A fake iPhone 12 is a counterfeit clone built to look like a genuine iPhone 12 from the outside, but it runs modified Android software on cheap hardware instead of iOS on Apple’s own chips. You can tell whether your iPhone 12 is fake with checks you can do yourself in a few minutes: the serial number and IMEI, how the App Store behaves, whether a computer recognizes it as an iOS device, the screen bezels, Face ID, and whether it can install a real iOS update. None of these checks require special tools, just the phone itself and a few minutes.
This matters more than usual if you’re buying a used, Ex-UK, or refurbished iPhone 12 in Kenya rather than a new, sealed one from Apple. A used device changes hands more than once before it reaches you, and a buyer dealing with an unfamiliar or informal seller has less built-in protection than someone buying sealed stock. This guide covers the physical-device checks, a separate and different risk from the fake-shopping-site scams that occasionally pop up online, and ties both back to what you can reasonably expect when buying through an established Nairobi shop.
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What counts as a fake iPhone
A fake iPhone 12, like any fake iPhone, is an unauthorized device built to copy Apple’s exterior design closely enough to pass a glance, while running a modified version of Android instead of genuine iOS, usually on hardware well below Apple’s actual specifications. It is a different thing from a genuine iPhone 12 that’s simply old, has a worn battery, or has a cracked screen, all of which are real Apple hardware running real iOS, just not new. The checks below are specifically about telling a genuine iPhone 12 from a clone, not about judging the cosmetic condition of a real one.
The 8 checks that tell a real iPhone 12 from a clone
Run through these in order. Any one of them failing is a serious red flag on its own, and several failing together means you’re very likely holding a clone, not a genuine iPhone 12.
1. Check the iPhone 12 IMEI and serial number. On the phone, go to Settings, General, About, and note the serial number and IMEI shown there. Separately, open the Phone app and dial *#06#, which displays the IMEI directly. On the real thing, the IMEI shown by dialing *#06# matches the one listed in Settings exactly. On a clone, these numbers are often missing, inconsistent, or don’t match between the two places.
2. Verify the serial number on Apple’s own coverage page. Take the serial number from Settings and enter it on Apple’s official Check Coverage page. A genuine iPhone returns the correct model name and its warranty or coverage status. A clone typically returns an error, a blank result, or a model that doesn’t match the device in your hand at all.
3. Open the App Store. A real iPhone opens Apple’s own App Store app. A clone running disguised Android software often redirects you to the Google Play Store, or to a generic third-party app marketplace that isn’t Apple’s at all. If the “App Store” icon opens anything other than Apple’s actual storefront, that’s a clone.
4. Connect it to a computer. Plug the phone into a Mac and open Finder, or into a Windows PC and open iTunes. A genuine iPhone is recognized immediately as an iOS device with its model name shown. A clone is frequently detected as nothing more than a generic external USB storage drive, since the underlying operating system isn’t actually iOS.
5. Look closely at the screen and bezels. Genuine iPhone 12 units have a thin, even bezel around the display. Clones often have a noticeably thicker black border, especially at the bottom edge (sometimes called the “chin”), along with a screen resolution that looks visibly softer or lower than a real Super Retina XDR display up close.
6. Test Face ID. The iPhone 12 uses Face ID, not a fingerprint sensor, as its biometric unlock. On a genuine device, Face ID sets up quickly and unlocks reliably. On a clone, Face ID is commonly absent entirely, painfully slow, or simply doesn’t work, since replicating Apple’s TrueDepth camera system convincingly is expensive and most counterfeits don’t bother.
7. Watch how the software behaves day to day. Lag during fast scrolling, slow boot times when restarting, and a rear camera housing with lenses that don’t match the real multi-lens layout for an iPhone 12 are all signs of counterfeit hardware and software cutting corners that aren’t present on genuine Apple devices.
8. Try installing an iOS update. Go to Settings, General, Software Update. A genuine iPhone checks for and installs real iOS updates normally. A clone running a disguised Android build will typically fail to install an actual iOS update, since it isn’t running Apple’s operating system underneath the interface it’s copying.
Two different risks: a fake phone vs. a fake shop
These are genuinely different problems, and it’s worth keeping them separate rather than treating a fake iPhone 12 as one blurry risk with a single fix.
A counterfeit physical device is what the 8 checks above are about: a real phone-shaped object in your hand that isn’t actually an Apple product.
A fake or scam shopping website is a different thing entirely: a fraudulent online storefront, often advertised with unusually low prices and countdown-timer urgency, designed to take your payment through a fake checkout flow without ever shipping a genuine product, real or counterfeit. The fix for this risk isn’t a serial number check, it’s basic online-shopping caution: be wary of prices that look too good relative to the rest of the market, check whether a seller has a real physical address and phone number you can verify, and be suspicious of checkout pages that pressure you with an artificial countdown.
A related but separate concern that’s worth a brief mention: third-party or counterfeit charging accessories can cause real battery problems even on a genuine iPhone, since they aren’t built to Apple’s power-delivery specifications. That’s an accessory risk, not a sign the phone itself is fake, and it’s worth checking charger compatibility separately if your iPhone 12 is having charging issues. If your iPhone 12 genuinely isn’t charging properly, see our iPhone 12 charging port repair cost in Kenya guide for the difference between a cable problem and a port problem.
Why this matters more for a used or Ex-UK iPhone 12
A brand new, sealed iPhone bought directly from Apple or an authorized reseller has a short, traceable chain of custody. A used, Ex-UK, or refurbished iPhone 12, the kind widely sold in Nairobi CBD precisely because it costs meaningfully less than new, has changed hands at least once, sometimes several times, before it reaches a buyer in Kenya. That’s not a reason to avoid buying used, used Apple hardware is genuinely one of the better value propositions in the Kenyan phone market, but it is a reason the 8 checks above are worth five minutes of your time before you commit, regardless of who you’re buying from.
Our iPhone 12 price in Kenya guide covers current stock, storage, and condition options (New, Refurbished, Ex-UK, or Used, confirmed per unit before order) if you’re still deciding what to buy. The checks in this post are about confirming what you end up with is genuine, whichever option you choose.
What buying from an established shop does and doesn’t protect you from
iPhone Deals confirms the condition of each specific unit before your order goes through, and eligible devices carry a published 6-month warranty covering network issues, charging issues, the earpiece, microphone, speaker, and software malfunctions unrelated to third-party apps. That’s a real, stated layer of protection against a device turning out to be faulty after purchase.
What isn’t published anywhere on the site is a specific, named authenticity-verification step, like an iPhone 12 IMEI check performed and documented as part of the buying process. Rather than assume that happens automatically, the honest recommendation is to run the serial number and IMEI checks from this guide yourself, on any iPhone 12 you buy from anywhere, as soon as you receive it. If something doesn’t match and you suspect your iPhone 12 is fake, these are the checks that confirm it one way or the other, and it means you’re not relying on a process that isn’t actually described or guaranteed anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
Is there such a thing as a fake iPhone? Yes. Counterfeit clones built to look like genuine Apple iPhones exist and circulate in secondhand and informal phone markets worldwide, running modified Android software on non-Apple hardware rather than genuine iOS.
How can you tell a fake iPhone? Check the serial number and IMEI against each other and against Apple’s own coverage page, see whether the App Store is really Apple’s store, connect it to a computer to see if it’s recognized as an iOS device, inspect the bezels and screen quality, test Face ID, and try installing a real iOS update. Any of these failing is a strong warning sign.
Is there a fake iPhone that actually works? A counterfeit clone can run, make calls, and use some apps, since it’s a functioning Android device underneath, but it is not running iOS and will fail the checks above, particularly the App Store, Finder/iTunes recognition, and iOS update checks.
Is it illegal to sell a fake iPhone? Selling counterfeit goods that falsely use another company’s branding and design generally violates trademark and consumer protection law in most jurisdictions, though the specifics depend on local law and aren’t something this guide can give legal advice on.
How can I check if my iPhone is original or fake? Dial *#06# to see the IMEI, compare it to Settings, General, About, then paste the serial number into Apple’s official Check Coverage page. A mismatch, error, or wrong model returned at that stage is the clearest single sign of a clone.
Can a fake iPhone do AirDrop? No. AirDrop relies on Apple’s own proprietary protocols built into genuine iOS and Apple hardware. A clone running Android cannot use AirDrop at all, which is itself a quick practical test if you have a known genuine Apple device nearby to try it with.
Do fake iPhones have iCloud? No, not genuinely. A clone may display something made to look like an iCloud sign-in screen, but it cannot actually connect to Apple’s real iCloud service, since that requires genuine iOS and Apple’s own backend authentication.
How do I check if an iPhone is refurbished rather than fake? A refurbished iPhone is a genuine Apple device that has been cleaned, tested, and resold, and it will pass every check in this guide, since it’s real Apple hardware running real iOS. “Refurbished” describes cosmetic and functional condition, not authenticity. If a device fails the IMEI, App Store, or Finder/iTunes checks, it isn’t a refurbished iPhone at all, it’s a counterfeit.
*What does dialing #06# actually do on an iPhone? It displays your device’s IMEI number directly on screen without needing to go into Settings. It’s a fast way to cross-check the IMEI shown there against the one listed under Settings, General, About, which is one of the simplest tests in this guide.
Sources: Apple Support (device verification and Check Coverage guidance), Apple’s official Check Coverage page, and community discussion on Quora regarding counterfeit iPhones and third-party charging accessories, cited as community discussion rather than primary sourcing.
Related reading: iPhone 12 price in Kenya | iPhone 12 charging port repair cost in Kenya