Apple 5W Adapter Knock-offs: The Colorful A1265 Tear-Down

[Daniel Sauvageau]

First: I'd never call this a "fake" unless it was advertised as being an Apple product.

Just the overall shape may be a violation of Apple's trademark if they trademarked the design and that would already be enough to call it a fake.

The label identifies the adapter has being an "A1265" which is Apple's model number for its 5W compact charger and also copied UL's file number for Apple's genuine A1265 adapter. It pretends to be made by Flextronics which is Apple's manufacturer for its 5W adapters. It copies Apple's green dot to identify Apple's adapters which have been reinforced to prevent the bottom cap or outlet prongs from ripping out of the adapter, it copies much of the same text found on Apple's adapter too.

Apart from skipping the "Designed by Apple" part of Apple's genuine adapter, it roughly imitates every other external identifying characteristic of Apple's adapter. You can't fake the external appearance much more than that short of making an exact copy of the original adapter's printing.

Now, tell me again how you wouldn't call this a fake.

 

[Olle P]

Now, tell me again how you wouldn't call this a fake.

* Those details will make it a (visual) more or less legal copy, most probably intended to make it look like Apple's original at first glance.
* The use of Apple's UL-number is most probably criminal.
* The CE marking is bogus. (Present on the original?)
* The general shape is possibly generic enough to avoid any claims for protected design.
* The green dot is most probably not a protected detail in any way.
* What says that this produt is not made by Flextronix?

Still, it's not a "fake" in my book unless it's claimed to actually be the original.

 

[Daniel Sauvageau]

* What says that this produt is not made by Flextronix?

Flextronics manufactures stuff for several global companies such as Apple. If a court deemed a Flextronics product to be in violation of trademarks, consumer protection or even criminal code, sanctions could be imposed on Apple and other Flextronics clients under its jurisdiction to put pressure on Flextronics or get Apple and other manufacturers to quit doing business with Flextronics altogether.

Since the internal construction is all through-hole though, I seriously doubt this was made by any manufacturer from the current century. If Flextronics had built this, it would at least have used mostly surface-mount components for faster, cheaper and more reliable automated assembly.

 

[shrapnel_indie]

First: I'd never call this a "fake" unless it was advertised as being an Apple product.

Just the overall shape may be a violation of Apple's trademark if they trademarked the design and that would already be enough to call it a fake.

The label identifies the adapter has being an "A1265" which is Apple's model number for its 5W compact charger and also copied UL's file number for Apple's genuine A1265 adapter. It pretends to be made by Flextronics which is Apple's manufacturer for its 5W adapters. It copies Apple's green dot to identify Apple's adapters which have been reinforced to prevent the bottom cap or outlet prongs from ripping out of the adapter, it copies much of the same text found on Apple's adapter too.

Apart from skipping the "Designed by Apple" part of Apple's genuine adapter, it roughly imitates every other external identifying characteristic of Apple's adapter. You can't fake the external appearance much more than that short of making an exact copy of the original adapter's printing.

Now, tell me again how you wouldn't call this a fake.

When you got direct access to the original plans and parts.... it isn't hard to make a solid (and quality) clone. Where the real fraud is, IMHO, is making you think you are getting a steal on what isn't worth what you paid for it.

With that said, we know what Apple thinks of clones ("shut them down!") and similar/look-alikes ("Sue! Sue! Sue!)
Now, what will Apple do to shut down these dangerous look-alikes? Nothing?

 

[Daniel Sauvageau]

Now, what will Apple do to shut down these dangerous look-alikes? Nothing?

Apple can't do much about adapters of questionable quality that get drop-shipped directly from China. If someone imports and sells them locally in the USA and elsewhere that has consumer and other applicable protection laws, then Apple would be able to sue or file charges against the first importer or store.

For drop-ships direct to consumers though, Apple's only "line of defense" is the improbable interception by customs. The labor involved in systematically opening, correctly assessing, filing reports, disposing of illegal merchandise, properly re-packaging legitimate merchandise after inspection, etc. would be cost-prohibitive. The only way to fix this would be for China and other countries to implement and enforce consumer protection laws banning the manufacture, trade, sale, use, import and export of fundamentally unsafe goods.

Short version: death-trap adapters aren't going to disappear from the market any time soon.

 

[smithduluth]

I would like to see a side by side comparison with a genuine $21.99 Apple A1265 5W Adapter, so we can if Apple's is designed and built to be that much safer.

 

[Daniel Sauvageau]

I would like to see a side by side comparison with a genuine $21.99 Apple A1265 5W Adapter, so we can if Apple's is designed and built to be that much safer.

If I'm going to spend $20+ of my own money on an adapter, I'll get something (hopefully) better than Apple's 5W one. Maybe after I burn through my current inventory. If Apple volunteers some though, I'll gladly take them to bits.