The iPhone 14 inspires unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers who do not hesitate to openly copy Apple’s flagship phone. The proof with the i14 Pro Max, a clone of the high-end model sold for less than 100 euros.
Do you dream of an iPhone 14, but you can’t afford the latest – and very expensive – smartphone from Apple? No worries ! If it’s only the style of this beautiful toy that attracts you – oh yes, for some, the look and the resulting social status matter more than the rest… – you can perfectly deceive with the i14 Pro Max, a Chinese smartphone that looks like a twin to the Apple firm’s most high-end model, the iPhone 14 Pro Max. But which is sold for barely 100 euros, or less than 5% of Apple’s official price for “equivalent configuration”! It’s no joke: this phone really exists. It can be found for sale on Asian sites like AliExpress or even on the Cdiscount Marketplaceat several retailers, under different brands, with variable characteristics and prices… and quite fanciful.
i14 Pro Max: a design almost identical to the iPhone 14 Pro Max
Of course, even if it openly inspires – we can even say shamelessly – this phone has absolutely nothing to do with a real iPhone 14! It “simply” takes on its look, copying its design down to the smallest detail, or almost: a metal case with flat sides and rounded corners, a very large 6.8-inch screen with a bubble imitating the famous Apple’s Dynamic Island, three optical blocks arranged in a triangle on the back for the photo section… Certainly, the faithful of the Apple brand will quickly spot a few small differences, and the famous logo is missing on the back – but we must be able to find stickers to perfect the illusion, but, at first glance, it really looks like it!
What’s worse is that the features put forward by these unscrupulous resellers are particularly attractive: depending on the versions and versions offered, the Li14 Pro Max has a screen with a definition of 3088 x 2520 or 3200 x 2280 pixels , a 6800 or even 8000 mAh battery, 48 + 64 or 48 + 108 Mpx photo modules, 12 or 16 GB of RAM, 256 to 1 TB of storage, all with a Qualcomm 888+ processor with 10 cores, a fingerprint reader placed under the slab, an infrared facial recognition system, a drawer for two SIM cards and a memory card, etc. And, of course, it is 5G compatible! A really impressive technical sheet, especially for a phone under 100 euros, delivery in France included!
Let’s be clear: there is little chance that the device will keep all its fabulous promises. It’s not even certain that it just works properly for basic needs. Evidenced by the annoyed opinions of some buyers, which contrast with comments too enthusiastic to be true. Even the very big Chinese brands used to tightening prices like Xiaomi or Realme, cannot offer such well-equipped smartphones in this price range.
The brand of this amazing clone – Landvo? – is not highlighted. Neither does the operating system. There is no mention of Android anywhere. This suggests that this model, like its multiple versions and other Chinese smartphones, runs under an altered version, with Huawei Mobile Services (HMS), which replace Google services with certain Chinese manufacturers, following American sanctions on respect to Huawei. A substitute which is not illegal and which seems to work rather well in China, as it is now found on many mobiles. But not sure that it is suitable for European users who would be tempted by this kind of clone!
Pebble Cosmos: an Apple Watch Ultra clone at 45 euros
As you will have understood, unless you want to parade on a café terrace with a clearly visible pseudo-iPhone 14 – or make a joke in bad taste by offering it to a very dear friend… –, we strongly advise against buy this clone, which might even struggle to serve as a running phone – go snoop around the winter 2023 sales instead for some real bargains. This is of course not the first time – nor the last, no doubt – that Asian manufacturers “draw inspiration” from star products to make copies – or even counterfeits, such as fake Rollex, which is not not the case here. But we must admit that the i14 Pro Max breaks illusion records! And while we’re talking about imitation, let’s point out that there are also magnificent copies of Apple Watch on the Net, such as the Pebble Cosmos which looks just like an Apple Watch Ultra and which we find in India for the equivalent of… 45 euros! When is Mardi Gras already?
