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.

Comments

Cool.

[liquidweaver]

This is the invisible hand of the market doing its job. Exploit workers overseas and pervert the spirit of patents, copyrights, and trademarks only to further monopolize your position, going so far as to crate proxy lawsuits against your competitors and creating injunctions on other businesses only for extortion... yes, I'll have to admit I hope the hiPhone team springs of the excellent designs of the iPhones and makes a better, cheaper product. It's called progress.

Re:Commentary on the Dollar?

[timeOday]

So long as it's a "hi-Phone" and clearly not an "iPhone," I don't see what your problem is, or why this is a story.

As for the "lying, theiving, completely dishonest Chinese" nobody is forcing Apple to put their manufacturing there.

Hiphone phones have been out for a while

[Animats]

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.