iFixit sent a crew to Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei market, bought counterfeit Apple Watch Ultra 3, AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Pro 3, and immediately tore them apart. The team found plastic housings, painted‑on sensors and a 260 mAh battery—under half the capacity of the genuine watch—inside a loose, poorly soldered pack.

When the fake Apple Watch Ultra 3 boots, any tap triggers Night Mode instead of opening apps, and the taptic motor feels off. The knockoff AirPods Max 2 swaps aluminum for brittle plastic, uses squishy cushions, and omits active noise canceling. Heavy‑feeling metal rods are the only nod to the real model, while cables detach with minimal force.

The AirPods Pro 3 replicas look the most convincing, differing only in seam alignment. Yet the silicone tip is glued to the earbud, the MEMS microphones are absent, and cheap drivers are wired with copper instead of flex cables. An unmarked battery sits inside the case, confirming the devices are built for appearance, not durability. Consumers should treat these market finds as cheap fakes, not functional replacements.