[News] CT Scans Unveil Authentic AirPods’ Structural Superiority and Quality

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According to TechNews’ report, ever since the introduction of Apple’s AirPods, there’s been a surge in demand for true wireless earphones, resulting in a proliferation of knockoffs attempting to mimic the success of AirPods.

While these counterfeits may resemble AirPods in appearance and claim to match their functionality, can they truly serve as a substitute for the genuine article?

To explore this, the startup company Lumafield turned to CT scanning technology, originally used in medical diagnostics, now finding new applications in combating counterfeit electronics.

After examining the internal structure of genuine and counterfeit AirPods, Lumafield concluded that the intricate and precise design of the authentic AirPods is unmatched by counterfeit products. They elaborated on three aspects: batteries, circuitry, and build quality.

Batteries

Lumafield highlighted that batteries are crucial to the wireless convenience and flexibility of AirPods. Authentic AirPods feature meticulously designed button cell batteries in each earbud, aimed at snugly fitting the compact design and providing optimal power.

In contrast, counterfeit AirPods use lithium-ion pouch cell batteries, structurally simpler and potentially less safe than the genuine ones. The counterfeit AirPods simply cram rectangular batteries into circular spaces, lacking the tailored fit of the authentic design.

Circuitry

Regarding internal circuitry, Lumafield deemed the genuine AirPods a marvel of miniaturization and precision engineering.

Apple uses a combination of rigid and flexible printed circuit boards to densely pack components, ensuring effective utilization of every millimeter of internal space in AirPods. Counterfeits, on the other hand, are much simpler, composed of off-the-shelf components, compromising functionality with fewer microphones and control circuitry, thus affecting sound quality.

Build Quality

The stark contrast in overall build quality between authentic AirPods and counterfeits is evident. In one of the tested counterfeit AirPods, wireless charging is entirely absent (as no coils are visible in the scans), while the other counterfeit model lacks the magnets that snap the real AirPods case onto Apple’s Watch charger, despite having wireless charging coils.

Counterfeit AirPods even resort to using internal weights solely to mimic the weight of the genuine product. While these counterfeits may replicate the appearance of the original, the use of inferior materials not only impacts the tactile experience but also compromises the structural integrity and overall lifespan of the product.

Authentic vs. Counterfeit

Lumafield highlighted that the differences between these products and their counterfeits might seem subtle at first, but industrial CT scans revealed significant implications for performance and safety. Ultimately, choosing between authentic and counterfeit may not merely be a matter of cost but rather a decision about investing in reliability and peace of mind.

(Photo credit: Lumafield)