Fake Chinese iPhones Look Pretty Convincing

MacRumors · Jul 3, 2008, 12:34 AM

One forum user posted for help getting his new iPhone activated through iTunes. As it turns out, the iPhone was purchased in China just last week. After some photos of the phone were posted, it was clear that the phone is a very convincing knock-off of the actual iPhone. The packaging appears authentic, and at first glance the phone itself looks pretty similar. The proportions are slightly off, but the icons are identical except for the presence of a Penguin icon which launches a Chinese game:

Other differences can be seen, including the use of a standard USB plug on the bottom, instead of the usual dock connector. Other minor differences of type face and user interface placement would not be easily noticed by anyone who didn't own an iPhone themselves.

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SFStateStudent · Jul 3, 2008, 12:40 AM

I like the telltale "SLIDE TO UNLOCK" in capital letters v. "slide to unlock" on my forsure, forsure original 8GB iPhone. Nice iPhonie...

matt18 · Jul 3, 2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFStateStudent

I like the telltale "SLIDE TO UNLOCK" in capital letters v. "slide to unlock" on my forsure, forsure original 8GB iPhone. Nice iPhonie...

yeah, i agree!

although, it is impressive....

jmadlena · Jul 3, 2008, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt18

yeah, i agree!

although, it is impressive....

I thought that they had just copied the the OS over to their knockoff version, but seeing as how some stuff is clearly wrong, does that mean they made it themselves? If so, they did a pretty good job.

cloudnine · Jul 3, 2008, 12:50 AM

I think it's interesting that the box has the original icon of the Maps application, but the phone itself has the little penguin icon... hah.

yummyporky · Jul 3, 2008, 12:52 AM

That's nothing, check out the quad band 3?G iPhone already for sale in China

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RMbdmdx47wc

bacaramac · Jul 3, 2008, 01:02 AM

Why would anyone think they could get a real iPhone from a non authorized dealer? Hmm. Maybe I am just to good at spotting fakes that this would never happen to me, but man that really sucks.

arn · Jul 3, 2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacaramac

Why would anyone think they could get a real iPhone from a non authorized dealer? Hmm. Maybe I am just to good at spotting fakes that this would never happen to me, but man that really sucks.

The packaging appears identical so it's unlikely you would be able spot the fake before you got it home. You have a point about unauthorized dealers, perhaps. But most non Apple-fanatics don't know Apple's distribution policies.

arn

avigalante · Jul 3, 2008, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yummyporky

That's nothing, check out the quad band 3?G iPhone already for sale in China

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RMbdmdx47wc

Wow - talk about fake phones!

Eric Lewis · Jul 3, 2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arn

The packaging appears identical so it's unlikely you would be able spot the fake before you got it home. You have a point about unauthorized dealers, perhaps. But most non Apple-fanatics don't know Apple's distribution policies.

arn

still i want to open it before hand

also how much was it?

coolant113 · Jul 3, 2008, 01:18 AM

this garbage was bound to happen

SFStateStudent · Jul 3, 2008, 01:23 AM

Well, I can only imagine that his Daddy, didn't open the iPhonie packages b/c he and his luggage had to get through Customs checkpoints in China and the USA, and declare all three of them and if the packages are open, Customs may not allow them in or out...

matticus008 · Jul 3, 2008, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmadlena

I thought that they had just copied the the OS over to their knockoff version, but seeing as how some stuff is clearly wrong, does that mean they made it themselves? If so, they did a pretty good job.

That depends on what the applications themselves look like. It's fairly trivial to write a lock and home screen like the iPhone's. I wouldn't count on a lot of identical underlying functionality--if they did a convincing job past the home screen, then it is impressive indeed.

Burgess07 · Jul 3, 2008, 01:34 AM

This is more convincing.

yellowjacket · Jul 3, 2008, 01:49 AM

In China, it's called the HiPhone, very similar, though there are some quality differences with the casing, not as round nor well assembled as the real iPhone. Goes for less than $170 US here...

Rocketman · Jul 3, 2008, 01:53 AM

Globalization has arrived.

I say we refuse to allow them to watch Gilligan's Isalnd or Three's Company or Baywatch until they enforce against iPhone and DVD clones.

That'll ream them.

Rocketman

LukeHarrison · Jul 3, 2008, 03:29 AM

Wouldn't mind some pics of the rest of the interface, see how far they've gone with the copy job.

macduke · Jul 3, 2008, 03:40 AM

Haha, that is great! Who buys expensive phones for cheap in some shady Chinese market without opening the package to verify the contents? He's lucky he didn't get a rock!!

First of all, if it was in a shady Chinese market to begin with that's a sign that its a fake. Is there anything real at all in a shady Chinese market? Or any shady market?

Second of all, if this kid plays his cards right, he might be able to sell it on eBay as a collectors item, a one of a kind Chinese version of the iPhone. I'm sure some rich d-bag will buy it just because he doesn't have one already.

sdschwendener · Jul 3, 2008, 03:59 AM

this is what you get for buying a shady chinese product.

This is not even a very convincing knockoff. I could tell before noticing the capitals, penguin, mini usb, that the very sizes of the black above and below the screen were not standard.

I mean you get what you pay for.

And if you pay full for that then well,

you deserve what you paid for.

SFStateStudent · Jul 3, 2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macduke

he might be able to sell it on eBay as a collectors item, a one of a kind Chinese version of the iPhone...

Well, if it's a "knock-off" from China, I'm sorry to say, it's NOT "a one of a kind" but rather 1, 2, and 3 of 6,000,000; sorta' like the Borg...

illitrate23 · Jul 3, 2008, 05:12 AM

no fair! i want to play that penguin game on my iPhone!!

is it like that one that used to be on the Sega GameGear, where you had to push blocks on ice around to squash these orange things that would try to eat you? that was awesome

macduke · Jul 3, 2008, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SFStateStudent

Well, if it's a "knock-off" from China, I'm sorry to say, it's NOT "a one of a kind" but rather 1, 2, and 3 of 6,000,000; sorta' like the Borg...

i know. thats why i said "if this kid plays his cards right."

anything can be sold. this "iPhone" was sold.

i don't think ebay allows legit sales of these devices. so if he makes it clear that this is a special chinese version, which there aren't as many of on ebay, then he might be able to convince some rich guy to buy it. its called marketing. i've seen worse examples of frivolous purchasing. its a long shot, but not out of the question. especially if he only paid $170 for it.

DarrenC · Jul 3, 2008, 08:21 AM

This is the kind of crap we have to put up with. There's so many chinese made knock-offs that get passed off as the real thing. We're constantly getting customer returns for failures that after investigation turn out to be fake. The customers even bought the fake stuff through reputible means. China needs to start acting like a real country and enforcing a few international laws.

JMax1 · Jul 3, 2008, 08:27 AM

Aside from the fact that it's not an iPhone, how is it? Is it any good? Has the user gotten it to work with his carrier?

protekt0r · Jul 3, 2008, 08:32 AM

HiPhone on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-UNLOCKED-P16...QQcmdZViewItem

Looks slightly different in the Ebay listing. Notice it's only capable of GPRS! Good luck browsing the web on that thing. No wifi either.

Jul 3, 2008, 12:34 AM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Fake Chinese iPhones Look Pretty Convincing One forum user posted for help getting his new iPhone activated through iTunes. As it turns out, the iPhone was purchased in China just last week. After some photos of the phone were posted, it was clear that the phone is a very convincing knock-off of the actual iPhone. The packaging appears authentic, and at first glance the phone itself looks pretty similar. The proportions are slightly off, but the icons are identical except for the presence of a Penguin icon which launches a Chinese game: Other differences can be seen, including the use of a standard USB plug on the bottom, instead of the usual dock connector. Other minor differences of type face and user interface placement would not be easily noticed by anyone who didn't own an iPhone themselves. Read Full Article

Jul 3, 2008, 12:40 AM	#2
SFStateStudent macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco California, USA	I like the telltale "SLIDE TO UNLOCK" in capital letters v. "slide to unlock" on my forsure, forsure original 8GB iPhone. Nice iPhonie... __________________ MBP 2.5GHz 250GB Mac Pro 3G S⃣ iPhone 32GB Black

Jul 3, 2008, 12:52 AM	#6
yummyporky macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2008	This guy is stupid for believing an iPhone from China is real That's nothing, check out the quad band 3?G iPhone already for sale in China http://youtube.com/watch?v=RMbdmdx47wc

Jul 3, 2008, 01:02 AM	#7
bacaramac macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2007	Why would anyone think they could get a real iPhone from a non authorized dealer? Hmm. Maybe I am just to good at spotting fakes that this would never happen to me, but man that really sucks. __________________ Alumi iMac 20" 2.0Ghz 13" Unibody MBP Dual-Band AEBS ATV2 40GB 16GB iPhone 3G S⃣ Black

Jul 3, 2008, 01:18 AM	#11
coolant113 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: New Jersey	this garbage was bound to happen __________________ "Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works. " Steve Jobs

Jul 3, 2008, 12:50 AM	#5
cloudnine Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA	I think it's interesting that the box has the original icon of the Maps application, but the phone itself has the little penguin icon... hah.

Jul 3, 2008, 01:23 AM	#12
SFStateStudent macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Francisco California, USA	Well, I can only imagine that his Daddy, didn't open the iPhonie packages b/c he and his luggage had to get through Customs checkpoints in China and the USA, and declare all three of them and if the packages are open, Customs may not allow them in or out... __________________ MBP 2.5GHz 250GB Mac Pro 3G S⃣ iPhone 32GB Black

Jul 3, 2008, 01:34 AM	#14
Burgess07 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Watertown, WI	This is more convincing. __________________ 17" glossy Unibody MBP - 3.06ghz C2D \| 4GB RAM \| 500GB HDD 15" glossy penryn MBP - 2.4ghz C2D \| 2GB RAM \| 250GB HDD 30" ACD 32GB Black iPhone

Jul 3, 2008, 01:49 AM	#15
yellowjacket macrumors newbie Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Shanghai	In China, it's called the HiPhone, very similar, though there are some quality differences with the casing, not as round nor well assembled as the real iPhone. Goes for less than $170 US here...

Jul 3, 2008, 01:53 AM	#16
Rocketman macrumors 68020 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Claremont, CA	Globalization has arrived. I say we refuse to allow them to watch Gilligan's Isalnd or Three's Company or Baywatch until they enforce against iPhone and DVD clones. That'll ream them. Rocketman __________________ Think Different-ly! Looking for an iPhone dev with way too much time on her hands for BASIC programs I have.

Jul 3, 2008, 03:29 AM	#17
LukeHarrison macrumors regular Join Date: May 2007 Location: Selby, UK	Wouldn't mind some pics of the rest of the interface, see how far they've gone with the copy job. __________________ iMac G5 (iSight) : Looking forward to 10.6. Oh, wait... iPod nano 3G 4GB (given to my father) : iPhone 2G 8GB White Overalls - New Style Hit The City

Jul 3, 2008, 03:40 AM	#18
macduke macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: KC	Haha, that is great! Who buys expensive phones for cheap in some shady Chinese market without opening the package to verify the contents? He's lucky he didn't get a rock!! First of all, if it was in a shady Chinese market to begin with that's a sign that its a fake. Is there anything real at all in a shady Chinese market? Or any shady market? Second of all, if this kid plays his cards right, he might be able to sell it on eBay as a collectors item, a one of a kind Chinese version of the iPhone. I'm sure some rich d-bag will buy it just because he doesn't have one already. __________________ MBP 2.4ghz 4gb ram 500gb hd / 32gb iPhone 3g S⃣ www.duke-design.com - Graphic design, photography, and more!

Jul 3, 2008, 03:59 AM	#19
sdschwendener macrumors regular Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chicago	umm.. this is what you get for buying a shady chinese product. This is not even a very convincing knockoff. I could tell before noticing the capitals, penguin, mini usb, that the very sizes of the black above and below the screen were not standard. I mean you get what you pay for. And if you pay full for that then well, you deserve what you paid for. __________________ Core by 8 iPhone 4 GB tv AEBS

Jul 3, 2008, 05:12 AM	#21
illitrate23 macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: uk	no fair! i want to play that penguin game on my iPhone!! is it like that one that used to be on the Sega GameGear, where you had to push blocks on ice around to squash these orange things that would try to eat you? that was awesome __________________ "one day we're all gonna die - and then we'll see who's laughing!"

Jul 3, 2008, 08:21 AM	#23
DarrenC macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Greensboro, NC	This is the kind of crap we have to put up with. There's so many chinese made knock-offs that get passed off as the real thing. We're constantly getting customer returns for failures that after investigation turn out to be fake. The customers even bought the fake stuff through reputible means. China needs to start acting like a real country and enforcing a few international laws.

Jul 3, 2008, 08:27 AM	#24
JMax1 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL	Aside from the fact that it's not an iPhone, how is it? Is it any good? Has the user gotten it to work with his carrier? __________________ How does Pig Latin work for Canadians, eh? 17" Intel iMac, Broken G4 Powerbook, 20 GB iPod Photo, 8GB iPhone, Migilia TV Micro, and two dogs.

Jul 3, 2008, 08:32 AM	#25
protekt0r macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Albuquerque, NM	HiPhone on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-UNLOCKED-P16...QQcmdZViewItem Looks slightly different in the Ebay listing. Notice it's only capable of GPRS! Good luck browsing the web on that thing. No wifi either.

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