Q: how to identify fake macbook air

You could check the product serial number against the online identification sites, that of course

could be faked. Also, if the computer has an OS X and is able to tell you in System Profiler or

other listing of internal hardware, a regular PC hardware would appear a bit different than Mac.

With the questionable product in your possession or close proximity for inspection, you may

find more information. If you can start it & read the information inside, much more is learned.

•How to identify your MacBook Air - Apple Support

Specifications could be cross-checked with online accessible databases, http://everymac.com

shows builds of Apple product listed and if you use an identify by serial number database, to

see what the alleged Apple or PC-fake isn't or is, that should be easy... Easier if you have it.

•Apple MacBook Air Specs  (All MB/Air Technical specs) - everymac.com:

http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook-air/index-macbook-air.html

•Identify your Mac - Lookup unit by Serial Number or Model Number:

https://www.powerbookmedic.com/identify-mac-serial.php

http://www.everymac.com/ultimate-mac-lookup/

If you have downloaded the MacTracker database, it can show you more information on each

model across nearly the entire brand. http://mactracker.ca is a source for this application D/L.

How to find your Mac's model and age? - ASC user tip

Some of these sites also offer visual identification of models, where to look for in-device

serial numbers, some may be hidden or inside; others visible if unit is On, in software.

Hopefully this helps somewhat. Also an indicator may be price. If a new Apple computer or

an iDevice relies on the original owner's Apple ID and their information, it may not be worth

owning unless they transfer it. If the unit has a tie-in to an AppleID and they haven't set it

up for a new user, you may have to take the unit to an Apple Authorized service provider to

have them help set up a new owner (appleID) if you don't know how. -- And take along the

original owner whose ID set up the Mac in the first place, so they can transfer ownership.

A fake product should not need an AppleID or it may have an illegal clone on board. A fake

would probably either be a hack- in tosh or a windows pc that looks like MacBook Air. Or a

copy made by some contractor to look like a Mac. You could look into the Apple site and

check to see how to inquire deeper, in Apple Legal site. Or how to report a fake.

Good luck & happy computing!

In addition to checking serials & specs, boot it, try Mac specific startup keys

T = target disk mode - does the disk mount on your Mac?

S = single user mode

alt = boot picker

p+r+cmd+alt = zap pram

Many others…

Startup key combinations for Intel-based Macs - Apple Support

Hackintosh's don't support all OS X startup commands… if they do, congratulations you have found a good clone

Since the MBA's body has not changed since 2010, you have to be wary of buying used MBA's where sellers are claiming it is the newer version. I have heard of cases on Craigslist where the seller advertised a 2013 MBA, but it turned out to be an older model. You will need to go into the system info and make sure it is the correct model with the correct specs.