Trying to Pair Counterfeit AirPods May Prompt Warning in iOS 16

If you purchased phony AirPods, iOS 16 will reportedly give you a heads up.

In December, Apple began flagging unknown components in repaired iDevices, alerting users when a part is non-genuine, was used in another handset, or isn't functioning correctly. It appears the same code will soon notify folks when they try pairing bogus branded earbuds, according to 9to5Mac, which spotted the feature in this week's developer release of iOS 16.

The operating system, which officially rolls out on Sept. 12, can detect and warn users about counterfeit AirPods, some models of which are such good dupes that they trigger features like automatic pairing and battery indicator.

When you've spent hundreds on what you think are a set of sleek headphones, the last thing you want to see is a message warning you that the accessory "could not be verified as genuine AirPods and may not behave as expected."

Users should see a "Don't Connect" option, as well as a "Learn More" button, which 9to5Mac says redirects customers to an Apple support article with more details on how to identify authentic earbuds (at which point it's a little too late). There are currently no signs that Apple will block phony AirPods from working with iPhone or iPad, though.

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The company this week unveiled a slew of fresh tech, including second-gen AirPods Pro with an upgraded chip, improved noise cancellation, personalized spatial audio, and precise location finding. According to 9to5Mac, if you engrave your AirPods Pro 2 with a message or memoji, that will show up in the preview as you pair the device.

For more, check out our hands on with the AirPods Pro 2 and the video below:

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