Android phones are produced at a large scale yearly. Its popularity has created a space for dealers to counterfeit as many brands as possible, imitating all exact features found on the original so that the fake can appear genuine.
From the outer layer, screen, logos, branding, packaging and accessories, everything is made to look exactly the same. Because of this, itβs usually difficult for people to tell these phones apart.
Buying a look- a-like phone is very risky. Although most times they are sold at cheaper prices, they are often made of lesser quality. If you’re interested in a phone always;
-Inspect it’s appearance and functionality.
– Check the quality of the phone, and;
– Use an IMEI code
The following methods listed above are explained briefly:
1. INSPECT ITS APPEARANCE AND FUNCTIONALITY
It is important to look closely at a phone you’re interested in buying. By doing so, you may notice a few odd differences between a productβs original and a fake. Things like dull colors, fake logos, weight of phone, screen size, the location of the buttons, size and spelling of the brand name. For example brand spellings like NokIa intead of Nokia, Techno instead of Tecno, Samsvng instead of Samsung and many more. Also, test the phone by checking out its performance. If a phone dealer refuses to let you do that, insist on it. As you check it out, if you notice a slower processing speed and very little memory compared to the original, then it is no doubt that it is a fake phone.
2. CHECK THE QUALITY OF THE PHONE
A fake product will always be fake. If the phone looks very cheap and rushed all the time, it is most likely that it is a fake. Counterfeit mobile phones seem to always be available in the market, most especially when the genuine model is out of stock. Always purchase a phone from authorized dealers only. Also, ensure you insist on a warranty certificate of about 6 to 12 months. It would keep you covered incase anything ever happens. Fake phones come with shorter guarantees and never last long.
3. USE AN IMEI CODE
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. Phones originality can easily be judged with an IMEI number. You can dial *#06# on your phone to get your IMEI number. Once youβve gotten that, use your browser and go to the site imei.info. Input the number in the dialogue box and hit CHECK. The system will automatically provide your phones information. If it says anything other than the original brand of your phone then you know your phone is a fake.
These methods will help you determine how genuine your android phone is. Try it! If you happen to own a fake phone it is advisable you at least attempt to return it from where it was originally purchased. If you purchased the phone online, contact the seller and arrange for a refund or report to the police.
