Current Events > Feds seize almost $400k of 'counterfeit' AirPods that are actually OnePlus Buds

(+) Yeah! (+)

It can be hard to tell a difference between AirPods and the many earbuds that resemble them, but checking the box is always a good start. US Customs and Border Protection tonight tweeted that its officers had recently seized 2,000 counterfeit Apple AirPods from Hong Kong, valued at $398K had they been genuine. Theres also this press release on the situation, which praises CBP officers for protecting the American public from various dangers on a daily basis and says that the interception of these counterfeit earbuds is a direct reflection of the vigilance and commitment to mission success by our CBP officers daily.

https://twitter.com/CBP/status/1305300486090825731

The only problem is, based on the agencys own photos, the seized products appear to be legitimate OnePlus Buds transported in a box that plainly says as much. But CBP proudly tweeted THATS NOT AN APPLE, as if its people had astutely detected a forged piece of 18th-century art. Its not clear if all of the 2,000 blocked units were OnePlus Buds, though the CBP images are unmistakable.

The units originated from Hong Kong and were seized at JFK on August 31st; they were headed to Nevada, according to the press release. If they were all OnePlus Buds, CBPs math on the shipment value is way off: at $79 each, 2,000 of them would be worth $158,000. (The original estimate is based on the price of AirPods.)

OnePlus has since replied to the CBP tweet and is also having fun with the situation on social media.

https://twitter.com/OnePlus_USA/status/1305366058501509121

https://twitter.com/oneplus/status/1305503249919688706

I have no idea what led CBP to stop these units in their tracks beyond their general AirPods-like aesthetic. Yes, the form factor that Apple created is now shared by many models of true wireless earbuds on the market. There are some truly shameless knockoffs out there, but you dont see all of them getting headed off at the airport. Nowhere in the press release is OnePlus even mentioned, and theres no clarity as to whether officers knew what they were looking at. A lot of people would confuse the white OnePlus Buds with AirPods!

But again, the boxes in these photos say OnePlus Buds. Its not a knockoff AirPods box that uses the wrong font or something. Theres seemingly no trickery at play, at least with the seized product. If AirPods were supposed to be in the shipment, thats another story.

The Verge has reached out to OnePlus there might be a retailer or customers who didnt get their expected Buds because of this and CBP for more details on the action at JFK. Was it an embarrassing gaffe by border officers, or a wake-up call that earbud makers need to be a little more original? Maybe both. Youve gotta figure the blue OnePlus Buds probably wouldve had a better chance getting through.

Technology isn't that hard ffs

Just read the box