Buzz
Beats is a premium, high-end headphone brand with a hefty price tag. Due to its reputation, brand recognition, and high cost, Beats is often confronted with counterfeit products designed to deceive consumers. To distinguish between genuine and fake Beats headphones, start by examining the packaging. Check the print quality, brand marks, and the plastic wrapping quality. Once the box is open, inspect the right ear cup for a serial number. Look up this number online to see if it’s valid or being used elsewhere. To avoid being tricked, always purchase expensive electronics from authorized retail stores, and remember: if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Steps to Follow
Check the Packaging
Look at the box and assess the clarity of the text. Usually, you can identify whether Beats headphones are genuine or fake just by closely observing the lettering on the box. Authentic Beats have a sharp contrast between the text and the minimalist dark-colored background. If the text looks blurry, faint, or appears to be printed on paper and pasted on, you may have a counterfeit Beats box.
- Each Beats model and version has slightly different packaging, making it harder to distinguish fake ones at times.
Check if the word “Studio” or “Solo” is large and has a trademark symbol at the bottom right. Beats Studio and Solo headphones are high-end models that are often counterfeited. Both types of headphones feature the model name printed large on the side and the back of the box. If the word 'Studio' or 'Solo' appears on the back without a trademark symbol at the bottom right, it could be a fake product.
- The trademark symbol is typically a smaller 'TM' in a different font.
- Some versions of the headphones might not have the TM symbol on the front or back, but the accompanying manual will include it.
Tip: The EP series headphones do not have a registered trademark, so they lack the trademark symbol. However, these headphones belong to the lower price range and are rarely counterfeited.
Compare the images of the headphones on the box with the ones on the official packaging. If the packaging is fake, the images on the box are likely to have been digitally altered. To make it look like the authentic product, counterfeiters may replace the image of the headphones on the box. Check if the image on the box matches the headphones shown on the official Beats website. Pay special attention to the highlights on the official packaging and compare them with the image on the suspicious box. If the image looks dimmer, it means the packaging has likely been edited, and it's almost certainly a counterfeit.
- On Studio and Solo boxes, the bright spots from reflections are located at the top of both headphones.
Check if the plastic seal properly covers the box. Beats headphone boxes must be securely sealed with plastic wrapping. If the plastic is loose, it could be a counterfeit product. If you're looking at a brand-new, unopened box, don't overlook any missing, torn, or damaged plastic wrapping.
- It’s difficult to reseal counterfeit headphones with the same plastic wrapping used on genuine Beats boxes. This is because most counterfeit manufacturers don't have the machinery necessary to properly seal the plastic.
Observe the stitching on the carrying case for brightness or thinness. Take out the carrying case and unzip it. Open the case and examine the area without the zipper, where the two sides of the case are folded together. If the padding inside the fold looks identical to the rest of the case's lining, it's likely genuine. If the fabric looks brighter or thinner than the rest of the case, the headphones might be counterfeit.
- This is a particularly common issue with counterfeit headphones. Many counterfeit producers focus on making the headphones look like the authentic ones but neglect details like the carrying case.
- Fake manufacturers often glue or stitch the two halves of the case together to complete it. This detail causes the fold of a fake case to look different from that of a genuine case.
- For genuine headphones, the padding on the fold will look exactly like the rest of the case's interior.
Check the serial number and software
A simple test is to locate the serial number printed on the headphones. With the headphones in hand, observe the area around each ear cushion. You will see “L” and “R” indicating the left and right ear. Extend the headphones and raise the headband. Look inside the exposed plastic of the headband to find the serial number. If the number is located on the left earphone, it is definitely a counterfeit.
- Beats never prints the serial number on the left earphone. However, just because the serial number is on the right doesn't guarantee the headphones are genuine.
- If the serial number is on the right, try registering it to check if it’s valid.
Register Beats online to verify the serial number's validity. Visit https://www.beatsbydre.com/register and wait for the registration screen to appear. Enter the serial number printed on the right earphone, then click “verify my serial number.” If a message saying “We’re Sorry” pops up, your serial number is invalid. This may indicate you’ve purchased a counterfeit product.
- If you bought second-hand headphones, the serial number may have already been verified. The seller may be able to provide you with documentation or their online records to prove the authenticity of the product.
Plug the headphones into your computer while accessing the upgrade page to run a check. Visit the Beats upgrade page, where headphone owners can update drivers and resolve security issues. The website will install the update via USB by connecting the cable to any port and linking it to the headphones. If these are fake headphones, an error message will pop up as soon as you connect the headphones for the update. Visit http://your.beatsbydre.com/#/?locale=en-US to open the update page.
Tip: You should avoid putting your computer at risk by plugging in fake headphones. The chances of your computer getting infected with malware or a virus are very high.
Measures to Prevent Counterfeit Products
Buy from authorized retail stores to avoid counterfeits. It's easy to end up with fake products if you purchase headphones from individual sellers online without any receipts or warranty details. Purchasing from a reputable seller at a physical retail store will minimize the risk.
Tip: Amazon, Best Buy, Micro Center, Nike, and Target are examples of authorized retailers. You can view a complete list of authorized retailers at https://www.beatsbydre.com/company/authorized-retailers.
Avoid deals that seem too good to be true. There is no reasonable explanation for someone selling headphones worth nearly 6,000,000 VND for just 1,000,000 VND; it could be counterfeit or defective. If the offer seems too good to be true, don't trust it. Unless there's a huge promotion at an authorized retail store or you're purchasing on Black Friday, there's likely a serious issue with the product.
Steer clear of classified or auction ads without documentation. While it's still possible to buy headphones at a good price through second-hand transactions, you must be cautious with deals that lack proper documentation. If the seller can't provide any paperwork, and you want to verify whether the headphones are genuine, try registering the serial number before making the payment. Authentic serial numbers cannot be faked.
- If the seller has registered the product, they must have the registration papers or a link to the profile showing the headphones in the list.
Advice
- When it comes to sound, Beats is often criticized for having inaccurate sound and overemphasizing bass. If you're buying headphones primarily for sound quality, consider checking out less trendy brands that are less likely to be counterfeited.
