight:
One way to tell if an Apple Watch is a clone is by checking the dimensions and weight.
The fake watches are usually a bit larger and heavier than the real thing. It’s hard to ape the exact dimensions and weight of an Apple Watch, so most counterfeiters don’t even try.
To get the accurate dimensions and weight of an Apple Watch Series 7, you can check the official website.
Dimensions
41mm
- Height: 41mm
- Width: 35mm
- Depth: 10.7mm
45mm
- Height: 45mm
- Width: 38mm
- Depth: 10.7mm
Check the rear side of the watch:
The rear side of the watch is where you’ll find Apple’s sensors to track a range of health metrics.
Download the rear images of the original from the internet and cross-check.
If you see a different arrangement of sensors or the absence of a sensor on the back of the Watch, then you surely have been duped with a clone.
Conclusion:
In a nutshell, the easiest way to spot a fake Apple Watch Series 7 is to validate its IMEI and model number, check the packaging, and check the touch screen and rear side of the watch. If one or more of these areas doesn’t match with that of an authentic Apple Watch, then it’s likely that you’re being sold or had been sold a counterfeit product.