Keepin' it real fake, part LXIII: iPhone clone on video

While the days remaining until the (legitimate) iPhone launches in the US has dwindled to single digits, leave it to the Chinese knockoff factories to spoil the unboxing fun. As we revisit chapter 54 of the painfully ongoing saga, it looks like the iPhone, er, tPhone, has been captured on video this time around, and while we can't help but spurn the effort in mocking the OS X interface, true appreciation comes from the removable battery and microSD slot. Go on, get your heavy sighs ready -- now click on through for the derisory video.

[Via NewLaunches]

[paloooz @ Jun 20th 2007 5:17PM]

And it's ONLY 1" thick!

[ben @ Jun 20th 2007 8:59PM]

This is my video !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SupaFly @ Jun 21st 2007 1:00PM]

If it's YOUR VIDEO!!!! That's great because I can tell you directly to BUY A TRIPOD YOU DOUCHE!

[Haydur @ Jun 21st 2007 3:30PM]

Where did you get it from? URL?

[Joseph @ Jun 21st 2007 8:09PM]

What a piece of CRAP!!!

Engadget Hint: Reply to the first post to get your comment to show up higher on the tree.

[maynbrain @ Jun 26th 2007 10:53PM]

how would someone go about getting this phone to work on their network, though? would it be as simple as swapping sim cards, or would you have to call the carrier and try to con them into activating it?

[TeeKay @ Jun 20th 2007 5:19PM]

remember what steve jobs said in the GDC2007 keynote?
"Stylus??? Oh, we use a stylus! *silence* NOBODY WANTS A STYLUS!!!"

[gibber9583 @ Jun 20th 2007 5:20PM]

hey a removable battery! Those Chinese think of everything!

[tekdroid @ Jun 20th 2007 5:41PM]

removable batt, as god intended. Win.

[McGinley @ Jun 20th 2007 5:23PM]

Looks like the famous chinese innovators have beaten Apple to it once again...

[GentalJ @ Jun 20th 2007 5:24PM]

WoW. It's look like a MS version of iPhone.

[Phil @ Jun 20th 2007 5:29PM]

I like how apple logo is around backwards. Nice touch.

[Macha88 @ Jun 20th 2007 5:34PM]

someone pass me the barfbag. worst clone ive seen yet, but at least it has microsd support :D

[Frankenstein Black @ Jun 20th 2007 5:36PM]

10 Weeks ago this would have gotten some Ooooooh's and Aaaaaaah's but after all the latest commercials and power point presentations for the real deal it gets a big MEH!!!

[Common Core 2 Duo!! @ Jun 20th 2007 5:47PM]

2 words that say it all:

Removable batter=Extra battery=Better model

ok maybe more than 2 words.

[shon Dempsey @ Jun 20th 2007 5:47PM]

what gets me is the windows shutdown noise when he turns it off! LOL!

[Samo @ Jun 20th 2007 5:51PM]

I like how it uses MS windows' start up and shut down sound effects...! Oh, the irony :p

Can anyone tell me why there are two SIM card slots?

All in all, looks like a nice fakey... Seems (? but no 'service') to work well enough, most likely a fraction of the price too...

[anon @ Jun 20th 2007 6:31PM]

apparently you can use both sim-card slots, if you have two different GSM services. However, you can only use one at a time, and the switch is done via software. (this is from some Chinese site about this phone, just Google for "cect p168").

I don't really see the point myself...

[ZSX @ Jun 20th 2007 5:53PM]

Look! Some poor sucker has already bid £300 + £5 p+p for it!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/apple-i-phone_W0QQitemZ140130730819QQihZ004QQcategoryZ3312QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Mr. Vage @ Jun 20th 2007 8:58PM]

Item reported to eBay.

[requestion @ Jun 20th 2007 5:57PM]

Do the Chinese really like fake stuff or do they not know any better. Some of these knock-offs are expensive. I would imagine someone who can afford an expensive knock-off would have internet access and know what's going on in the gadget world especially with sites like engadget.com.

ReQuestion on Ubuntu 7.04

[vandergoes @ Jun 20th 2007 6:05PM]

Better than the original one. Copycat eats copycat.
Battery sold out!!!!

[Scott @ Jun 20th 2007 6:15PM]

Har - says "iPhone" on the back but "tPhone" on the screens.

Plus, some more irony - the tune the guy played was "Heretic, Hero" - from the Halo video game soundtrack - a game Apple folks can't play. :P

Gotta love how fast and loose Chinese business practices are. :/

[Bootes @ Jun 20th 2007 6:59PM]

Uhm, Halo is out for the Mac, and has been for a very long time.

[Scott @ Jun 20th 2007 7:03PM]

*bonk!*

[jesstech @ Jun 21st 2007 4:00PM]

Technically, the Halo 2 soundtrack -- and Halo 2 hasn't been ported to OS X. That'll take another three to five years.


Not that I care, I have bootcamp and no real desire to play Halo on anything other than a console anyway.

[Big @ Jun 20th 2007 6:16PM]

Anytime the Chinese manufacturers copy an Apple product THEY TEND TO DO A BETTER JOB.

If you go to Chinatown right now you'll find Ipod Nano ripoffs with FM tuners, VIDEO playback and the ability to play NES ROMS.

You'll find 30GB Ipod ripoffs which only come with 1 GB but are expandable via SD card - and have built in CAMERA's on the back as well as video recording abilities.

Apple loves the LESS= MORE mentality and the Chinese don't go for it. They make some innovative stuff, but due to the cheaper production values the products aren't as "spectacular". If Japan and China developed devices together, APPLE wouldn't stand a chance in Asia.

Japanese tend to buy SONY or NEC rather than Apple products.

[drtekger @ Jun 20th 2007 9:00PM]

I am currently living in China and those ipod nano clones ain't worth shit! My friend bought like 20 for his friends and the data gets corrupted the first time you copy something to that knockoffs. Verdict: Chinese knockoffs suck big time!

[KnightmareCS @ Jun 20th 2007 6:28PM]

Hah, the person that made the video is a Halo fan, lol.

Inscription on the back says:
Notice: iPhone is the world mark registered by Apple inc. in USA
Warning it will break the law without authorized by Apple inc.
if you use "iPhone" logo on any electronic product

^lol that makes sense.... not.......

[KnightmareCS @ Jun 20th 2007 6:32PM]

damn, Scott beat me to the Halo[2] reference..

[Scott @ Jun 20th 2007 6:37PM]

Nee ner nee ner. :D

[yann @ Jun 21st 2007 8:24PM]

I actually think they wrote "pruducts" ! :)

[cowabungaCarl @ Jun 20th 2007 6:28PM]

The way the charger is, it looks like you would have to remove the battery in order to charge it. If so, then that sucks.

[TR @ Jun 20th 2007 6:30PM]

Yes, what is with the two SIM slots ?..

Interesting phone. . .but Apple's done better. Except maybe in the battery part... (I thought the iPhone does have an SD slot, which with adaptor can be microSD ? If it doesn't then, this tPhone is only little better still...)

[rudebo @ Jun 20th 2007 6:54PM]

people like these things (knockoffs) because some (not sure about this one) actually perform the same functions perfectly without the snob tax (i dont like it but it does show have the battery :) and that is more honest then apples policy) keeping it real fake but real usable :))

[T_R_J @ Jun 20th 2007 7:04PM]

Look on the bright side, this one might actually have HSPDA!

[nick @ Jun 20th 2007 7:49PM]

Decent considering they did it all from a video demonstration in 6 months.

[zoara @ Jun 22nd 2007 6:26AM]

It doesn't bear any resemblance at all to the iPhone, though. Just copying a background image and some icons doesn't mean you get the same interface.

Please tell me you can see the difference?

[rell109 @ Jun 20th 2007 8:16PM]

i want one

[sinhumane @ Jun 20th 2007 8:22PM]

yeah, i'm buying one of these fakes.. sell it at the flea market to some poor sap... >:D

[Kaminix @ Jun 20th 2007 8:46PM]

Where do I get one? :o

[ljwtwind @ Jun 22nd 2007 5:34AM]

China, of course.:)

[mp4 User @ Jul 28th 2007 4:36PM]

Yeah They're a piece of junk because they are "hacked" meaning that the memory has been modified so that it will say it has more but really it doesn't. And that makes the all china look a likes crappy... and worthless... and thats why when the info is uploaded it shows it has a corrupt file... So not all of the chineese knock-offs are worthless... I myself have two and sell nothing but the best ones... Lets put it this way... If you buy one that has 4gb and u pay less then $40 for it; then it is corrupt and no good... You just bought a $40 paper wieght...

[drtekger @ Jul 29th 2007 8:15PM]

So could you please email me which ones are the best? Mine gets its data through the headphone jack and has 2 blinking red LEDs when playing. I saw the version with the extra mini USB jack and the play / pause button facing up. How do your fakes hold up for playtime? Mine only runs like 2 hours maximum. Thanks pal!

[Jiriki @ Jun 20th 2007 9:01PM]

Yes, the charger takes the battery... but you will notice that the box contains 1 battery, and the phone has 1 battery in it (he doesn't put a battery in before turning it on). So, you get two removable batteries so that you can use/charge seperately... like the samsung d600 phone
In other words... this phone has the best of both worlds for charging.. 2 batteries and no wires!

[SteveMB @ Jun 20th 2007 9:01PM]

Ha, I can get these for $150 direct from China.

[remaerd @ Jun 20th 2007 10:08PM]

It's a shame to look at the video that the CECT logo on the battery. The CECT had already bought me a fake A1200 MING. I can't bear the copier anymore!

[Neeko @ Jun 20th 2007 11:48PM]

I found where you can buy this fake iphone. And i kinda would EXCEPT it has no hard drive. just a miniSD slot. HERES THE SITE.CHECK IT OUT..directly form china.

http://agenow.diytrade.com/sdp/471448/4/pd-2575465/2839686-1274384.html

[Richard Lai @ Jun 21st 2007 2:36AM]

It even uses the Windows XP logoff sound. LMAO

[Miker @ Jun 21st 2007 7:17AM]

I'm surprised the USA electronic industry doesn't try and covertly set of an EMP device in China's electronics manufacturing districts. However, come to think of it maybe they'd be shooting themselves in the foot as they've relocated their plants out there so they can employ people for 50c an hour.