recognize the original kind or fake charger 60w.

Hey pouan_ch_ir,

I'd check out this article, it goes over which power adapter, power cord, and plug are appropriate for each Intel-based Apple notebook, and what they look like.

Intel-Based Apple notebooks: Identifying the right power adapter and power cord

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2346

Cheers,
David

The Apple chargers will have an apple on one side of the charger. Third party chargers will not have the apple. Apple doesn’t make any chargers. They buy them from the same manufacturers that the third party sellers are buying from. The only difference is that Apple has their logo imprinted on the charger.

Actually there is a whole range of fake chargers available, and many of them have the Apple logo.

A good way to spot a fake is to look at the round pin which fits to the plug head. It also acts as the ground connection, so it should be metal, but in many of the fakes it is grey plastic.

To be certain that you are getting the genuine article you could buy directly from the online Apple store or from a reputable dealer.

"..The only difference is that Apple has their logo imprinted on the charger..."

Clearly there are additional significant differences because some wear out or break or come apart quickly.

The question remains, what is a good visual check of a unit to be sure it came through Apple?

Thanks but it's not likely that I will buy the additional three units I need from Apple.

I use the MBP in four different locations. It is moved between these locations daily. If this doesn't wear out any single adapter, then I don't know what will. Plugging, unplugging, wrapping and schlepping every trip is just the thing to assure a left-at-home adapter when I need it most. The strategy is for power at all locations. It has worked for all my iBooks for ten years when third party units could be counted on. The transformers aren't the problem. It's the connectors and the sub-par make of the flexing parts. 
 


I need at least three additional units to leave on site at the remote locations. That's one heck of a good reason to own less expensive adapters. So, for me, this question remains unanswered.

$320. for three additional new OEM units, added to the cost of the used MacBook Pro I just bought, pushes the whole deal to the limits.

(Just one look at the 1.3 star rating on the product image you sent tells me that the factory units are not a good buy if they are actually used daily.)

If Apple (who makes amazingly good quality products) continues to make every item only Apple-replaceable, then the parts should be of the same quality as the other hardware, not the quality of GM's ignition switches.

Used pre-owned OEM units seem to be the best deal if carefully selected.

--GG

You could check for correct inventory from reputable suppliers to the Apple community...

Some authentic magsafe adapters and other kinds of parts are listed for laptops here:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/powerbook-ibook-macbook/

Though I've never done business with them, someone gave me a few previously owned

external hard drive enclosures. And have not used them either. Been a few years.

Good luck 🙂

The fakers are getting increasingly good. I bought a new spare charger from a trade seller on Fleabay last year. It came in an Apple looking box with all the usual protect your **s paperwork. After a few days, the MagSafe 2 connector started to get very hot and the pins went black. I took it to an Apple service centre. They showed me it was a fake as it did not have a code label next to the metal earthing pin on the power connector and the tiny font on the label underneath was slightly off. It had the indented Apple logo on the side and the metal earth pin. I contacted the seller but he did not reply and is no longer a seller - typical.

I think the only way you may now be able to tell the difference is by how hot the MagSafe gets. Our puppy chewed the cable on an original 85W brick last week (luckily for him, he chose the low voltage side)! I tried repairing the coaxial low voltage cable by soldering but it did not work for some reason. The casing broke when I tried to prise it apart using the opening pliers in the cable clips recesses method, which used to work, so I could not fit a new cable. I bought another "genuine" new Apple 85W brick off another eBay trade seller. It arrived today, again in the correct looking box. However this one's MagSafe 2 connector stays cool and all the other things are correct, so I am guessing it really is "genuine".

If it seems too cheap to be true, it's a fake. Just made this mistake myself - I should have realised that there's no way an eBay seller would have a large, legitimate source of genuine adaptors at a third of the Apple price.

If you think you've got a fake, compare it very carefully with a genuine one (before using it). If it's fake you'll see some very small differences. I'm not going to list them here in case fakers are reading this.

I have bought a whole lot of these - both from Apple and from OEM sellers. None of them last very long so it's good to have one on standby. I just bought another one from eBay today and they are guaranteeing it's genuine with a 1 yr. warranty for $31. Well, we'll see if it's genuine and if it actually lasts! It's annoying that Apply builds amazing products but outsources their peripherals that are often junk. The reviews for the keyboard for the super-duper 9.7" iPad Pro are terrible and it costs $149. While other manufacturers are selling them on Amazon for $49 and 5 star ratings. Don't they get that people notice this stuff and that it ultimately undermines the credibility of Apple?

Order the genuine article from the Apple Store if available.

http://store.apple.com/us/mac/mac-accessories/power#!

Many thanks for the helpful suggestion.

Yes, the link you supplied produced the product (OEM) at a 36% discount.

That's a help. I'm pleasantly surprised.

--GG