Have you ever traveled to China? I’m currently on my eighth trip to this vast country, which has the largest population in the world and plays a crucial role in our technology today.
Shenzhen: The Tech Hub
Over the last 40 years, Shenzhen has transformed from a fishing village into a major tech city. Located near Hong Kong, it is now home to many leading tech companies and factories that produce popular consumer electronics.
During my nearly two-week stay in China, I visited Huaqiangbei.this place is known as the largest electronics market globally. It’s an exciting spot for anyone interested in technology, offering everything from internal components for DIY projects to finished products that closely resemble original brands.
Amazing Deals on Electronics
At Huaqiangbei, you can find amazing deals on various gadgets. As an example, I discovered AirPods pro at an unbelievable price.
My $9 AirPods Pro 2 Experience
In Huaqiangbei's bustling markets, numerous stalls sell familiar products alongside unique phones and accessories. Many vendors showcase items like Apple Watches and cables prominently. Among my purchases were AirPods Pro 2.
at first glance,these might seem like counterfeit products—something buyers should always be cautious about unless purchasing from authorized sellers—but they turned out to be genuine. these earbuds likely came from someone who lost them or returned them under warranty before making their way to Shenzhen.
the case states “designed by Apple in California” and “Made in China.” It features USB-C charging just like the originals and fits perfectly as expected with AirPods pro 2 models. Although I couldn’t find one with magnetic charging after checking several shops, what I bought was indeed authentic at a fraction of the retail price.I paid only 70 RMB for these earbuds—around $9 at current exchange rates—while official prices range between $179 (on sale) and $249 (regular price). Paying less than five percent of that cost is remarkable! But do they actually work well?
Performance of My Budget Earbuds
My main concern was whether these inexpensive AirPods would function properly; even basic audio playback would have made them worth it. Surprisingly,this might potentially be one of my best purchases ever!
When connecting genuine AirPods Pro from Apple to your iPhone,they show up automatically on your screen for easy pairing. However,mine didn’t appear initially but did show up once connected; all standard features such as spatial audio and noise cancellation worked just like my original pair.
What about compatibility with other Apple devices? They sync with my Mac but appear under a generic name since I've owned multiple pairs before; however, they don’t connect automatically unless disconnected from my iPhone first.
I did notice some minor issues: occasionally the left earbud disconnects while the right one works fine; also spatial tracking isn’t quite as effective compared to my original set—but these are small complaints overall.
Authenticity Check: Are They Real?
according to Apple's coverage checker tool online, these earbuds come with AppleCare until July 2026! The purchase date shows July 2024—which indicates I've acquired someone else's refurbished pair that includes damage coverage through AppleCare+.
This confirms their authenticity! Have you ever wondered what happens when someone returns their product? There’s a good chance those items end up here at Huaqiangbei—but how exactly remains unclear.with hundreds of stalls selling similar products around me during this visit—it’s hard telling if mine was simply lucky or if all are equally reliable quality-wise. What stands out is how incredible this deal truly is!
The timing couldn’t be better either—I lost another pair during travel last year while flying Qatar Airways—and rather of spending $89 replacing just one earbud or paying $249 for an entire new set—I found an affordable replacement here for only $9!
This will undoubtedly go down as one of the best bargains I've encountered all year! Now I'm tempted to buy more pairs just in case—they might even make it onto our list of top earbuds soon!
