How many times is it that you buy a product and it turns out that product was fake one (or a Chinese version of the original) or maybe it was a used unit?
Well it happened with my friend thrice and another time to me. Unfortunately it is becoming a common practice these days, especially in a country like Pakistan where lot of products are not officially sold by manufacturers themselves.
Experience teaches a man a lot and it did teach me several things, which I am sharing with you:
1. See reviews and pictures of the product online. Believe me this is really helpful especially in case of devices like iPhone 4S (as there is almost no difference in the design of 4S and its predecessor iPhone 4).
2. See the back of the device and logo carefully. The placement of LED Flash and ports on the side of device carefully. Their location might be changed. But the most important thing is the logo. In most cases, it might be cleverly written to like look the original. But upon careful inspection, differences might appear. Instead of NOKIA, it might be NOKTA or N0KIA (N ZERO OKIA) or APPlE instead of APPLE.
3. And here comes a very weak spot, the camera. The camera of these cheap devices take very blurred pictures and they does look cloudy. The videos too are nothing short of portable earthquakes. The icons of the camera interface might be changed too.
4. Check the OS carefully. It might not be so smooth as your dream phone. You might’ve known that upon pressing the home button in iPhone, icons seem to flow back to the screen. This little animation and other things might not happen in fake phones.
5. Memorize the specs carefully. No, not all. But do check whether the device you’re buying is dual-sim/micro-SD card/micro-sim card supported. Ask the shopkeeper about these specs. This really can help you.
6. Don’t be shy. If you’re buying a device worth thousands, you’ve every right to ask ANY question from the retailer. Also notice the face of the retailer upon asking the originality of the device.
7. Check the device for any physical damage. A lot of shopkeepers do sell used devices after replacing physically damaged parts.
8. Check the retail box. Check the charger. Check whether the box really looks like the retail box of original phone.
9. Take a look at the pre-installed applications. Are they the same? Do they have the same interface? A lot of fake phones have applications that have similar logos like the original ones but they aren’t completely same.
10. Browse the web. No it does sound awkward but it will help. Iphone, Android, WP7 and Meego have brilliant browsers. Fake ones might not be so smooth. And then shock the retailer by accessing the online software store. Its not THAT helpful but if your device is a fake one, it may not be able to access the store.
These all may require you to do a bit of a research of the device you’re about to buy on the web. But the hard work always pays off and you will get the thing you deserve. Best of luck!
Good info thanks dear
ahhh, i was betrayed many times this topics helps alot in differentiating, but about china products they are rapidly moving towards trustable products ,
Forgot to mentioned?, Only purchase from Authentic Retailer instead of looking to save up few hundred Rupees !
I would like to add one more thing, a person having experience of using any china mobile (including manufactures who have chinese version of OS) cannot be cheated easily. As they are familiar with the fake OS and all of these are almost the same.
We should always buy cell phones from a trusted companies. Not from FAke.
Always take somone with you no matter he/she is an expert or not always works.
hi friendz
even well-known selling groups do this same…
my cousin faced this problem 2 time and my friend also……and u all know very well the SELECTO Group specially around the Lahore and Faisalabad,
one time there was captured images already saved…having background of some godown/packaging place,
another time all the assessories was local china..
once i visits SELCTO hafeezcenter branch…they were resealing the mobile boxes….3 years happen to this and i never go at SELECTO
gud work azeem
This is a useful article, but I suggest you should also add people should be very careful about buying second hand or through dubious shops in order to save a couple of thousand rupees. Just save up enough for a brand new, seal packed, good phone and I agree – as a spender of money, take your time fully checking it. Another thing is that people often ask friends or relatives abroad to buy them phones and expect them to be brand new and completely original. The refurbishing scene is going very strong in the Middle East, so be careful!
For me the biggest giveaway whether it’s original or fake is build and screen quality. Blurred, pixelated screen, shaddy/cheap build quality and as you said the software interface.
kya Q mobile aur G phone theak hai, in ka result kaisa hai, camra wagra.
Hi, mere sath b bht bar ye cheating ho chuki hai, or me reletives k sath bhi repacked sets ki cheating ho chuki hai .Lahore mein SHALIMAR HOSPITAL k pas well known KHAN MOBILE wale aksar repacked sets sale kar dete hein ..mene 1 bar unko complain bhi ki meri behas start ho gai or AMEER KHAN ne mujhay PiSTOL dikha kar dhamki di.mein bht mushkil se apni jan chura kar wahn se nikla tha.
That’s why I love HTC.
There’s no FAKE version of HTC available.
What about shophive.com, Is it trusted online shoping store?
We bought a mobile and a phone from them. Pay on delivery service is available as well. I would recommend shophive!
Do you know that interface of original and china made phones are totally different and it would be another way to avoid shocks! :D
There is a difference in original and Fake, but this article is useful for all those who are unaware of the brand and the market. I would suggest to all the buyers to buy the phone from authentic retailer
I update my iPhone to 5.0.1 and unthered jailbreak using redsnow. I used gevey sim to unlock but it only show one bar of network could you help how to solve this problem. Thank you
Thanks Azeem, nice and easy steps to check..