Identify a Genuine/Original Versus a Fake/Cloned Samsung Galaxy Phone

The Samsung Galaxy line of phones is one of the most popular lines on the market. Every year, Samsung introduces a brand new Galaxy phone that pushes the boundaries of high-end devices. This is one of the biggest reasons shady phone manufacturers are always ready to create replicas and cloned Galaxy phones that look like the original ones: they're incredibly popular and very much in demand. Unlike iPhones that run on Apple's proprietary iOS software, Samsung Galaxy phones run on Google's open Android operating system, making it easier and cheaper for cloning manufacturers to produce fakes - and harder for consumers to distinguish between a genuine model and a fake one.

Did you just buy a new Galaxy Note 3 and have doubts as to its authenticity? Got a very cheap deal online for a Galaxy S4 or a Galaxy Tab and now suffer from a bit of buyer's remorse? We have several ways of discerning a fake device from a real one, and these will be detailed on the sections below:

Spot a fake Galaxy device through physical checks

Most of the cloned phones available today are built so cheaply that their materials and their craftsmanship reflect the amount of money invested on them. When compared to the original, these fake devices can be spotted easily by checking the following physical features. Note that if you are not familiar with the genuine item's physical appearance, you may need to borrow one from a friend and put the two devices side by side.

1. The screen is made of cheap glass material.
2. The screen is too far from the edge.
3. The screen is not as bright and vibrant as the original device's.
4. Some of the sensors are not available.
5. The Home button is not on the exact same spot as that of the genuine item.
6. The Samsung logos are not smoothed out and can be felt; rubbing it will also remove the logo.
7. The device's proportions differ than that of the genuine product.
8. Gaps between parts like the home, power, and volume buttons are obvious.
9. When the battery cover is opened, some of the small components do not match with the original one.
10. The phone does not have the a seal from the National Communications Agency or an equivalent agency on your country.
11. The battery specifications are not the same.

Know a cloned Galaxy phone by checking performance

Some Galaxy knock-offs are detailed enough to look like the legitimate product. Here are some of the things that you need to check to discern the real one from the fakes.

Identify if your Galaxy device is an imitation through Samsung codes

Aside from the physical aspects of the phone and the way it performs, you can also identify if it is a legit Samsung device by using Samsung codes. Samsung codes are a combination of numbers and symbols that, when entered, will allow you to do some tests on your phone, perform device checks, and other developer tasks and options. Below are the most common Samsung codes; to enter them, go to your dialer application and dial these codes then press the "Call" button. If the device responds to the command, then it is the real one. If it does not, then it is a fake version.