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Copycat "hiPhone 5" Surfaces In China
hypnosec writes "A fake iPhone 5, inspired by the leaked images of the device, has been discovered to be on sale in China. The quality of the hiPhone 5 varies with the price, with the most premium version of the device being available for 800 yuan or £76. The device reportedly comes in red and pink. Chinese media is reporting that the fake iPhone 5 is thinner than the iPhone 4 and comes with round edges. Other reports are claiming that the device is extremely light and almost feels like that one is holding a plastic toy. The reports are likely based on some images that were leaked by the supply chain." Since they're going to the trouble of building counterfeit stores, the knock-off phones shouldn't surprise anyone.
As to the "thieving", you should remember that US was involved in a large-scale theft of "intellectual property" from the rest of the world until the harmonization of copyright laws post WWII. Which harmonization happened because at that time US authors asked the US government for it. The same thing will eventually happen in China, when they amass enough "intellectual property" they want to make money from. Give them another 20 years.
There have been Hiphone phones for years now. The first one wasn't very good, but by the Hiphone 4, they were getting halfway decent reviews.
It doesn't integrate with Apple's overpriced ecosystem. It's a straightforward unlocked GSM smartphone. And, unlike with Apple, you can replace the battery.