Apple iPhone 11 Fake vs Real – Tips to easily identify a fake one
This includes all iPhone 11 families, including iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max are all expensive yet beautiful (at the outside) as well as a beast (on the inside). Many people, including yourself are probably planning to own one this year.
Spending that sum amount of money to get the real iPhone 11 are what everybody – who are willing to buy iPhone 11 – here is aiming for.
But the problem is now there are plenty of fake iPhone which look almost if not entirely the same as newest iPhone. While for you – geeks and you who called yourself Apple fan boy – can easily spot the differences between the real thing and the fake one, but for many normal people, they may not aware if such device is a fake one and end up buying the fake one – and still paying the full price of a new iPhone 11.
I believe there’s plenty of cases happening like that, where people spend their hard-earned money only to get the fake iPhone. Not only these cases happening in under-developed and developing countries but these cases also happen on developed countries as well. So you have to be a smart diligent buyer, otherwise you end up the same like many people: paying the full price only to get the fake one.
That’s the main intention I’m writing this article, to share with you guys so that if your intention is to buy the real thing, you get the real thing and not the fake one. Be it a brand new iPhone 11 or a second-hand iPhone 11.
This guide is meant for you who want to buy a brand new iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro or iPhone 11 Pro Max or a second-hand iPhone 11 (and families) but you are buying not directly from Apple (via its store or online) nor via its Authorized Reseller.
How to check if the iPhone 11 / iPhone 11 Pro / iPhone 11 Pro Max is the real one.
Things you should do before buying:
1) Create Apple ID. It’s free and easy to do. Why you need this one, is to enable you to check the iPhone later on. Go to appleid.apple.com to register.
2) Arrange a meet up. Unless you are buying from Apple directly or from Apple Authorized Reseller, be sure to do meet up. Do not buy online and have it shipped unless you trust the seller/platform.
3) Agree to pay after checking is done. Get agreement from the seller for you to perform checks before paying to ensure if the item is real and only to pay him if the iPhone is a real one. Recommended for you to bring someone else beside yourself during the purchasing and checking session, just in case any disputes happening.
4) Bring your own SIM Card. iPhone 11 is using Nano SIM Card.
Things to check when the iPhone 11 is in your hands:
Check the following if you are buying brand new iPhone:
5) Ensure it’s still fully sealed.
6) Insert your SIM Card in. After unsealing, open the SIM Card tray and place your SIM Card into the SIM Card tray.
7) Turn on the iPhone. Ensure Apple logo is showing without any text at all.
8) No password being asked. Once turned on, ensure it’s not asking for any passcode/password, otherwise it’s a locked second-hand iPhone and probably stolen.
Check the following if you are buying a second-hand iPhone:
9) Wipe out the iPhone. Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Contents and Settings. When prompted, tap Continue/OK to proceed with the reset.
10) Key in the password. On reset attempt, the exisiting Apple ID that ties to the iPhone need to be remove, thus asking for password. Ask the seller to unlock for you. If seller doesn’t know the password, likely it’s a stolen iPhone.
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All these are applicable to both brand new iPhone and a second hand iPhone:
11) Setup as brand new iPhone. Avoid restoring from your backup now, your intention here is to make sure the iPhone is all in good condition and at the same time, ensuring it’s not a fake one. So follow the setup process. Choose your preferred language, activate the device using cellular (to ensure cellular is working).
12) Setup Face ID. Use your face. Then have it tested by trying to use someone else’s face, by right the iPhone is not going to get unlocked. If it is, then likely it’s a counterfeit iPhone.
13) Create a Passcode. This is a pre-condition and part of the setup. So type in any 6 digit passcode.
14) Choose don’t transfer app and data. Again, to remind you, your intention here is to make sure the iPhone is all in good condition and at the same time, ensuring it’s not a fake one. So choose the less hassle one for now.
15) Key in your Apple ID when asked. Try key-in wrong password. By right, it won’t allow you to proceed. If it is, then likely it’s a counterfeit iPhone. Then next step is to try to key in your Apple ID with correct password. This time by right it will allow you to boot into the iPhone. Complete the rest setup, including setting up Siri.
16) Wake up Siri. Once you are at iOS Home Screen, try call Siri by saying, “Hey Siri”. If it’s a real iPhone, the Siri should come and answer you.
17) Apple Store and not Google Play Store. On the Home Screen, try find Apple App Store and try to open it. When opened, you should NOT see Google Play Store. If it’s a Google Play Store, then it’s a counterfeit iPhone.
18) Check Model Number and Serial Number. Now go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down until you find Model Number and Serial Number. Match it with the number on your iPhone box. If it’s a new iPhone, both numbers should matched.
19) Check Serial Number validity. Open the following link via browser: https://checkcoverage.apple.com/. Then key in the serial number you found on Settings > General > About. And click “Continue”. It should tell you the warranty period. If it’s a totally brand new iPhone, the date should be 1 year from today (or even more, but not less).
20) Enable Assitive Touch. iPhone has assistive touch. It’s white in color. It’s a virtual button which mimics the classic iPhone Home Button functionality. By enabling assistive touch, you are confirming that what you are getting the real iPhone, because Android doesn’t have any assistive touch. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Assistive Touch. Turn it on. Soon you’ll see a white virtual button appearing on your screen. Tap on it to bring you the sub menu.
21) Check the 3 back cameras. Ensure all the cameras are working by switching between modes while covering the lenses with your fingers. Do read here for more details.
22) Try FaceTime with any of your family/friend who own iPhone too. If you can call them via FaceTime, then it’s the real iPhone. Otherwise, nah, it’s a fake one.
Bring it all together
With all the things to check mentioned above, you can be 100% sure that you are paying an actual iPhone 11 / iPhone 11 Pro / iPhone 11 Pro Max and not a fake one.
In case I missed out anything, do let me know – I shall add it up to the list.
Do you have anything you want me to cover on my next article? Write them down on the comment section down below.
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Thank you so much Sir, this article is very good, well prepared and crucial for everyone who read it.
Big Up😉 From Rwanda, East Africa
Hi Sam,
Thanks a lot!