AirPods Max are the best bluetooth headphones for the Apple ecosystem. If you are passionate about getting great deals and reducing e-waste like me, then you’re probably interested in getting a pair of used AirPods Max. Fortunately, with the release of the new AirPods Max 2, plenty of first gens are hitting the secondhand market. Unfortunately, AirPods are some of the most counterfeited consumer products in the world. So you’re more likely to find replica AirPods Maxes on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Craigslist than you are to find genuine used AirPods.

I just bought a pair of authentic used AirPods Max (Lightning) from OfferUp for $150. It wasn’t easy, but I was able to do it with the information I found on this subreddit. I thought I’d pay it forward by writing a quick guide on how to buy used AirPods Max without getting scammed.

1. Be Smart. Be Diligent.

Scammers target the lazy and uninformed. So you have to be work harder and smarter than the scammers. Reading this post is a great start, but hopefully this isn’t the first or last post you’re reading on how to spot fake AirPods. For every listing for real AirPods, there are 9 other listings for fake AirPods. So you’ll have to dig past the first page of search results.

2. Temper your Expectations

You should already know this if you’re accustomed to buying used items, but you can’t expect to get AirPods in new/opened box condition. If they were new, the owner would probably just refund it or sell it for as small of a markdown as possible. We beggars can’t be choosers; the better the condition, the higher the price.

Expect scratches and dents. There will be dirt and oil stains. The headband elastic mesh will be worn out. Believe it or not, this is a GOOD sign. It means they were actually used regularly and therefore more likely to be authentic. Scammers only sell clean and pristine fakes. Actual sellers sell well-loved, real AirPods.

This is a 3rd party case and it works just as well as the OEM case.

Finally, it probably won’t include a Smart Case or it may even be a cheap 3rd party replacement case. Don’t let fake cases deter you. The case may not be OEM, but the AirPods Max may still be real. Put yourself in the shoes of a real AirPods Max owner. If you lost your Smart Case, are you going to spend $80 on an OEM replacement or $10 for a cheap 3rd party case? This is why I don’t think looking at the case is useful when it comes to determining authenticity.

3. Browsing on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp

DO NOT BUY ONLINE. Only deal in-person.

This is where the majority of the work lies. You are going to have to sift/filter through A LOT of scam posts. Facebook Marketplace has the most traffic which is why I actually recommend Craigslist and OfferUp. Scammers will mainly be fishing for victims on FBM because it’s the biggest pool. You’ll find much fewer listings on Craigslist and OfferUp; there will STILL be fake AirPods on there, but at least it will be less.

Block any super sellers who have more than one pair of AirPods for sale. These are almost always scammers. Avoid the ones who don’t have any rating/selling history and beware of posts using stock/marketing photos.

Sample of a scammer with multiple listings. This one is obvious because they have listings from all over the country.

Your ideal seller is a 20something who just got the new AirPods Max 2 from their parents or a middle-aged yuppie who only bought the AirPods Max as a status symbol. Either way, expect them to not be very tech-savvy. Be patient with them. Scammers check their inbox all day and know everything about real vs fake AirPods Max. Real sellers only check messages after they get off work and  may not even know that there’s a serial number under the ear cushion.

4. Verification

Before meeting the seller in person, you MUST request some kind of assurance that they are not selling you replicas. There are dozens of indicators that you can check however, while they are useful to know, they are not foolproof because:

1. Scammers can use fake photos
2. The newest replicas can spoof most of those indicators anyways

The two things that replicas cannot spoof are Firmware Version and Detachable Headbands. Ask the seller to send a screenshot of the Firmware Version and a photo of the Ear Cups detached from the Headband. You can find more details about the latest firmware versions here. If they don’t provide these, then delete the message and move on. In fact, I mass-spammed the following message to dozens of sellers (which you are free to copy and paste):

>Hello, I am a serious buyer looking to get a pair of used AirPods Max. I just need to make sure they are real first.

>Could you please send me a screenshot of the Firmware Version (Settings > Bluetooth > AirPods Max (i) Info > About) and a photo of the Ear Cups disconnected from the Headband? This is the best way to confirm that the AirPods are real. If you can send these photos, I’ll happily buy from you. Thank you!

Any honest seller would gladly send this over if it means making a sale. You may get responses like “I don’t have an iPhone” or “I don’t have a SIM ejector tool.” Don’t fall for the excuses. While some Android users may buy AirPods or AirPods Pro, only iPhone users will buy AirPods Max. It’s peak Apple fanboy. And they don’t need a SIM ejector tool; they can use a paper clip.

If they can't figure this out, they don't deserve a cent!

Optional: You can also ask for a screenshot of the AirPods connected to their Find My. I’ve read that even this can be spoofed now, but at least you can confirm that these aren’t stolen and they can remove it from their iCloud for you.

5. Test before exchanging money

Should go without saying that you should meet in a public place with plenty of light. When you do meet, bring two Apple devices with you (iPhone, iPad, and/or MacBook). You will need this to test the H1 chip.

Pair it to your iPhone by pressing and holding the Listening Mode Button until the indicator light flashes white. (While you’re doing this, you can also confirm that the button is silent and does NOT click. If you’ve never used one before, the sound is very distinct. Like a rubber button on an old TV remote.)

Press and hold this button to pair to your iPhone. It will NOT click, it's soft and silent.

Once it has been successfully paired, start playing a video or song on your second Apple device. If the AirPods are genuine, it should automatically switch from your iPhone to your second device seamlessly.

If it doesn’t do this, ensure that:

1. Your secondary device is connected to the Internet. If there’s not wifi around, connect it to your phone’s hotspot.
2. Your two devices are logged into the same iCloud account.
3. Audio is NOT muted. If it’s not playing out the AirPods Max, it should playing from the device’s speakers at the very least.

If it passes the H1 chip test, congratulations—they are real! Pay the seller and enjoy your AirPods Max.