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+Lewis Curdie Sep. 6, 2012 at 16:00 More articles by Lewis Curdie

GooPhone i5: Chinese manufacturer rips off – and patents – iPhone 5 design This is one of the few stories of late to genuinely make me laugh out loud, or “LOL” if you prefer.

A Chinese manufacturer has created – and released – a knock-off iPhone 5, based on all those recent leaks. Better still, it’s gone and patented the design. Take that, Apple.

It’s called the GooPhone i5 (subtle!), and for all intents and purposes looks very much like an elongated iPhone 4S with a 4in display and smaller dock connector - which happens to be exactly what we’re expecting from the iPhone 5.

Other GooPhone i5 specs include a Tegra 3 quad-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz, 1GB of RAM, an 8MP rear camera, and a resolution of 1280 x 720. Yep, that’s an aspect ratio of 16:9.

Interestingly, the GooPhone i5 is said to rock a uniquely skinned version of Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.0) that looks not unlike iOS 6. Incidentally, I'm enjoying the Honeycomb (Android 3.0 for tablets) logo on the back.

The best part of all: having patented the iPhone 5-style design, the GooPhone i5 could pose problems for Apple when it comes to releasing the next iPhone in China. An amusing thought, for sure, but we’ll believe it when we see it.

In the meantime, check out this GooPhone i5 video over on – you guessed it – YouTube.

via: giz-China

Read more about: Apple iPhone 5, Android, iOS

23 comments

Well it's audacious at least. Be interesting to see what they've done software wise.

Well it's audacious at least. Be interesting to see what they've done software wise.
I can't wait to watch Apple get the crap sued out of them in China when they try and launch the iP5. Chinese courts always side with the Chinese company, even more so than Californian courts always side with Apple. If ProView won their case against Apple, these guys are going to absolutely hammer them.

I know they've not actually sued Apple yet (probably a lot to do with the fact the iP5 doesn't actually exist yet), but lets face it, they're going to.

Is thaf what it means? I thought LOL means Lame Old Loser. Explains my poor networking career.
Anyhoo,
matt - you sure? Seeing how they obviously pirated the design of a variety of Apple parts?
This, to me, reads like one of those pre-launch myths that pop up whenever Apple launch something.
if not: LOL

Is thaf what it means? I thought LOL means Lame Old Loser. Explains my poor networking career.
Anyhoo,
matt - you sure? Seeing how they obviously pirated the design of a variety of Apple parts?
This, to me, reads like one of those pre-launch myths that pop up whenever Apple launch something.
if not: LOL
Those parts weren't official, those "leaks" weren't official. Officially, the iPhone 5 doesn't exist.

Could be rather redundant if the ip5 doesn't look the same, but like Matt I think regardless of right or wrong they'd have a fair chance to succeed if it does. Unless Apple makes noises about moving manufacture elsewhere anyway, which seems unlikely.

Still it's not available yet anyway so settle for sgs3 clones?
http://micgadget.com/28057/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-knockoff-unveiled-with-720p-display-and-android-4-0-videos/

Could be rather redundant if the ip5 doesn't look the same, but like Matt I think regardless of right or wrong they'd have a fair chance to succeed if it does. Unless Apple makes noises about moving manufacture elsewhere anyway, which seems unlikely.

Still it's not available yet anyway so settle for sgs3 clones?
http://micgadget.com/28057/samsung-galaxy-s-iii-knockoff-unveiled-with-720p-display-and-android-4-0-videos/
The fatter bezel makes it look like an SGS3 which has had an allergic reaction to something .

Apple CANNOT move production elsewhere, dudeskis. Impossible.

Could be rather redundant if the ip5 doesn't look the same
We've seen so may leaks, from so many sources, I'd be shocked if the iP5 doesn't look like a stretched 4S with a two-tone back panel, headphone jack at the bottom and smaller dock connector and overall a bit thinner.

Apple CANNOT move production elsewhere, dudeskis. Impossible.
True, China's the only place capable of mass producing such high-tech goods at the right price. Korea is the only other place capable of it, but not on a large enough scale (my 1st production run S2 was made in Korea, but I know they're now made in China).

Thats a slap on a face of apple.. NOw go sue this company. Apple really like to patent it fart too.

The specs on this are unbelievable, very similar to the new Oppo Quad core, Meizu,Lenovo, ZTE and Xiaomi offerings which are priced between £250-£350. If this is at a good price, (say £220 or less+ Shipping) then it could be a great buy, especially with that screen res/size

Of course the design is a slight issue. But if the iPhone 5 looks nothing like this then it can be considered a unique design (maybe)

Only downside i'm guessing is battery life + import fees + limited warranty.

EDIT: just checked online and preorders are being taken for £215 + shipping. Pretty cheap, but i guess the price will change when official pricing is announced.

Last edited by AhmadCentral, Sep. 6, 2012 at 20:40

The specs on this are unbelievable, very similar to the new Oppo Quad core, Meizu,Lenovo, ZTE and Xiaomi offerings which are priced between £250-£350. If this is at a good price, (say £220 or less+ Shipping) then it could be a great buy, especially with that screen res/size

Of course the design is a slight issue. But if the iPhone 5 looks nothing like this then it can be considered a unique design (maybe)

Only downside i'm guessing is battery life + import fees + limited warranty.

Judging by AT&T's 'leaked' iPhone 5 cases the rumoured measurements seem to be correct, but who knows? Prior to the 4S there were cases leaked with a rounded back and/or cutouts for what suggested to become a ginormous camera...
Maybe we've all been had?

No way I'd part with money for this..

No way I'd part with money for this..
It mightn't be bad, but the warranty hassle with some imports is a bit cr*p...

Apple CANNOT move production elsewhere, dudeskis. Impossible.
True, China's the only place capable of mass producing such high-tech goods at the right price. Korea is the only other place capable of it, but not on a large enough scale (my 1st production run S2 was made in Korea, but I know they're now made in China).

No.
China has a firm grip on certain rare earths that are a core ingredient. Export is a no-no... that is why. Of course - slave labour wages are a bonus, too

also, Matt - just today some new "leaks" suggest the back of the iPhone 5 will be 3GS-like; rounded... who knows. Or cares. It could look like an old phonebook and still sell 10s of millions in the 1st month.

No way I'd part with money for this..

I wouldn't based on the design.

But based on the spec and price (at the moment) of around £270 after shipping and tax it's not a bad buy fr a tegra 3 phone with a HD res on a 4 inch screen. Although there are larger screen phones at the same price (and lower) with similar/better spec.

I didn't mean just the design though I don't like it, more that if they have to make it look like that to sell there's likely a lot wrong with it hardware and firmware wise.

No way I'd part with money for this..

I wouldn't based on the design.

But based on the spec and price (at the moment) of around £270 after shipping and tax it's not a bad buy fr a tegra 3 phone with a HD res on a 4 inch screen. Although there are larger screen phones at the same price (and lower) with similar/better spec.
I agree about the price vs specs, but I wouldn't trust the reliability or warranty (lets not forget import tax either).

No way I'd part with money for this..

I wouldn't based on the design.

But based on the spec and price (at the moment) of around £270 after shipping and tax it's not a bad buy fr a tegra 3 phone with a HD res on a 4 inch screen. Although there are larger screen phones at the same price (and lower) with similar/better spec.
I agree about the price vs specs, but I wouldn't trust the reliability or warranty (lets not forget import tax either).

Yeh warranty is always an issue when importing from china, depends where you buy from though.

Oh and just get them to mark it as a gift... if you know what i mean...

Apple to get stung by Chinese clone in new patent wars?

Sweet, sounds ice cool.

Last edited by SpeedyG, Sep. 7, 2012 at 00:23

Apple to get stung by Chinese clone in new patent wars?

Sweet, sounds ice cool.
Legally, the iPhone 5 will be the patent infringing, cloned device.

Well it's audacious at least. Be interesting to see what they've done software wise.
I can't wait to watch Apple get the crap sued out of them in China when they try and launch the iP5. Chinese courts always side with the Chinese company, even more so than Californian courts always side with Apple. If ProView won their case against Apple, these guys are going to absolutely hammer them.

I know they've not actually sued Apple yet (probably a lot to do with the fact the iP5 doesn't actually exist yet), but lets face it, they're going to.

Proview won their case practically by default.

A key part of Apple's defense was that the law firm they'd hired (based in Hong Kong and Taiwan) couldn't read the Chinese characters on the contract that they were signing. I don't believe that anyone in the court could believe that when they heard it.

Plus the court wasn't impressed that Apple had tried to hide their true identity in the buying process by using agents (hardly buying in good faith if you're trying to hide your real identity from the seller to protect IP that isn't yours yet / keep the price down).

Bottom line is though, yeah China won't back a foreign firm over one of it's own. However blatant.