How to Spot Fake Apple Watch Chargers

Inspect Packaging Quality and Branding

You can often spot a fake Apple Watch charger from its packaging. You can identify a counterfeit Apple charger if its packaging has spelling errors. The absence of spelling errors, though, doesn’t necessarily mean that the charger is fake. Nevertheless, if the packaging looks low quality and cheap, or if the Apple branding is off, it’s possible that it’s a fake charger.

Examine Cable and Connector Details

Another thing to check is the Apple Watch cable quality. Inspect the charger connectors and the cable itself for high-quality materials, proper alignment, and uniform thickness. If the quality seems off, it might be fake.

Check the model number on the cable itself. Authentic Apple Watch cables will have one of the following model numbers: A1570, A1598, A1647, A1714, A1768, A1923, A2055, A2056, A2086, A2255, A2256, A2257, A2458, A2515, A2652, or A2879.

If there is a different model number not listed here, it’s definitely fake. However, fake chargers can sometimes use real model numbers, so the reverse is not true.

Some authentic Apple charger cables will look like this:

Source: Apple.com

If the text is different, or if the color of the text or the color of the cable is different, it might be a fake charger.

Use Your Mac to Check the Charger’s Authenticity

If you own a Mac, you can easily check if an Apple charging cable is authentic or not. Connect the charging cable to your Mac.

Then, navigate to Apple menu > System Settings > General > About > System Report > USB and select your charging cable.

“Apple Inc.” should be listed as the manufacturer. If it’s not, then you have a fake charger.

Look for Official Apple Certification Labels

Some third-party cables are MFi certified. Although not made by Apple itself, they are certified by Apple to have met rigorous standards that meet the requirements for charging Apple devices. These chargers, despite being third-party chargers, are safe for Apple devices as they have undergone this certification process.

To check if a charger is MFi certified, look for one of the following logos on the packaging:

Look for Official Apple Certification Labels

Of course, counterfeit chargers may put a logo on their packaging despite not being authorized by Apple to do so. However, Apple has a public database of MFi certified devices, including chargers. You can search by model number, brand, and more to check if the charger you got is indeed MFi certified by Apple. Go here to search the database.

Beware of Variations in Multiple Units

Another thing worth noting is that if you buy multiple Apple Watch chargers of the same model, they should look the same. If you buy multiple chargers of the same model and they have visible differences in design, that’s a good way to tell that you’ve spotted a fake Apple accessory.

Where to Buy Authentic Apple Watch Chargers

So, where to buy an Apple Watch charger if you want to avoid fakes? Apple.com/shop, which is the official Apple website, is the best place to buy authentic chargers. You will never have to worry whether your charger is fake. For example, you can buy this Apple Watch charger directly from Apple.

You can also go to this page to find authorized resellers near you. These resellers are authorized by Apple to sell its products.

Avoid buying products from Amazon, eBay, or AliExpress if you want to avoid the chance of buying a fake charger.

Conclusion

We hope this guide helps you avoid fake Apple Watch chargers. We’ve given you a few ways to verify an Apple Watch charger’s authenticity. By buying directly from Apple, though, you can remove all doubt and ensure you have an authentic charger.