No Rebate on your aiFeng
Fake iPhones are all over the news this week, thanks to a Bloomberg story about China's booming counterfeit iPhone trade, which has come a long way since Semiconductor Insights picked apart a laughably shoddy pretender back in August. The aiFeng is the best knockoff to date, and along with the meizu miniOne, they are prompting dire warnings from all corners of the internet that knockoffs could soon surpass the real thing.
Analysts blame the surge of counterfeits on Apple's decision not to release the iPhone in China until 2008. But the argument doesn't hold up under even passing scrutiny. The first "tPhones" were available in April, a generous two months before iDay. Also, Lewis Vitton, Burrrberry, and Prado retain their popularity despite the nearly limitless availability of the real thing.
In honor of the aiFeng and the subtle alterations that (sometimes) protect counterfeits from litigation, here are the ten worst electronics brand knock-offs I have seen to date. (Click the pictures to see the original images in their native habitat.)
I've also heard about a Snog Ericcson, but I haven't managed to find any pictures.
2. iBob
3. SONIA
4. SQNY
5. PenesamiG
8. Microalert
9. Micrart
10. And the winner: Super Tangent.
I'm sure these are far from comprehensive-- if you've seen better, please post them.
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