Are my used AirPods Pro 3 genuine?

I bought a used pair of AirPods Pro 3 and I cannot determine if they are genuine or if I was scammed.

At first glance, they look authentic. I have all the ear tips and accessories, the serial number is recognized, and everything appears correctly on my iPhone. I get the normal pairing animation when opening the case, and Find My detects the AirPods and even shows the left and right earbuds separately.

However, I noticed some things that make me suspicious:

  • The case is not magnetic and does not charge on an Apple Watch charger, although it does charge on normal Qi wireless chargers.
  • The case feels less solid compared to an AirPods Pro 2 case I have access to.
  • The sound quality seems worse than my Redmi Buds 6 Lite, which I was planning to replace.
  • Find My does not seem to have the full precision finding features. When the AirPods are inside the closed case, I cannot locate the case at all.
  • The Apple Support app says the AirPods have AppleCare+.

I am using a current-generation iPhone, so compatibility should not be an issue.

Could these still be genuine AirPods with a hardware defect, or are these signs that they are counterfeit?

iPhone 17 Pro Max, iOS 26

Posted on Jul 11, 2026 1:13 PM

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Are my used AirPods Pro 3 genuine?

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