How to identify fake calculators

From Calcupedia, the free calculator encyclopedia

This page focuses on Casio calculators.

If you are not using Casio calculators, this is not the page for you.

Nowadays, it is very easy to find fake Casio calculators on online shopping sites. Because of this, here are some methods to check if your Casio calculator is a legitimate one.

Contents
  1. Clones and fakes
  2. Appearance method
  3. Anti-counterfeit labels
  4. “4 presses, 1 release” method
  5. Precision method
  6. Battery law
  7. The DIAGNOSTIC/self-test mode

Clones and fakes

In this wiki, calculator clones and fake calculators are not the same:

  • Calculator clones are calculators that copy Casio’s scientific calculators, but with some things (or nothing) changed, removed and/or added, and actually markets itself as a calculator from a third-party. Examples include Vinacal (Vietnam), Deli (China), Gasid, etc.
  • Fake calculators are calculators that try to 100% mimic Casio’s scientific calculators, and tries to market itself as a genuine Casio calculator.

Appearance method

Fake calculators are often of poor quality, and many fakes can be spotted just by observing it. For example:

  • The characters on the keyboard are printed skewed, and the font is incorrect;
  • The calculator is made of poor material, is easily damaged, or is uncomfortable to the touch;
  • The color of the display screen is wrong or the font of the indicator light on the top line is wrong, which makes it uncomfortable to watch;
  • The installation position of the display screen is incorrect or the screen is not stable;
  • The calculator smells strongly of plastic, or other odors, etc.

These are the characteristics of some fakes, but not all fakes have these characteristics. Therefore, unless it is a professional who often identifies fakes, it is difficult for ordinary consumers to distinguish the genuine from the fakes at first glance.

Anti-counterfeit labels

At the beginning, anti-counterfeit labels were the key to distinguishing the genuine from the fakes. They usually change color when looked at from different angles.

Bitex (page not archived yet) has their own anti-counterfeit labels that have more features that can assist in identifying a fake Casio calculator. They have the infamous quote “Máy tính Casio không dán tem hoặc dán các loại tem khác thì không đảm bảo là hàng thật” (Casio calculators that do not have labels or have other types of labels are not guaranteed to be genuine).

Unfortunately, this comes with some drawbacks:

  • Anti-counterfeit labels of many calculators have fallen off after long-term wear and tear and cannot be identified;
  • Some fake also have fake anti-counterfeit labels, and ordinary people cannot tell the authenticity at a glance.

“4 presses, 1 release” method

NOTE: This method only works on the Casio ES series and up (includes the ES, ES PLUS, EX and CW series).

This method is very accurate.

  1. Make sure you are on the COMP/Calculate mode, and that no characters are typed on the screen.
  2. Hold 1. 1 should show up on the screen.
  3. Now hold down the 0, p and = keys, while still holding down 1.
  4. Release 1. If cos( shows up next to 1, the calculator must be genuine.

On the CW series, when releasing 1, ² shows up instead of cos(.

Precision method

  1. Make sure you are on the COMP/Calculate mode, and that the angle unit is set to degrees.
  2. Evaluate the expression sin⁻(cos⁻(tan⁻(tan(cos(sin(9.
  3. Check the result of the expression:
    • The original MS series will display 8.999998637.
    • The ES, ES PLUS, revised MS series, MS 2nd edition, ES PLUS 2nd edition, and EX series will display 9.000000007.
    • The CW series will display 9.
    • If the result does not match, it must be a fake.
  4. Now:
    • On an original MS, subtract 8.99999 from the result. The result should be 8.63704e-06.
    • On all calculators after MS (including revised MS and MS 2nd edition), subtract 9 from the result. The result should be 7.33338⁹.
      • On CW models, the result will be 7.5528¹⁸.

Battery law

Normally, Casio calculators use either AA, AAA, or LR44 batteries. One battery of one of these types has 1.5 volts.

Check the battery and voltage that the calculator uses in the power specification (usually found on the back of the calculator). Open it up, and if the battery and/or voltage does not match the specification (for example, a 3-volt battery is used, i.e. a CR2025 battery), it must be a fake.

The DIAGNOSTIC/self-test mode

See Calculator self-test.