Fake Sony WH-1000XM5 appearing on Chinese Online Marketplaces
It was bound to happen, a fake version of Sony's WH-1000XM5 has appeared online. Thanks to user speteypaaaablo on reddit for finding this. The fakes can be found on Dhgate and Aliexpress, links at the end of the post.
So how does the fake compare to the real thing? Time to examine at the photos. First up, the headphones from Dhgate and their packaging.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Even amongst the fakes that use the same box, we have some differences. For example this packaging for some odd reason has WH-1000XM5 written twice, above the photo and in the bottom right corner. The lower right one label looks to be a sticker. Notice that the Sony logo is missing from the packaging, photoshopped out for the photos.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
In the next set of photos (above), the grey model still has the Sony logo on the side headband, but it has been photoshopped out from the black model and from above the model name on both. Below is a screenshot from a video in the listing, which clearly shows the Sony logo on the box.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
So the logos are there, but just removed for the listing. Perhaps this is not to arouse suspicion from Sony? We can compare these fake boxes to the real thing below.
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| Real Sony WH-1000XM5 retail packaging |
Here is another photo from the listing showing the front and back.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
The fake attempts to copy the label and while it does a pretty decent job, there are clues that reveal it is fake. I am uploading a photo of my retail box below.
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| Real Sony WH-1000XM5 retail packaging |
The most obvious difference is the lack of all the text around the UPC code. Next the headset photo is also much lower in the fake versus the real one. Granted my retail packaging is not Chinese which the fake seems to copy (CN logo on the fake label). The model name is also wrong on the black colour, rather than WH-1000XM5/BM, it has SM, which is for the silver version.
Like I wrote above, the fake could be copying the retail design of the Chinese domestic model but I cannot find any photos of the Chinese retail packaging, perhaps someone could link a post/photo or take a photo and upload it if they own a Chinese variant.
The other obvious difference is the lack of logos at the top of the box in the video on the product page. Such logos like 360 Reality Audio and Hi-Res Audio for example. I suspect the Chinese model lacks the assistants but no idea.
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| Real Sony WH-1000XM5 retail packaging |
There is a photo someone posted in the review portion and we can see some logos.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Another photo from a review, seems like the fakes come with a similar short USB cable. The plastic packaging inside is clearly not present in the real model.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Now before people start posting comments that I should not be posting any of this, it is not difficult to find photos of real retail packaging. Likewise the people who make the fakes could easily go buy a pair off the shelf and scan in the cover if they wanted to. The reason I am making this post/guide is for users to look for in photos to identify fakes.
The listing has a red colour option as well, but no real life photos of these on dhgate.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Checking out the Aliexpress listing, it is obvious these are are not real, but the design is close. Unlike the Dhgate fakes, these lack the Sony branding on the actual product.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
The packaging uses a very different design, on all sides. Apart from the black and silver models, there is also a red and gray model. No blue though. Funny enough, it says Noise Reduction, not cancellation, so technically correct since these will muffle outside noises. Gotta love the description as well:
Independent Acousticcavity the Sound is more Full and Full
Moving to the actual headset, let us check out the Dhgate headset first.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
I have numbered some design features that are missing or off.
- L and R markers are missing on both
- Sony logo has been scratched off here, but it is present on actual units
- No gap/space like on the real model
- No microphone hole/mesh
- Headband too think compared to real model
Apart from that, the colours are wrong, and the plastic is too shiny and cheap looking.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
From another angle, more differences and obvious issues:
- Two screw holes, real model only has 1
- No break in headband on real model
- No microphone hole/mesh
- Wrong earpad cushion
- Headband too wide versus real model
The Sony logo has also been removed here by the person making the listening. I suspect in certain countries, where these counterfeit WH-1000XM5 will end up, could fool some people, but as always if the price is too good to be true, it probably is.
Moving to the Aliexpress headset, similar issues. but also some differences.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
- Two screw holes, rather than 1
- No gap like in real model
- Wrong earpad cushion
- No microphone hole/mesh
- Buttons but wrong size, shape and location
- USB port on wrong side
We have visible buttons on this one, but they are wrong. In addition the space in the earpad is too small compared to the real headset. The end of the headband section with the screws is also plastic, which is not the case with the real unit.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Here we can see the controls, they lack text labels like the real model, and while we do have a USB type-C port, it is on the wrong side. There does appear to be a hole between the USB port and 3.5mm port, so perhaps for a microphone? The only one as well?
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Here we have a closer look at the headband area and it looks nothing like the real mode. The plastic looks very poor and cheap. Rather than have L and R markers screen printed on the side, the fakes have L and R markers molded into the sides. We can also see the poor build quality as well.
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| Fake WH-1000XM5 |
Another look at the Aliexpress colours. Maybe these are photoshopped, but we are missing the microphone holes on the sides.
With so many obvious problems, I am sure that both the dhgate and Aliexpress models lack noise cancellation, a touch panel or any of the major features of the WH-1000XM5. Could this WH-1000XM5 be the first fake 1000X model? I do not remember ever seeing any WH-1000XM4 or WH-1000XM3 fakes before. If anyone has any other fakes they found drop a link in the comments.
I am tempted to order a pair just to tear them apart for a good laugh, but would it be worth?
Update April 2024
Something picked up a blog reader (thanks), it appears like the fakes are using a different model code, WH-1000XM5/BM, rather than WH1000XM5/B which is the correct code for Europe and most areas. But where did the fakers get the WH-1000XM5/BM code from? Simple, China. Visiting Sony China's website, scrolling down, we can see a similar product code.
The code on the website is WH1000XM5/BMCN. No doubt the fakes have removed CN from the model code but it is still on the box. A lot more fakes are appearing online, which is a bit alarming, especially since some of the listings are are claiming them as real units. Here are some more better quality photos, showing the details which are incorrect more clearly.
Now more photos of a "grey" colour.
While the fakes are obvious once you know what to look out for, they can look pretty close if someone is able to take photos of only certain angles. The photo below is a perfectly good example.
Finally, the suspicious model code which can be see on the back of these photos. The fake retail box is the first give away, but if you see a rather too good to be priced WH-1000XM5 online, and it has the WH-1000XM5/BM model code, be suspicious and stay away from the listing.
Source: dhgate, Aliexpress, AVITO
Living in eastern Europe, I see many apple and beats audio fake headphones in outdoor markets and online stores, but never see fake sony headphones.
ReplyDeletea few month ago i encounter the fake of wf1000m3 in Asia market
ReplyDeleteBrand new with no label or striker and the driver inside claim bigger than original.
And year before that i also found another fake version of sony tws for only $3..
But so far In the past 20 year
I never found decent nor reliable fake product
From the fake Sennheiser ie7 to Sony tws
Yes I suspect more fakes in Asia as it would be closer to ship and cheaper as well versus other areas of the world.
DeleteNow showed up on eBay with quite high price USD 170 for such a crap. I thought getting a good deal as price was USD 260 few months ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat I received is shocking! Nothing to do with Sony design or quality. It is like someone placed BT earphones in toy headphones.
It won't be that shocking if I did not see the original Sony WH-1000XM5 in local store and paid so much for this utter crap.
Thankfully eBay and PayPal refunded me.
Ordered some Sony WH-1000XM5's on eBay from a fairly small time user (figuring it was a risk) for $270 and had these Chinese fakes show up. Working through eBay money back guarantee. My negative review content was removed by eBay so there goes the warning that the guy is a fraudster.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that, hopefully you get your money back. Not sure why ebay removed the negative review, considering it was the correct review.
DeleteI recently ordered a pair of Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones while staying in Malaysia. I ordered them via Lazada and i was shocked to find exactly what you have reviewed in this article. These fake headphones are total and complete garbage. So many issues with them:
ReplyDelete* sound is absolutely horrible - no bass, no fullness of sound
* headphones do not fit, are extremely uncomfortable to wear. Extremely cheaply made.
* Again, they have slivers of thin plastic for control buttons. Forget about touch controls.
* The color of the plastic is a kind of dirty gray.
* i don't see any ANC functionality.
* no carrying case for the headphones.
* the labelling on the flimsy cardboard box lists the headphones as CN WH-1000XM5/BM
* i'm trying to get a refund from Lazada Malaysia. Wish me luck. They have very strict rules on what they consider to be "not genuine". The fake headphones i received may not officially qualify as Not Genuine according to Lazada Legalese.
can you log in to sony app?
ReplyDeleteI've noticed that official stores in my country in Europe are selling the WH-1000XM5/B model, but third-party sellers are offering the same model at half the price, labeled as WH-1000XM5/BM instead. I read on Reddit that the BM version might be fake. How can I be sure? The packaging appears identical to the original. Not sure what is the difference between B and BM.
ReplyDeleteThe official model code should be WH1000XM5/B for black, WH1000XM5/S for platinum silver, and WH1000XM5/L for the blue. If you zoom in the upc codes on some of the photos, you will see the SM at the end of the model name. I suspect SM and perhaps even BM might be for the chinese market and this is where the scammers have their codes from thinking it is the same everywhere.
DeleteIf you visit Sony China
https://www.sonystyle.com.cn/products/headphone/wh_1000xm5/wh_1000xm5_b.html
at the bottom is WH1000XM5/BMCN. So this does seem to add up to the idea that BM/SM models might be fakes or chinese imports. But as with everything, if a price is too good to be true, it probably is. Nice catch.
Thanks, that's helpful to know. I see that you've updated the post with the BM fakes, but in the post, I see rectangular boxes, which are definitely fake. The BM I see from third-party sellers, though, really have a nice original curved box (I can send the pictures), so it's a true mystery if they are fake or just a gray market import. Regarding the price, they are 200 euros cheaper than the original store with just a B model.
Deletecould be grey market imports as you suggest, maybe even from china. but at 200 euros less, this is a questionable price. maybe the box is real but the headset inside is fake?
Delete