Rachel_Sandford
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In the last quarter, Apple has sold a record 20.34 million iPhones. This sales success comes despite the fact that the company is rumored to be releasing a newer version of the phone, the iPhone 5 in just a few months.
Now, it seems China wants a piece of the pie. Metro Express, a Shanghai-based newspaper reported that the country's largest e-commerce site, Taobao is selling a 'HiPhone 5,' a knock-off of the yet to be released iPhone. The fake is based on leaked images of the iPhone 5, and is thinner than the iPhone 4. Like the iPhone, the HiPhone comes in black and white, but it also features versions in red and pink. The newspaper reports, however, that like most pirated mobile phones, the product is light and feels like a plastic toy.
Selling the knock-off for 200 yuan (£19), the fake 'HiPhone 5' is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 4, which sells for 850 yuan. An iPhone 4 would cost about £510 on the Apple UK website. However, the differences are quite noticeable. “Look at this. It's not the same as the 300 to 400 yuan ones,” said a Chinese store clerk, as reported by Metro Express.
There has been no report on the capabilities of the HiPhone, but Apple's iPhone 5 is said to have an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities, and a 1GHz dual-core processor.
Chinese stores are always full of fakes. From electronics, to designer bags, to designer clothes and shoes, the country is known for its knock-offs. Reuters has even found knock-offs or look-a-likes of Ikea products.
Now, it seems China wants a piece of the pie. Metro Express, a Shanghai-based newspaper reported that the country's largest e-commerce site, Taobao is selling a 'HiPhone 5,' a knock-off of the yet to be released iPhone. The fake is based on leaked images of the iPhone 5, and is thinner than the iPhone 4. Like the iPhone, the HiPhone comes in black and white, but it also features versions in red and pink. The newspaper reports, however, that like most pirated mobile phones, the product is light and feels like a plastic toy.
Selling the knock-off for 200 yuan (£19), the fake 'HiPhone 5' is significantly cheaper than the iPhone 4, which sells for 850 yuan. An iPhone 4 would cost about £510 on the Apple UK website. However, the differences are quite noticeable. “Look at this. It's not the same as the 300 to 400 yuan ones,” said a Chinese store clerk, as reported by Metro Express.
There has been no report on the capabilities of the HiPhone, but Apple's iPhone 5 is said to have an 8-megapixel camera with 1080p Full HD video recording capabilities, and a 1GHz dual-core processor.
Chinese stores are always full of fakes. From electronics, to designer bags, to designer clothes and shoes, the country is known for its knock-offs. Reuters has even found knock-offs or look-a-likes of Ikea products.