Before you buy that piece of tech you’re considering, make sure it’s not a counterfeit. Some tech products are commonly faked, leading to wasted money and frustration—but some are faked more than others.
1 Phone Chargers
Counterfeit third-party phone chargers are the form of fake tech that I have the most experience with by a considerable amount. In my early days of owning an iPhone, I lost count of how many fake chargers I used. This was partially due to a lack of due diligence, but I was also a broke student and thought buying the cheapest option was smart.
Each time I bought these chargers, they’d break within a few months. And if that didn’t happen, you could guarantee they would stop working.
The simple rule here is that “too good to be true” exists for a reason. If you’re buying a charger, ensure your phone manufacturer has certified it. This is also a key consideration before switching to a wireless charger.
2 Headphones
Picture this: I’m on holiday in 2015 and see a pair of really “well-priced” Beats by Dre headphones. I don’t have another pair, so naturally, I buy them. Within a few days, I was using the hotel gym and noticed some crackling. Weird, but whatever.
After being home for around a month, the headphones stopped working. Useful lesson here: Don’t buy counterfeit headphones (well, don’t buy counterfeit accessories full-stop).
Much cheaper pricing is a surefire sign of fake headphones, and so is incorrect spelling. Different colors and non-existent manuals are other red flags to look out for.
3 Power Banks
You need to be careful when buying power banks; I’ve had several negative experiences because I didn’t do my research. For example, I once had a power bank that prevented my phone from working unless connected to it. Whenever I disconnected my phone, the battery would last less than an hour—even at 100%—which was infuriating.
There’s nothing wrong with buying a third-party power bank, but you should also note that some are more legitimate than others. Again, making sure that the device has been certified by your phone manufacturer is the most important thing to think about. You might think you’re getting a good deal by going for something that costs less, but the long-term damage isn’t worth it.
4 USBs and External Hard Drives
Cloud storage is the go-to for many people, but keeping a copy of certain files and folders is a good idea. For example, I like to store important documents in an extra place in case something goes wrong. However, considering the sensitive nature of what you store on external drives, you must pick something that will last the long run.
All hard drives indeed die, but some are infinitely better than others. It might also seem like a waste of money to spend a lot on one, but trust me—I’ve been on both sides of the coin, and your life will be much better if you pick something durable.
I recommend using a LaCie external hard drive, and you can also check out several other durable and portable chargers.
5 Charging Stations
Because of my negative experience with many third-party chargers and power banks, I did significant research before purchasing a 3-in-1 charging station. I suggest doing the same because you’ll find numerous counterfeit versions when searching online.
The same logic applies when looking for a phone charger or power bank. You must ensure your charging station is cleared to work with your device. Since I use an iPhone and Apple Watch, I sought to ensure that my charging station was compatible. Buying it from an Apple Store made things easier, but you don’t necessarily have to do that. Start by looking at the best charging stations for multiple devices.
6 Smartwatches
It might seem strange, but smartwatches are often counterfeited. Your watch should have the company logo without any variations, and you’ll also notice a serial number if it’s real. If you’ve just bought one, I recommend keeping an eye on it for a few months, as it can sometimes take time for things to go wrong.
You’ll often find fake smartwatches on marketplaces and away from official sources. For example, some scams on Temu feature low-quality products (like fake smartwatches). At the very least, buy your watch from a licensed reseller or a reputable electronics website.
7 All-in-One Travel Adapters
I travel a lot, and sometimes, I’m across regions with different plug sockets. It’s easier if you have an adapter that works with multiple sockets, but you must be careful with this. In the past, I’ve purchased all-in-one adapters that simply did not work, which naturally led to more frustration (and spending more money).
If you buy an all-in-one adapter, look at reviews before doing so. You should also assess its quality; even if it’s legitimate, that doesn’t mean it won’t quickly break.
8 Games Console Controllers
To say that I had a short temper as a teenager would be an understatement, and losing FIFA games brought the worst out of me. Sometimes, it would get too much, and my charger would find itself launched across the other side of the room… which naturally annoyed me even more (though it was completely my fault).
I would then buy low-quality controllers, which was a problem for multiple reasons. First, they never felt as good as the original, and second, the quality was even worse. Eventually, they’d also stop working mid-game, which naturally led to more frustration.
To be honest, I think that you should just buy game controllers developed by the console manufacturer. Oh, and I also learned to manage my temper so they would no longer get thrown.
9 Spare Batteries
Third-party batteries are sometimes an amazing purchase. I have one for my Fujifilm camera that I use more than the original because its battery life is significantly better. However, I’ve also had some that are atrocious.
If you’re buying from a manufacturer you don’t know, err on the side of caution. Ideally, you’ll find something created by Duracell that you can be certain is a good choice. Similarly, I recommend getting high-quality replaceable batteries if you need them.
It’s difficult to differentiate between fake tech and legitimate purchases, but researching is vital for avoiding annoyances later. Saving money to buy the cheaper version might seem like a good idea, but you’ll spend more to replace it.
