US Customs dept mistakes real OnePlus Buds for ‘fake Apple AirPods’
We’ve seen numerous takes on true wireless earbuds in recent years, following in the footsteps of Apple’s own AirPods. Some companies have aped the look of Apple’s product a little too closely, and it looks like this may have had unintended consequences for OnePlus and its OnePlus Buds.
The US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) issued a press release late last week, announcing that it seized 2,000 counterfeit Apple AirPods at JFK Airport in New York City. The shipment was inbound from Hong Kong and the authority said they were valued at $398,000 “had they been genuine” AirPods.
The only problem is that images attached to the CBP announcement and subsequent tweet show that the seized earbuds are in fact OnePlus Buds, which are legitimate true wireless earbuds. Check out the announcement and manufacturer’s reaction below.
THAT’S NOT AN ? —
CBP officers at JFK Airport recently seized 2,000 counterfeit Apple AirPods from Hong Kong, valued at $398K had they been genuine.
Details via @CBPNewYorkCity: https://t.co/XMgjkfT56i pic.twitter.com/Ofn9REJ9ZB
— CBP (@CBP) September 14, 2020
It’s a shame that the CBP didn’t realize OnePlus Buds were a legitimate product from a prominent brand, as a few seconds of Googling would’ve showed. But it perhaps highlights the issue of AirPod clones, suggesting that the average consumer might not be able to tell the difference when comparing the actual products side-by-side.
OnePlus isn’t the only guilty party in this regard, as several other prominent brands also offer true wireless earbuds that look very similar to Apple’s AirPods. So here’s hoping we see more original designs from all these companies in the future.
We’ve contacted the CBP for comment regarding the seizure, while also contacting OnePlus to find out more. We’ll update the article if/when the two get back to us.