GoKawiiliFixit recently visited the Huaqiangbei district of Shenzhen, China, where they bought Apple Watch Ultra 3, AirPods Max 2, and AirPods Pro 3 knockoffs, took them back to the studio, and immediately disassembled them. Here’s what they found.
As iFixit explains in the video, Huaqiangbei is a global hub for repair parts for most electronics sold worldwide.
It is also a place where visitors can buy counterfeit products that, from the outside, may look a lot like the real thing, but do not hold up under closer inspection (or, in this case, once you look inside).
Tearing down the fake Apple Watch Ultra 3
As soon as iFixit’s Shahram Mokhtari picks up the fake Apple Watch Ultra 3 and starts interacting with its operating system, he notices that tapping any app on the watch face just activates Night Mode, which tints the interface red, rather than opening the app he’s tapping.
He also notices that the Taptic Engine feels different, and that most sensors (except for the heart rate sensor) are painted on the back of the device’s plastic shell (rather than ceramic or sapphire).
Once Mokhtari opens the fake Apple Watch Ultra 3, he notes that the 260 mAh battery (less than half the capacity of the real thing) is basically loose inside the case, with its wires soldered to the main board.
Tearing down the fake AirPods Max 2
As with the fake Apple Watch Ultra 3, Mokhtari notes that as soon as you pick up the fake AirPods Max 2, you notice differences in materials, textures, and build.
That includes a plastic rather than aluminum shell, as well as cushions that are more squishy than the real thing.
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