Chosen Solution
I know the only way to get a new one that isn’t fake is to buy it through Apple, but the machine I am getting is on the older side and I’d prefer to not spend $79 for an older but years newer system then my first attempt. This is why I am strictly looking at used adapters unless I keep getting unlucky and go to an Apple store. I got a 2011 13” this time. In a previous attempt at a cheap Mac, I got a 2006 C2D MB and it was fried due to a knockoff (see this post: Why is the laptop shutting down?) and the machine was a total loss unless I see life with a different charger from a different notebook. I’m going much newer this time to reduce the risks (and avoiding the rMBP), but I need to find a genuine adapter. The last time I did this, the adapter I bought was a high grade fake that I was weary of because the cord didn’t feel right knowing what a real Apple power brick feels like. Other then the manufacturer, is there any other red flags I can trust in photos to avoid these?
Sadly the knock offs are so close you just can’t tell photographically that well. The only way I can tell is side by side comparison with a known real unit and the second test is the way the MagSafe LED fires off. OEM MagSafe Chargers vs Cheap Imposters: Teardown for Truth As hard as you might it will likely take you two to three attempts to get a real unit as ther’re just too many out there. Don’t forget Apple is no longer aggressively fighting the importation of chargers anymore as they’ve moved to USB-C chargers. So the bottom line: Add up the shipping costs and they will likely hit you with a restocking fee its it worth the aggravation trying to save a few bucks and the delay.
This one has a lifetime warranty: Apple MagSafe 1 AC Adapter
visually in photos, its hard to tell. But the following physical tests can be done: Check EEE codes (serial numbers on Apple’s GSX database).Check if duck head alignment peg is metal or plastic (it should be grounded, so needs to be metal).Check LED delay when plugged in. (the IC should check if charger is genuine when first plugged into a Mac. if the LED isn’t delayed by a second before it goes green, its not got the correct IC chip).Check IC chip ID and serial number (in system information panel of Mac).Check power output and curve with an oscilloscope. (compare with Apple original, as we do. cheap ones will fluctuate a lot and will have a lot of ‘noise’)Crack open the charger (or a few from a batch if ordering in bulk) and inspect build quality, and look for properly grounding. Obviously these tests are not all viable for an individual consumer buying a single charger, although you could do a few of the basic checks. This is the sort of testing that is required of a supplier in the Apple market, such as us, when checking for original chargers. You can tell, it just takes a lot of experience and hands on tests to tell for sure. Spelling or grammatical errors are quite common on really bad knock offs.
