How To Spot A Fake Apple Watch

Found an amazing deal on an Apple Watch that seems too good to be true? Well, there’s a strong chance it is. The market for knock-off Apple Watches is rife, as many people can’t resist the chance to own one of these sought-after, pricey gadgets at a fraction of the cost. Whenever a new Apple product comes out, there’s a black market in fake tech goods just waiting to knowingly or unknowingly entice people in.

So if you’re looking at your new Apple Watch Series 5 that you bagged for a bargain price, and are wondering whether it’s the real thing, we thought we’d help you out with this guide on “how to spot a fake Apple Watch”.

Jump to our Apple Watch Series 3 infographic or find below our handy guide on How to spot a fake Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 4 (and most likely Series 6!).

Some fake Apple Watches are pretty convincing to the untrained eye until you start running their software and features, whereas others are lower in quality and it’s a bit more obvious from just looking at them that they’re a dupe (unless you’re really far away!). Then there are the smartwatch designs that are clearly designed to ape the look of an Apple Watch, but under a completely different brand name. These might be alright if you’re after the style cred of an Apple Watch but don’t mind about having all the functionality.

If you’ve fallen victim to a counterfeit Apple Watch retailer, you’ll be stuck with a device that may look okay at first glance but has bad quality tech, won’t connect properly and will be missing key features. One other surprising,quirk of these fakes is that they often have a longer battery life than the Apple Watch. This is due to their decreased functionality being less of a strain on battery power.

If you do happen to have a suspected counterfeit Apple Watch, Apple recommends that you report it to them on their website’s counterfeit reporting page here.

With the launch of the September 2020 Apple Watch Series 6, there have been many dupes cropping up already. If the latest Apple Watch appears on the market before its official release, there’s a good chance that it’s a fake. And if you find a Series 6 Apple Watch for sale with the signs explained below, you could have a fake on your hands.

If your budget does not stretch to Apple Watches but you’re after a connected wearable that looks sleek and can help you track your fitness goals, why not take a look at some of our other stylish designer smartwatches or our selection of the latest sports watches?

Read on to find out how to spot a fake Apple Watch, with a few common red flags to look for.

How to spot a fake Apple Watch Series 5 and Series 4

These are the latest models of Apple Watch, released in 2018 and 2019. Series 5 and Series 4 Apple Watches come in two case sizes, and are slightly bigger than their predecessors with 30% larger display.

Apple Watch Series 4 and 5 (small)
Height: 40mm
Width: 34mm
Depth: 10.7mm
Case weight: 30.1g (aluminium) 39.8g (stainless steel)

Apple Watch Series 4 and 5 (large)
Height: 44mm
Width: 38mm
Depth: 10.7mm
Case weight: 36.7g (aluminium) 47.9g (stainless steel)

Fake “Apple Watches Series 4/ Series 5” giveaways:

• Screen: Larger bezel around the edge with a display that doesn’t fit the screen, so there’s space between the screen edge and case. Poor screen resolution – screen is very reflective and harder to read.
• Charging: No magnetic wireless charging, or it doesn’t produce a “ding” when connected to the magnetic charge.
• Software and interface: Software will be slower, less responsive. Doesn’t have all the Apple apps you’d expect. Compatible with Android.
• Inside: No Apple branding or logo on battery.
• Straps: Straps can’t always be removed.
• Back of watch: Genuine Apple Watch models are equipped with heart rate sensors and spec text on the rear. Original Apple Watch has 4 round sensors in a diamond pattern. Fake Apple Watches lack sensors or have a different arrangement on the back.

How to spot a fake Apple Watch Series 3

As soon as the Apple Watch was announced the market was flooded with cheap knock-offs. All doing their best to mimic the world’s most coveted smartwatch, with some getting closer than others.

As more and more of these “clone” smartwatches enter the market, the question becomes: can you tell the difference between a real Apple Watch and a copy? Perhaps the person next to you, who has been proudly wearing an “Apple Watch” for months, has been duped or is attempting to dupe you?

Many of these clone watches that are on the market are being sold at a fraction of the price of the real thing, offer less functionality and look suspiciously similar to the Apple Watch itself. One other, and surprising, quirk of these fakes is that they often have a longer battery life than the Apple Watch. This is due to their decreased functionality being less of a strain on battery power.

You may come across these fakes being passed off as Real Apple watch on a friend’s wrist, in a less than honest market or by unscrupulous dealers online. Read through this graphic to learn the key differences between the Apple Watch and its imitators.

If your budget does not stretch to Apple watches why not take a look at some of our other Sports Watches?

Add this infographic to your blog or website: