Keepin' it real fake: Android-based iPad knockoff gets unboxed for real
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 16th 2010 9:41AM
posted June 16th 2010 9:41AM
There were certainly plenty of non-KIRF products that managed to impress us at Computex earlier this month, but we have to admit that Sanxi's Android-based iPad knockoff is also right up there with the standouts from the show, and is a strong contender for KIRF of the year (our most prestigious fake award). Still not convinced of its many charms? Then look no further than the gallery full of unboxing shots below courtesy of our pal Zach Honig, which reveals just what that $150 or so will get you and, of course, how it stacks up against the real thing. Don't go thinking we're done with this thing just yet, though -- we'll also have it on hand at the next Engadget Show. We hope you can handle the anticipation.
[Thanks, Zach]
[Thanks, Zach]
I thought the iPad had much Bezel...
Is this the best Android can do? Ripping of Apple's design...
@synthesized So...remind me again, how is using Apple's design Android's fault?
@synthesized
go away, troll.
@Jaylittles531
All bezel, all the time.
The bezel is strong within this one. However, I do enjoy a good KIRF.
@Jaylittles531
I meant to press the plus! Sorry dude! Haha yeah this thing is bezel-ragious!!
@Jaylittles531 It's funny because you think you'll get an iPad or something that looks like that, then you open the box...
@synthesized
Android didn't make this product. Android is simply an operating system (and a pretty amazing one at that). Sanxi ripped Apple's product design and simply put Android on there as the operating system.
Dell Streak run's Android, HTC Evo 4G runs Android - but neither are clones of any Apple products.
@maty Are you are Google marketing drone? You sure sound like one.
@Infinity No he's just a Fanboy.
@Jaylittles531 OR, he's someone who isn't incredibly stupid. How can an operating system rip off the design of a device?
That's like saying Windows 7 ripped off the MacBook Pro.
@Jaylittles531
finally an iPad worth buying
@maty With that said: Apple did not make the Ipad or Phones what they are, however the 3rd party APP developers Did:]
Apple just watched the ch$nge come in:)
@Emjay Ummm this is a very confusing statement. So basically the Appstore had nothing at all to do with it? And the fact that Apple's creation of the Appstore has given countless developers "ch$nge". Stop being naive, if it wasn't for them this whole shebang wouldn't be where it is today. Do you seriously think that Android, WinMo7, WebOS, etc... would even exist right now if it wasn't for the iPhone? They might of existed yes but I dare you to say that the iPhone had no influence at all, and if you think otherwise then you're just delusional. Give credit where credit is deserved.
@N900 It did.
@synthesized um just because it has Android on it doesn't mean Google/Android has anything to with it. Android is open source anyone can get a copy of Android for free and throw it on a device.
@Btbessey What's 'bezel'?
the box is stupid. The product doesn't look half bad.
@glamajamma You remind me of a Umpire I saw at a baseball game not to long ago where a pitcher almost had a perfect game.
@glamajamma: I am so dipping this in chocolate and sending it to my wife.
@Mr Death
Contains lead, not suitable for human consumption.
@glamajamma
I can't stop lol'ing at the picture comparing the backs of the two devices.
@wywywywy: Even better. ;)
@Jaylittles531 Funnily enough, there was a players' poll about the umpires in the MLB, and Jim Joyce received over 50% of the votes for the best umpire in the league.
You don't know what you're talking about.
@Rick Astley Indeed. "Designed and made in China" made me laugh particularly hard.
considering it has Micro SD slot. USB port support
and you mention it's only 150 dollars with 64GB built-in???
I only have 2 questions..
1. where can I buy one
2. Why is iPad so expensive at 800 dollars with similar storage?
@kingofwale
An iPad is not just 64gb and a screen
@kingofwale
For one thing Apple built their shit from he ground up. From hardware to software.
Android is free, duh and the parts on that kirf are off the shelf. So the cost to make it is almost nothing. Now what about support? Ain't none! It is a throw away product.
Them Android tablets have done nothing but kill their profit margins.
The makers of that crap don't even make enough money to tell you to fuck off.
@pspitts I disagree, this company has to spend $0 on software engineering, and it's extremely cheap to put together a tablet with off the self components. I'd be surprised if this cost over $80 to manufacture, so I think the profit margin is pretty healthy.
@synthesized Nope it's 64gb, screen and a LOT of marketing budget.
@kingofwale
For realz. How is it that when I see all of these iPad Kirf products I prefer them over the actual iPad?
Oh yeah, ports. Options. All of those non-Appleian things
@kingofwale
to 2.
get an ipad in your hands and this kirf, and there is your answer!
btw. 800$ for an (one,1) ipad? there are many models, starting at somewhere around 400 bucks so it depends.
so why is a (any) bmw much more expensive than cars from chang feng motor? both are using a round steering wheels and the windows are in equal measure transparent.
there is a saying like "there are no stupid questions", but this kind saying is imho totally wrong. :)
@kingofwale I don't think it has 64GB storage, it has a micro SDHC slot support up to 32GB card. If you want one then look no further than the KIRF central ---- dealextreme, and save yourself $15.
@synthesized
Heh, but that's the classic argument around these parts. ;)
Take any product, list its technical specifications on a piece of paper, compare, and decide which is better. Make no actual tests, do not consider the quality of the hardware, touch screen, or make attempt to use the interface.
I can't imagine buying any product just by its list of technical specifications, yet that seems all the rage with the gadget crowd.
@kingofwale
for $150 though, its definitely something to investigate. and hey, if it dies youre only out $150. could also be something great to play around with and see what kinda fun 'rooting' you can do the damn thing.
sign me up!
@doug
The screen is likely terrible.
Plus, do you think a developer community dedicated to rooting this thing will materialize?
@shizzledmg
chang feng motors roflmao! top post!
@synthesized
> An iPad is not just 64gb and a screen
Nope. It is also an underpowered CPU and GPU that needs AirVideo to transcode for it.
Something that could be a "home media tablet" and not look like *ss would be a welcome improvement on Messiah 2.0. So would something that does Flash and frames.
@pspitts "Android is free..."
I beg to disagree, nothing free comes in life. You pay for Android by having Google milk you for data. Google need you to sell Ads, so need I to say, you are a Cow if you use Google's product?
@ebgolfin
> Take any product, list its technical specifications on a piece of
> paper, compare, and decide which is better. Make no actual tests, do
> not consider the quality of the hardware, touch screen, or make
> attempt to use the interface.
A well polished turd is still a turd.
Yes. It's a drag that some people actually know what they want and that they can put that in objective terms that aren't so easily dismissed by meaningless rhetoric and highly subjective touchy feely things.
@Infinity Getting milked turns me on. WTF do you have against cows asshole?
What a peculiar thread this is...
@jedi
AirVideo is ridiculously good. I hope you're not knocking it. Letting the PC do the heavy work of decoding the video is a fantastic way to conserve battery life if you want to watch movies away from home. I have close to a TB of media on my PC that I can play off my phone at any time. That, my friend, is awesome.
Your whole "well polished turd" analogy is stupid. Polish is important in personal tech, not just feature lists. I've owned plenty of devices that could, in theory, do more than what my iOS device does. Those devices now live in a box in my closet, never to be used again. I fully subscribe to the thought that 5 really well done features are better than 10 half-baked features. I also realize that this type of thinking is not the MO for many people that comment on this site though.
@SolidSnake
its not like i assume a huge trend will happen with it, the product specs arent amazing by any means...but i mean come on, its just kinda fun to see what you can pull off with a device or what you can turn it into or run on it or just play around with its codes.
http://www.sanxi.com.cn/en/product/en/productshow.asp?id=411
@kingofwale iPad has an LED backlit IPS display. Apple had to develop the software themselves. The $800 iPad has 3g. The above device probably doesn't.
Use both devices and see for yourself if $150 is a deal.
Crap-quality screen compared to Apple's IPS screen. Seriously, have you seen an iPad IRL? It's beautiful and viewable clearly from any angle.
@aarond12
Or, if you don't have a roof above you, it is not viewable from any angle whatsoever.
I will wait for NotionInk Adam.
@kingofwale It might be the same as this
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.37867
Which looks great , it also supports a lot of video codecs so I am interested for sure, if it can be rooted, even better
KIRF of the year indeed.
Screen looks a lot more suckier too.