iPhone from China, too good to be true?

Everything you need to know if you're considering buying an iPhone from China.

China, iPhone, genuine, cheap. Can we make a real sentence with these words?

Do you have an iPhone 6s? Or maybe you'd like to own Apple's latest smartphone but are intimidated at the mere mention of its high price tag? The scenario is a familiar one. Searching for the best price on the internet, you come across an iPhone deal from China, promising to offer you the dream phone at a bargain price-scandal. In fact, the pictures are so convincing that you're ready to give your credit card details and go into standby mode for the postman. But what is it that you're buying? And why is it so much cheaper than the equivalent prices in Greece? Is it the original iPhone? Is it an iPhony? Is it just a well-orchestrated scam? And if it is a monkey, is it worth buying it after all to make your "piece"?

Are genuine iPhones being sold in China?

Of course! It is extremely easy to buy the products of Apple in China. There are official Apple Stores and many authorized retailers across the country that sell original iPhones to Apple fans. The official prices differ very little from the prices one would pay for the same products in America or Greece.

The problem with counterfeit smartphones starts with the global belief that everything is cheaper in China. More than a few people are driven to buy iPhones, which in the process turn out to be fake, thinking they are buying at China's price. But common sense says that Apple could never have such wide price swings, reducing the value of its products in China, versus other countries.

Also, the fact that iPhones are made in China does not mean that they will be sold more cheaply there. The chart below shows the iPhone 6s prices around the world when it was first released and from what you can see, there are differences, but they're not striking.

On the price comparison platform skroutz.gr, today prices of iPhone 6s (16 GB) start from 575 euros in online stores in Greece.

iPhone SE in China

To give you an idea of how far ahead China is in fakes and how fast in relation to developments, before the iPhone SE is even officially announced ...it has already been released in the Chinese "Silicon Valley". Of course it is not the original and long-awaited small iPhone SE, but a faithful imitation iPhone from China.

Watch the video to see how easy it is to buy a fake iPhone SE in China, before the real one is even released on March 21.

The "monkey" iPhone 6s

One of the things we have to admit is that China makes realistic imitations. The copycat iPhone 6s costs 37$ and is identical to the original. They look like two drops of water. It has a 5-inch screen and is available in silver, gold and rose gold. When of course the device is switched on even the most ignorant can tell that it is not an iPhone. The screen resolution is 960×540 (instead of 1334×750),the software is Android and not iOS of course, the processor is Spreadtrum SC773 with 4GB of storage and 512 RAM.

Read also: "Chinese iPhone 6s 40 times cheaper than the original"

What can happen if you order an iPhone from China?

The most likely and best-case scenario is to receive months later a fake iPhone device that looks very similar to the original but has an operating system Android. You will have paid dearly for something that looks like an iPhone but isn't, has no support from mum Apple and for its value you could have bought a decent Android device in Greece.

The worst case scenario is that you never receive anything and of course there is no contact with the seller, who will have gone up in smoke.

Scammers are also using new tricks to convince people, asking for a deposit of 30% or 40% of the total amount and depositing the balance upon receipt. But 30% of any amount is a lot of money wasted for something you will probably never receive. So you may not lose all your money, but a respectable amount, without even receiving a fake product.

One possible scenario is the problem with customs. You will have to account for your transaction with fraudsters and the authorities will hardly believe the version that you expected to buy an iPhone 6s for 200 euros.

iPhone clone from China

Despite the risks, you want to buy a iPhone from China, knowing that you will not receive the original but a clone of it. What should you look out for during your research?

The lowest price is relative. You can find clone with 40 euros, you can also find with 200.

Most devices have Wi-Fi, but that doesn't necessarily mean it will be easy to browse the internet. Software plays a big role in this chapter.

Some models have a TV with antenna function. This, perhaps, is one of their best features. But, on the other hand, there are nice portable TVs on the market for 50 euros.

These smartphones are usually dual sim. If this is one of the reasons for buying them, then consider the original dual sims available in the market.

Look for the SAR values, i.e. the electromagnetic radiation it emits. Mobile phones with a SAR of 1 or more are best avoided, although in Europe the maximum allowed value is 2.0 W/Kg in 10g of tissue.

iPhone from China: Conclusion

If someone offers you an Apple product, an iPhone, an iPad, a MacBook Air or anything else, for much less money than you can buy elsewhere, at best you will receive a monkey product. At worst, you will receive absolutely nothing. You need to understand this important detail: you can't get Apple products cheaper than anyone else.

But is an iPhone from China as good as the real iPhone? Definitely not. But could you buy one? The answer depends entirely on your personal opinion of international intellectual property law. A "iPhony" may be technically legal in the Chinese courts but morally it is not right. Even so, however, the final product is shockingly good for the price. But it remains an imitation of the real iPhone. The decision is yours.

From mirelen.