Lafufu vs Labubu: How to Spot the Difference Between Real and Fake

Fake Labubu dolls known online as ‘Lafufu’ are flooding marketplaces, and even experienced collectors are getting deceived. Here’s exactly how to tell the difference before you buy. 

With the doll’s burgeoning popularity, there has been no delay in the spread of counterfeit products. Spotting the real doll is becoming an intimidating task for shoppers to decide what to purchase and what not to buy. 

The upsurge of counterfeit copies of labubu in the market makes it a real trouble for shoppers. There is also a strange term, lafufu, that is circulating amid the virality of Labubu. Now the question arises, how to spot the difference between real and fake. Read this Elivestory blog to know more about it. 

What is Lafufu vs Labubu

Before unveiling Lafufu, it is necessary to understand what Labubu Popmart actually stands for, which has made it increasingly popular. Labubu comes up with a mischievous smile, having a peachy, softer face with big ears, becoming a must-have doll for collectors. The creepy and cute doll is becoming an incredibly popular staple of pop culture. 

Labubu is an authentic edition whose distributor and brand owner is Pop Mart, a famous art toy company in China. Thanks to Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist, for making the collectible toys a global sensation. The genuine product of the Brand Popmart comes up with a QR code that redirects the user to the product page of Popmart after successful QR code scanning. 

Lafufu is nothing but the imitation of real labubu, the counterfeit or fake product. If you purchase something named as lafufu, one thing that is 100% sure is that you have fallen victim to fraud. 

The imitation or duplicate copy of the original labubu is definitely trying to surpass the success of the original doll. The fake lafufu is spreading faster online in the market, while many people unknowingly become the victim of fraudulent transactions upon purchase, failing to grab the real deal.  

How to recognize a real Labubu

If you really want to keep yourself safe from the intermittent trap of fake products, you need to check several details to make sure what is real and what is not. There are some visual clues, build quality, and packaging checks that help you identify the real labubu.

Visual Clues

Count the number of teeth: Count the number of teeth of Labubu and Lafufu. It will indeed help you differentiate the actual Labubu from the fake Lafufu. Authentic Labubus come up with nine pointy teeth, whose number is different in case of lafufu. Hence, the mismatch of the tooth count is a steadfast sign that you are buying a fake product. 

Examining face details: When you look at the doll labubu, you see the face seems stranded rightly, not any odd or uneven shape, just seen in fake lafufu. The face color of labubu is soft and peachy, giving it an entirely natural look. 

Unlike labubu, lafufu has an unnatural face color with an extra bright face tone that is a sharp pointer to know that it is fake. If you try to examine the eye, a thing you will definitely notice is a shiny ridge just around the pupil of each eye, which is missed out in case of fake lafufu. 

Fur and Hair: When you try to figure out the real labubu from the fake one, one thing you never miss is its fur and hair. You may definitely notice that fur entirely covers the body and head evenly, giving it a plush, incredibly beautiful look. You found no receding hairline or bald patches anywhere with Labubu. The fur of Lafufu, which is actually not seen with real labubu. 

Build Quality

Labubu is built up of high-quality material, giving it a commendable finish. If you hold a labubu in your hand, you can easily spot the difference. The figure of the doll gives you a solid feel and is well-balanced in your hand. The ratio of head and body is perfect, which doesn’t make you feel awkward, anyway. When you run your finger of labubu on its vinyl face, you hardly find any rough seams. The limbs won’t stumble and will always remain firm. 

Unlike labubu, when you hold a lafufu in your hand, you feel the doll much lighter than the real one. When you try moving them, you see the limbs of the doll wobble & spin, and won’t remain firm. Before buying, checking the build quality is essential to avoid any fake product purchase, so you don’t regret it later. 

Packaging Check

The packaging check helps you understand lafufu vs labubu difference. After purchasing the product, you need to check inside the official box to find any cues helping you to make an informed decision and avoid any fake product purchases. 

The box must have a smooth texture with a matte finish. It should have sharp printing with soft pastel color in the box. Any dull color with an uneven surface means the product is not genuine. You need to look at the 3-dimensional holographic sticker that comes up with the POP MART logo. Cross-checking the packaging details helps you to evade any fake product purchasing glitch. 

Lets have a look at the official box dimensions, specific Pop Mart logo placement, or the exact location of the holographic sticker to make it easily differentiable. 

Official box dimensions

Labubu comes out in the marketplace with multiple formats of packaging, each having a distinct type of dimension. 

Type of Labubu Box	Dimensions in cm	Dimensions in inches
Standard Blind Box	7 × 7 × 8.5	2.8 × 2.8 × 3.3
Mini Mystery Box	5.5 × 5.5 × 7	2.2 × 2.2 × 2.8
Limited Deluxe  Edition	12–15 × 12–15 × 10–12	4.7–5.9 × 4.7–5.9 × 3.9–4.7
Full Series (12 pcs)	18 × 18 × 9	7.1 × 7.1 × 3.5

Pop Mart logo placement

If you consider the authenticity checkpoint of Labubu, you should never ignore the logo placement of Popmart. In the case of a genuine box of labubu, the Pop Mart logo comes up with a specific shape and size, usually located near the bottom right or top left corner of the box. Fake product, however, has a distorted logo, disproportionally aligned, and has an incorrect placement. 

Exact location of the holographic sticker

Pop Mart has brought about the incorporation of anti-counterfeit technology for some of the premium Labubu boxes. One of the standout features is the holographic sticker, whose placement is done on the bottom or side of the labubu box. Titling under the light reveals a dynamic color display with a movable pattern showing hidden text  ‘Pop Mart Official’ on display. 

Common mistakes to avoid

Although it may not seem like a difficult task to accomplish, distinguishing the genuine doll from the imitation by observing the lafufu vs labubu difference ultimately proves to be a challenging endeavor. Let’s have a close look at the table to understand the common mistakes that need to be avoided. 

Types of Mistake	What needs to be kept a close eye on	Troubleshoot for fixing
Packaging	Not giving much attention to blurry printing or missing holographic stickers.	Verify the QR code and check for official serial numbers.
Visual Deception	Mistaking crooked smiles or uneven stitching for “authentic charm.”	Compare the figure’s colors and stitching against official photos.
Due Diligence	Trusting stock photos without checking reviews.	Ask the seller for close-up photos and read feedback from other buyers.
Physical attributes	Overlooking ear shape and the number of teeth.	Closely inspect the face for a shiny ridge around the pupil.
Quality of the material used	Accepting patchy fur, rough textures, or messy paint.	Try to feel for full, even fur, and consistent “stuffing” quality.

How popular are Labubus?

The labubu is becoming increasingly popular, transitioning from a toy to a global sensation.

The craze for the incredibly beautiful toy labubu skyrocketed in the year 2024 after an Instagram post of cyberpunk celebrity Lisa went viral. Vanity Fair, a magazine and media publication, has featured a high-quality celebrity video on its YouTube channel in which Lisa, a Thai rapper, shared her secret obsession with Labubu. 

According to Buzzfeed, a digital media and entertainment company, shared news that Paris Hilton, Kathy Hilton, Michelle Yeoh, Madelyn Cline, and Gemma Collins are some of the notable celebrities spotted holding the doll Labubu. As per the BBC data, the doll is so popular that at present there are 2,000 vending machines (roboshops) for the distribution of the doll with its major retailer, Pop Mart. 

From Toy Shelf to Big Screen: The Labubu Movie

Popmart, the parent company that is entitled to the sale of the popular toy Labubu, presently collaborates with Sony Pictures Entertainment to make a movie dedicated to the tiny creature doll. The company mentioned their dream project to make the film with it to create Labubu’s whimsical world, comprising live-action and CGI hybrid, for the big giant screen. 

The project is still at infancy, and press information mentioned the film will be directed by Paul King, who made Timothée Chalamet’s starring movie Wonka. This is how the doll Labubu unveils its presence from the toy Shelf to the Big Screen. 

Wrapping up

In the end, it’s worthwhile to mention that online marketplaces are flooded with fake products when it comes to purchasing something. Understanding the key difference between the real labubu and fake lafufu is the key to avoiding any fake product purchase from the market. 

Visual clues, build quality, and packaging checks are indispensable parameters that help you identify the real labubu. It does not matter whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned collector; knowing the difference always helps you make informed decisions wherever and whenever necessary. 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)