How to Tell if Beats Are Fake

Inspecting the Packaging

1. How to Tell if Beats Are Fake Picture 1
   Look at the typeface on the box to see if it's blurry or clean. Often, you can determine whether Beats are fake or not simply by looking carefully at the words on the box. Real Beats have a strong contrast between the letters on the outside of the package and the minimalistic background. If the letters are blurry, faded, or look like they were printed on paper and glued to the box, you may have a box of fake Beats.^[1]

   1. Every model and version of Beats has slightly different packaging. This can make it hard to identify certain fakes.
2. How to Tell if Beats Are Fake Picture 2
   Check the big 'Studio' or 'Solo' for a trademark logo on the bottom right. The Studio and Solo model of Beats headphones are the 2 higher-end models that are often faked. Both of these headphones have the model name printed in large letters on the side and back of the box. If the Studio or Solo printed on the back doesn't have a trademark logo on the bottom right side, it may be a fake pair.^[2]

   1. The trademark logo is simply the letters TM, printed in a smaller font.
   2. Some versions of the headphones don't have the trademark logo on the front or back, but on the manual that comes with the headphones.

   Tip: The EP lineup of headphones is not trademarked, so it won't have a trademark logo. They are the cheaper lineup of headphones though, so they're rarely counterfeited.

3. How to Tell if Beats Are Fake Picture 3
   Compare the photo of the headphones on the box to an authentic package. If the packaging is fake, the box may have been digitally edited. To look authentic, the counterfeiter likely had to replace the picture of the headphones on the box. See if the headphone on the box matches the headphones on the Beats official website. Specifically, compare the highlights created by the light on the official packaging to the highlights on the box you're inspecting. If the photo is off, the packaging is edited and you almost certainly have a fake pair.^[3]

   1. On the Studio and Solo boxes, the highlights created by the lights are on the top of the ear on both the left and the right.
4. How to Tell if Beats Are Fake Picture 4
   Investigate the plastic seal to see if it's airtight around the packaging. The box that the Beats come in should be firmly sealed in a plastic cover. If the plastic isn't airtight, the Beats may have been tampered with. If you're considering buying a brand new pair, don't go through with the purchase if the plastic is missing, partially removed, or damaged.^[4]

   1. It is really hard to reseal fake headphones in the plastic casing that real Beats come in. This is because most counterfeiters don't have access to the binding machines needed to seal something in plastic.
5. How to Tell if Beats Are Fake Picture 5
   Look at the seam on the carrying case to see if it's shiny or thin. Take the carrying case out and unzip it. Unfold the carrying case and inspect the zipper-less section where the 2 halves of the case fold over. If the padding on the inside of the crease is identical to the rest of the case's padding, the beats are probably real. If the fabric is shinier or thinner than the rest of the case, the headphones may be fake.^[5]

   1. This is an exceptionally common element amongst counterfeit headphones. Many fake headphone manufacturers put all of the effort into making the headphones look right that they forget about things like the carrying case.
   2. Counterfeiters will often take 2 broken halves of the carrying case and glue or knit them together to refit a carrying case. This makes the crease for a fake pair look different than a real one.
   3. On a real pair, the padding on the crease will be identical to the rest of the case.