Keepin' it real fake: N8 available now, only not from Nokia
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 30th 2010 6:55AM
posted May 30th 2010 6:55AM
Well, it was bound to happen: a flagship device released as a KIRF (for the second time) well ahead of its official launch. Unfortunately, that's what happens when you delay a product that already leaked months in advance. The $99.20 "N8-00" might share its name and stylings with Nokia's imminent Symbian flagship but that's where the similarities end. This Chinese N8 packs a 3.3-inch touchscreen (resistive, no doubt), a quad-band GSM radio, pair of VGA cameras (ha!), 2GB of MicroSD blah blah blah... hey, let's be honest, the specs don't really matter do they? This "Nseries" device, like all KIRFs, will be sold to poseurs who want to look the part before quickly discarding it for the next trend. Picture of the backside after the break.
[Thanks, Arnout and everyone who sent this in]
[Thanks, Arnout and everyone who sent this in]
Who want to look the part? N8 isn't such a ground breaking phone in LOOKS and once you start to use the interface people would spot you out pretty quickly...
@Shanebenn The Nokia brand holds significant cachet in many parts of the world, especially those parts where the greymarket thrives.
@Shanebenn
The worst part is, they print the brands on the device as if those components are legit. There *has* to be some sort of legal recourse against these KIRF'ers...
groundbreaking it is. it has a pentaband radio, which should be appealing in the highly fractured us market.
@r34p3r
You'd think so, but then you research and understand Chinese business practice then you realise it's not ripping off, not from their view point.
It's just the poor business strategy of western companies that rely on pussy laws and bribes to governments to protect them instead of them protecting themselves with good choices.
If i give you the plans, well I gave you the plans didn't I. You didn't steal them.
@Thomas Ricker
Not too big of a grey market over where you live, and it still is a highly regarded brand...
@r34p3r
You are right. Nokia owns the copyright on their name. The also own the OS which is also probably ripped off. The hardware possibly camme from the same factory as made the real Nokias.
The amount of lost revenue to major marques such as Rolex, Dior, etc. is enormous.
These are illegal copies and you can get arrested in some part sof the world for owning fakes from these big marques.
Hopefully the people making Mokias will soon get their butts kicked but, I doubt it.
@Thomas Ricker
N8 is not a Nokia flagship phone. How many times does Engadget have to be told of this simple fact?? Coz what I am afraid is then Engadget will go "oooh...look how bad the flagship Nokia phone is compared to xyz blah blah blah..." when in fact it never was announced as a flagship. Same thing goes for every complaint where Symbian^3 is expected to be a revolutionary new UI or the N900 being a flagship mass market device, when Nokia announcements have always been to the contrary.
I think as a tech blog, the editors to pay more attention to official press releases before putting their spin on it.
@naashak it goes against their agenda of saying good things about nokia and doing any research.
they only talk about nokia because it is necessary. the animosity is clear.
@rederikus
Somehow I dont think Rolex are 'losing' a bunch of money to fakes... Anyone who buys a Rolex is buying it to show people how great they are, a fake hardly achieves that. The people who buy the fakes likely couldn't / wouldn't ever buy a real Rolex.
This is about as exciting as the Nokia version..
@Aggot
he, isnt there a letter missing in your name, like m or f?
@JFH Nice, I was trying to be a little bit cheeky, the people down-voted like a true democracy, and you take it one step too far.
@Aggot
You are right, it was a cheap shot.
@Aggot You gotta admit that it was a good one, although much too easy.
@Pickaxe I deserved it, but next time lets have something a bit more creative.
what a disgrace. die KIRF and KIRF people
when you work in a mobile shop, theres nothing more annoying than someone walking in with useless KIRF junk and act like they are legit customers.
feel like burning them
@Zylam What does KIRF stand for?
@Gutsy Gibbons
Keepin' it real fake.
Engagdet just grips all the knock offs mainly the Chinese fakes of gadgets into Keepin' it real fake or KIRF for short.
@Zylam
*Engadget sorry
@Gutsy Gibbons ITS IN THE FUCKING TITLE, MORON
Haha...they beat Nokia to it,wont buy that crap though.
Sometimes I really want a KIRF, this is not one of those times.
I've posted a video demo from this one last month : http://www.nowhereelse.fr/nokia-n8-clone-copie-32147/
@stagueve
That actually looks pretty good for a "fake", even down to the OS.
@tobsmonster2 yep, a really good looking clone, but nothing more than a clone... :)
man the back of the KIRF looks repulsive.
@MrHashbrown
I thought the real N8 looks just as repulsive. When will the company get a frikkin mind to understand that a bulging camera would help you scratch the lens so easily? They should have placed a cover like the Satio or made the lens recess into the bodys
@MrHashbrown
I thought the real N8 looks just as repulsive. When will the company get a frikkin mind to understand that a bulging camera would help you scratch the lens so easily? They should have placed a cover like the Satio or made the lens recess into the body
@mnhthebest
Darn engadgets outdated comment system
@mnhthebest
Well, no. They made it this way to allow for decent camera optics. Then the did not add a cover but opted for scratch proof material to keep it from becoming thicker. What is your point really? It is too thick in 1 place, so lets add a cover we do not need?
"Unfortunately, that's what happens when you delay a product that already leaked months in advance."
I take it there are a few iPhone HD KIRDs about then?
@MarkAnderson
Or even KIRFs.
@MarkAnderson
What would KIRD stand for though, you might be onto a new anagram there.
@Cy Starkman
Keeping it real deep, man. Like spiritually, dude.
@MarkAnderson next gen iphone kirf:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/05/keepin-it-real-fake-giphone-f98-is-the-kirfiest-fourth-gen-iph/
@Thomas Ricker
Holy crap. Did they even try with that one?
@MarkAnderson Garmin got it pretty spot on: http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/19/garmin-nuvi-3700-series-breaks-the-gps-mold-uses-another-mold-i/
When they said that the first appearance of Symbian^3 would not be on a Nokia, but rather on a phone from an Asian vendor, this isn't exactly what you imagined it would be, was it?
@rav97
If they actually put the real Symbian^3 on it, things might get a bit more interesting. But they know their customers don't even know what the difference is and only want to show off.
Nokla strikes again!
Nokia will not lose any customer or fans for Nokia N8 because we all know that people will buy this cannot buy the real N8. Agree?
@pixelog
Yep.
The Nokia N8 will be the best phone in the world with its new OS, 12 millions largest sensor camera, HDMI, Dolby Surround, aluminium casing... honestly who would but this fake telephone? not N8 fans for sure!
@trimalo
But will it run Doodle Jump?
@migmanson I have Doodle jump on my iPhone, addictive at first then I found out how fast it drains your battery - I have FIFA, NOva,Red Alert, Street fighter installed but I barely play anymore to preserve battery for more useful tasks. I still use my E71 as my main device because of the great reliable phone features and battery life - we'll see how the N8 is in real usage. I'll get back to.you on that!
@migmanson
Yes, there is doodle jump for symbian.
These KIRFs only sold in China, and some innocent Chinese will buy them,,,,I have seen these fake phones many times, I am a Chinese, I hate these fakes too,,,They won't make these phones for a too long time, becauze people who buy these phones won't buy them again,,they feel cheated, so there won't be too much market for these ShanZhai factories........they are changing too,,,To make their own brand,,,Hope next time I will not see any kirf again...
That OS looks horrible, i'd rather wait for the real deal.
That OS looks horrible, i'd rather wait for the real thing.