Advertisement
To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu
-------------------------------------------------------------- This story was printed from ZDNet Australia. --------------------------------------------------------------
Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

By Brendon Chase and Derek Fung, CNET.com.au
July 10, 2009
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/insight/hardware/soa/Shanzhai-ji-gallery-Fake-phones-from-China/0,139023759,339297246,00.htm


Our erstwhile Shanghai correspondent Brendon Chase wanders into a Shanghai tech market to sort the fake from the real and to see how the fake iPhones stack up to the real thing.

For more information on Shanzhai phones — how they're made, drawbacks, how to identify one and so forth — check out our behind-the-scenes look at the Shanzhai phone market.

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A range of Apple branded flip phones, including an iPhone Air.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

No, no, it's not a fake! It's a Nokig for crying out loud.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Presuming that Apple made the world's slimmest flip phone, we guess there's a chance it would be christened the iPhone Air. The silver phone on the left is presumably a knock-off of a knock-off because it's the Ipone Air.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

The same make and model coming in different shapes and sizes is a big hint that they're not genuine.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Lots of colours and sizes are available!

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A rather cool-looking Shanzai Spider-Man phone. Let's call Tobey Maguire now to let him know.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Hello Moto! The attention to detail with some of these Shanzhai phones is amazing.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Maybe this is where the camera for the iPod rumours began.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Sometimes genuine phones are sold next to Shanzhai phones, making it difficult for consumers to know what they're getting.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Phones in all shapes and sizes, sometimes even the same phone in all shapes and sizes. And is that orange contraption in the top right corner a Shanzhai camera?

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

One of the more sophisticated clones, the CiPhone.

(Credit: Shanzhaiji.cn)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Some market vendors will display authentic model cases of phones before swapping them for Shanzhai units at purchase.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

If we didn't know better, some of these might actually be the real deal.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

The long-awaited Apple flip phone. OK, flip phones with Apple logos plastered on them.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

The i9-S is one of thousands of Shanzhai iPhone clones. Even the box has been mercilessly copied.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Think the real iPhone is too big? Well maybe a Shanzhai iPhone Mini might be more your cup of tea. It's pictured here next to a real Sony Ericsson W880i.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

More fake, flippy iPhones! There's even an Ipod Water (second from left).

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Each Shanzhai iPhone is subtly different and in every photo you will almost always be looking at a different Shanzhai iPhone, so it is important that you pay attention to this photo gallery.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A Louis Vuitton phone (left) near a phone with an apple as its five-way controller.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

The mind just goes into meltdown trying to figure out which one is real and which one isn't.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Outside a typical tech market in Shanghai.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

This Giororq Arnani phone is at least one tenth the price of an original Armani device.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Typically vendors at tech markets both sell phones and offer repairs.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A Souy Ericssou and the Nckia N87.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A Suny Mobile, along with a fake, pink Sony Ericsson with enough Apple goodness to make an apple pie jealous.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Many Shanzhai phones offer dual-SIM card slots, which is a handy feature we'd like to see more of in the mainstream market.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

The pull-out keyboard on this Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 clone is quite impressive.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

While passable, the iPhone Mini's touchscreen and software not only looks chunky but is clunky to use.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A Sumsang phone — like a Samsung but different.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Memo to Steve Jobs: a removable battery on the real iPhone would be nice.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

The iPhone Mini's interface looks like the real thing, but with more Chinese and less pizzazz.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

A full-size Shanzhai iPhone next to its Mini-Me.

(Credit: Brendon Chase/CBS Interactive)

Shanzhai ji gallery: Fake phones from China

Uncle Sam wants you to buy a Windows Mobile BlockBerry, just like the one that President Obama uses.

(Credit: CNET Asia)


Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive, a CBS Company. All Rights Reserved.
ZDNET is a registered service mark of CBS Interactive. ZDNET Logo is a service mark of CBS Interactive.