Apple’s iPhone 5S has yet to be announced – but that hasn’t stopped well-known Chinese iPhone clone maker GooPhone from releasing the first cheap Android-based knockoff of Apple’s next-gen handset (via CultofMac, Phandroid)! Like the GooPhone i5 that came before it, the GooPhone i5S looks nearly identical to the current iPhone 5, and features an iOS-themed version of Android Jelly Bean and upgraded hardware.
Despite its physical appearance, and the inclusion of a “Retina” display, performance is not anywhere near the level of an actual iPhone, and of course, it can’t run App Store apps (instead it uses Android’s Google Play store). The device will be priced at $149 – far less than Apple’s own iPhone. What’s most concerning, however, is that it’s likely to fool gullible buyers into thinking they’re getting the real thing.
Good ole’ GooPhone – once again, the lack of innovation has sparked another cheap clone, and once again, Apple’s legal department will likely slap them right across the wallets. But you’ve got to admit: It takes some serious cojones to release a cheap knockoff of a product that hasn’t even been announced yet!
