Buying AirPods on Facebook Marketplace

AirPods are the most counterfeited Apple product. Period. Some estimates suggest over half of “AirPods” on secondary markets are fake. But with the right tests, you can catch fakes every time.

The counterfeit problem is real

Fake AirPods have gotten disturbingly good. Modern counterfeits:

• Look nearly identical to genuine ones
• Come in convincing packaging
• Show battery popups on iPhones (using workarounds)
• Sound decent to untrained ears

But they can’t replicate Apple’s proprietary H1/H2 chip. That’s exactly how we catch them.

The instant pairing test (this is the one that matters)

Real AirPods with Apple’s chip pair automatically and instantly.

How it should work:

1. Open the AirPods case near an iPhone
2. Within 2-3 seconds, a popup appears showing the AirPods and battery levels
3. Tap “Connect” and they pair instantly

How fakes behave:

• No popup appears at all
• Require manual pairing via Settings → Bluetooth
• Show a popup, but it’s delayed (5+ seconds) or looks slightly different

Critical: Do this test with YOUR iPhone, not the seller’s. Some counterfeits are pre-programmed to show fake popups with specific phones. Your iPhone won’t be fooled.

If a seller won’t let you pair with your own phone before buying, that’s an instant pass.

Serial number verification

Every pair of AirPods has a serial number. Check it.

Where to find it:

• Printed inside the charging case lid
• Or after pairing: Settings → Bluetooth → tap (i) next to AirPods → Serial Number

Verify at: Apple’s Check Coverage

Real AirPods show:

• Correct product name (AirPods Pro 2nd generation, etc.)
• Purchase date
• Warranty/coverage status

Fakes show:

• “Unable to check coverage for this serial number”
• A different product than what you’re buying
• Impossible dates (manufactured in the future, etc.)

Battery health check

AirPods batteries degrade faster than you’d expect. After 2 years of heavy use, you might get 2 hours instead of 5.

How to check (after pairing):

1. Put AirPods in ears
2. Settings → Bluetooth → tap (i) next to AirPods
3. On AirPods Pro 2: Battery Health shows a percentage
4. Older models: No battery health display, so you need to test manually

Manual battery test:

1. Note the battery percentage
2. Play music for 30 minutes
3. Check again

Should only drop about 10-15%. If it drops 30%+, the battery is degraded.

Apple’s battery service:

• Each AirPod: $29 replacement
• Charging case: $29 replacement
• AirPods Max: $79

Factor these costs into heavily-used AirPods. Sometimes a cheap pair with bad batteries + Apple replacements is still a good deal.

AirPods Pro specific checks

Ear tips: Genuine Apple silicone tips feel smooth and slightly tacky. Fakes often feel harder or have visible seams.

Run the Ear Tip Fit Test: Settings → AirPods → Ear Tip Fit Test

Active Noise Cancellation: Should dramatically reduce ambient noise. Test it somewhere noisy if possible. Fakes have weak or non-functional ANC.

Transparency mode: Should sound natural, like you’re not wearing earbuds. Fakes sound robotic or echoey.

Spatial Audio: With supported content, sound should track your head movement. Test it: Settings → AirPods → Spatial Audio → toggle to demo.

AirPods Max specific checks

AirPods Max are expensive and commonly counterfeited.

Weight: Real: 384 grams (noticeably heavy, premium feel). Fakes are often lighter.

Digital Crown: Should rotate smoothly with precise clicks. Fakes have mushy, imprecise crowns.

Smart Case: The real case triggers ultra-low power mode when you put them in. Fakes don’t properly sleep the headphones.

Build quality: Real AirPods Max use aluminum and stainless steel—cold to the touch. Fakes often use plastic painted to look like metal.

Sound quality test

Bring music you know well. Listen carefully.

Real AirPods sound:

• Clean and balanced
• Strong bass without distortion
• Clear highs
• Good soundstage

Fakes sound:

• Muddy or harsh
• Distorted at higher volumes
• Weak bass
• Generally “cheap”

If you’ve used real AirPods before, the difference is obvious. If the seller won’t let you listen, walk away.

Find My / Activation Lock

AirPods Pro 2 and later support Find My network.

Check: Settings → Bluetooth → (i) next to AirPods → Find My Network

If it shows someone else’s information or can’t be removed from their account, the AirPods may be stolen or still linked to the previous owner.

What’s a fair price?

Early 2026 Marketplace prices for good condition:

Model	Good Condition	Fair Condition
AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C)	$150-180	$120-150
AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning)	$120-150	$90-120
AirPods Pro 1st gen	$80-110	$60-80
AirPods 3rd gen	$100-130	$70-100
AirPods 2nd gen	$50-70	$35-50
AirPods Max	$350-450	$280-350

“Fair condition” = degraded battery or cosmetic issues

Significantly below these prices? Be very skeptical. Counterfeits are priced to sell fast.

Red flags summary

These are immediate dealbreakers:

• Won’t let you pair with your iPhone
• Requires Bluetooth settings to pair (no instant popup)
• Serial number doesn’t verify
• Seller has multiple “sealed” boxes for sale (bulk counterfeit seller)
• Price more than 40% below market
• They got them as a “gift” with no receipt

Your verification checklist

Bring your iPhone. Test everything.

• Instant pairing popup appears (within 3 seconds of opening case)
• Serial number verifies on Apple’s site
• Sound quality is good
• ANC works properly (Pro/Max)
• Transparency mode sounds natural (Pro/Max)
• Battery doesn’t drain rapidly
• Both earbuds work equally well
• Charging case charges both buds and itself

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Not sure about those AirPods? Spottable AI for Chrome analyzes listings for counterfeit indicators, pricing accuracy, and suspicious seller patterns—so you know what’s real.