Fake replicas of Apple Watch have become pretty common nowadays. Here’s how to identify a fake Apple Watch Series 8 to avoid potentially getting scammed.
The Apple Watch Series 8 is the latest smartwatch from Apple, and it comes with several new features and improvements. However, just like any other popular product, there are also fake versions of the Apple Watch Series 8 in the market. These fake versions can be quite convincing and difficult to spot, which is why it’s important to know how to spot a fake Apple Watch Series 8. In this article, we will discuss various ways to identify a fake Apple Watch Series 8 in details.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Packaging
Although scammers have become quite smart these days, they still make mistakes, which can help you spot fake Apple Watch Series 8. Carefully look at the packaging of the Apple Watch Series 8 box, and if you notice spelling mistakes, double spaces, printing issues, and pixelation in photos, the Apple Watch Series 8 isn’t genuine.
Even the quality of the packaging material itself can reveal if it’s a fake. It’ll never be poor in the case of a genuine article. Apple pays really close attention to the packaging, so a subpar experience is a good sign of a fake.
What’s in the genuine Apple Watch 8 Box?
Inside the Apple Watch 8 box, you should find the following items:
- The Apple Watch Series 8
- Apple Watch Band
- Apple Watch Magnetic Fast Charger to USB-C Cable
- A user manual
If any of these items are missing, or if the packaging looks cheap or poorly made, then the device may be a fake.
What is not in the genuine Apple Watch 8 Box?
Inside the Apple Watch 8 box, you won’t find the following items:
- Charging Brick
- Travel pouch
- Screen protector
- Case
If you find anything like a case, travel bag, charging adapter, screen protector inside Apple Watch 8 box, it’s fake.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Build Quality
The build quality of the Apple Watch Series 8 is another important factor to consider. The genuine device should feel sturdy and well-built, with no loose or wobbly parts. The screen should be smooth and free of scratches, with no visible pixels or dead spots. The back of the device should feel cool to the touch.
The aluminum Apple Watch models feature Ion-X glass to protect the display, while the stainless steel and titanium models use sapphire crystal glass. Sapphire crystal glass offers better scratch resistance than Ion-X glass because it is a harder material, which means the models with sapphire crystal models are more resistant to scratching and everyday wear.
All Apple Watch Series 8 models feature IP6X dust resistance for use in environments like the beach or the desert, and they offer WR50 water resistance, rated for immersion in water as deep as 50 meters.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 devices are often made with low-quality materials and may feel flimsy or lightweight. The screen may be dim or blurry, and the back of the device may be made of plastic or another cheap material that is easy to scratch.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Design
The design of the Apple Watch series 8 can also signal to you whether it’s fake or genuine. The original Apple Watch Series 8 and fake Watch Series 8 each sport distinct designs. The Apple Watch Series 8 has incredibly thin bezels, with a display that goes right goes right up to the squircle’s edges. It comes in 41mm and 45mm, offering some versatility.
On the other hand, most fake Apple Watch Series 8 are round and rather minimalistic, coming in just one size: 41mm. It features a rounded design with a 3D glass dome that creates a raised effect, though you’ll still notice the display has a rather thick bezel.
On the side of a genuine Apple Watch Series 8 you’ll find the familiar digital crown and side button, which are used in hand with the touchscreen to navigate the device. The digital crown and side button on a genuine Apple Watch Series 8 is smooth and responsive, with no wobbling or sticking.
Most fake Apple Watch Series 8 borrow the Apple Watch’s digital crown and singular side button, with both even having the same navigational functions. Perhaps the most notable difference is the button placement above the digital crown on the counterfeit Apple Watch Series 8, whereas the button beneath the crown on the genuine Apple Watch Series 8. In addition, counterfeit versions may have a digital crown that feels loose or unresponsive, or that doesn’t rotate smoothly.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Case materials and Colors
The Apple Watch Series 8 comes in a couple of fun colors with two case material options:
- Aluminum
- Stainless Steel
The more affordable Aluminum variant is available in four colorways:
- Midnight
- Starlight
- Silver
- Product Red
In the case of the Aluminum variant of the Apple Watch series 8, it’s a fake if you have any color other than Midnight, Starlight, silver, or Product Red.
The Stainless Steel variant of the Apple Watch Series 8 offers a more premium finish, and it’s also available in four colorways:
- Gold
- Graphite
- Silver
- Space Black
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Band options
The band of the Apple Watch Series 8 is another important indicator of its authenticity. Genuine Apple Watch Series 8 bands are made of high-quality materials and feature the Apple logo engraved on the clasp.
Speaking of band options, Apple offers the aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 with six different bands: Solo Loop, Braided Solo Loop, Sport Band, Nike Sport Band, Sport Loop, and Nike Sport Loop. Most of these bands come in various color options, allowing you to completely personalize your new Apple Watch.
The stainless steel model gets five band options — Braided Solo Loop, Sport Band, Sport Loop, Leather, and Stainless Steel. All these bands come in various color options, so you get a wide variety to choose from. Additionally, the Leather bands for the stainless steel model are available in two different variants, including Leather Link and Modern Buckle.
Counterfeit versions may have bands made of cheaper materials or may not have the Apple logo on the clasp. Additionally, the bands usually don’t fit securely onto the watch face, with notable gaps or looseness.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Features
Another way of spotting fake Apple Watch series 8 is by checking if it’s missing a feature or function that should be present. Apple Watch Series 8 features the beloved design of Apple Watch, including a large, Always-On Retina display and a strong crack-resistant front crystal. With all-day 18-hour battery life, Apple Watch Series 8 builds on best-in-class health and safety features like the ECG app and fall detection by introducing temperature-sensing capabilities, retrospective ovulation estimates, Crash Detection, and international roaming.
The biggest difference is that watchOS 9 powers the Apple Watch Series 8, while Wear Android OS is the fake Apple Watch’s software.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Connectivity and Compatibility
The connectivity and compatibility of the Apple Watch Series 8 are also important to consider. Apple Watch Series 8 models are equipped with an Apple-designed W3 chip, and there are two variants available: GPS and GPS Cellular. GPS Cellular models have a built-in LTE chip and can connect to LTE without an iPhone, while GPS models are Wi-Fi only.
Apple Watch Series 8 supports 2.4GHz and 5GHz 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.0. Compared to Bluetooth 4.2, Bluetooth 5.0 offers longer range, faster speeds, larger broadcast message capacity, and better interoperability with other wireless technologies.
The genuine apple watch 8 should be able to connect seamlessly with other Apple products, such as the iPhone and iPad. It should also be able to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular networks, allowing you to make phone calls and send text messages even when your phone is not nearby.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 devices may have connectivity issues or may not be compatible with other Apple products. They may also have limited connectivity options.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: Price
One of the easiest ways to spot a fake Apple Watch Series 8 is by the price. Genuine Apple Watch Series 8 devices are not cheap, with prices starting at at $399 for the GPS model and $499 for the cellular model. If you come across a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fake Apple Watch Series 8 devices are often sold at a much lower price than the genuine devices, making them attractive to consumers looking for a bargain.
Fake Apple Watch Series 8 Vs. Real Apple Watch Series 8: serial number
If you’re unsure about the authenticity of the Apple Watch Series 8, you can use its serial number to confirm it. The serial number on the Apple Watch Series 8 can be found inside the band slot. You’ll have to remove the band to see it.
Once you’ve obtained the serial number, head over to checkcoverage.apple.com. This webpage will show the relevant warranty and additional coverage details of the Apple Watch Series 8. If your Apple Watch Series 8 is genuine, you’ll see proper results. If it’s fake, the website will throw up an error message.
By being vigilant and paying close attention to these factors, you can ensure that you are purchasing a genuine Apple Watch Series 8 and avoid falling victim to counterfeiters.