Experts tell us which Chinese iPhone and Apple Watch refurbishments are most often sold under the guise of original ones

Up to 30% of iPhones presented on the secondary market in Russia are refurbished devices assembled from non-original spare parts in unauthorized workshops, reports DamProdam, a quick purchase service for equipment.

Such “Chinese reefs” often resemble the original models in appearance, but are characterized by low quality and unreliability.

Counterfeits are most often found among popular models (iPhone 14, 15) and older devices (iPhone 10 and 11). Often, scammers pass off such smartphones as newer models using someone else’s IMEI. For example, a common sales scheme is a case from an iPhone 15/16, inside an iPhone XR. In addition, the Apple Watch Ultra is also at risk, since original spare parts for them are expensive.

Unlike officially refurbished iPhones, which are tested by Apple and use official components (such devices are now practically available in Russia), “Chinese refurbished” ones do not have quality guarantees. They can quickly fail and have a number of characteristic disadvantages:

• reduced brightness
• incorrect display color rendering
• weak battery
• portable operation
• Poor sound and camera quality.
• tendency to overheat

In some cases, Face ID or Touch ID does not work.

The founder of the DamProdam service, Elena Bogatyreva, warns: advertising the price of an iPhone in marketplaces is a clear sign of counterfeiting. She advises buyers to always ask for documentation and check the reputation of sellers. Although the import and sale of “Chinese refs” are not prohibited in Russia, they do not contribute to the protection of consumer rights in the event of a breakdown.