Low-end components, rudimentary assembly, poor quality batteries… X-ray analyzes of copies of AirPods are clear.
Apple AirPods are one of the most counterfeited high-tech products. All you have to do is type “wireless headphones” into the search engines of well-established merchant sites to come across a number of models more or less directly reproducing the design of the AirPods.
You don’t need to be an engineer to understand that these copies, which are generally much cheaper than the original AirPods, do not offer the same quality. Here is the proof in pictures. Lumafield, the American company responsible for X-ray analysis of the innards of Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable, applied this method to two counterfeit AirPods Pro 2s.
Less efficient batteries
The passage to X-rays is final for the copies. It reveals a much less elaborate design than that of the original AirPods Pro, and the use of low-end materials and components. “ […] Both counterfeit AirPods models contain pouched lithium-ion batteries that are not only less sophisticated in their construction, but also potentially less safe », Reveals Lumafield.
The company also points to a significantly lower number of components than the original model, particularly on the microphones and control circuits, which cannot guarantee audio quality equivalent to that of the AirPods Pro. “ The components are connected by cables, not by flexible printed circuits. You won’t find cables like this in a modern mobile Apple product », Notes Jon Bruner, boss of Lumafield.
The X-ray analysis also reveals a huge deception. These copies of AirPods Pro include weights which provide a feeling of weight supposed to inspire a feeling of quality. Nothing more or less than a scam.
Lumafield applied the same method to a counterfeit MagSafe 2 charger for MacBook. Unsurprisingly, the results are just as revealing of an economic design, which leaves a strong doubt as to the safety of the product.
What are the best wireless headphones for your ears? An essential nomadic product and now inseparable from the smartphone, the so-called true wireless earphone continues to improve. Noise reduction, sound, autonomy, additional functions: this once very limited market is almost as mature as the nomadic headset. The products are extremely numerous, and intended for all uses, which is why it is important to know how to make the right choice.
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Source : Lumafield
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