Chinese knockoff that vaguely looks like the Apple Watch advertised on Alibaba's Taobao site.
Now that Apple has given more details about Apple Watch, the Chinese clone-makers seem to be really ramping up their efforts. Apple Watch knockoffs were already seen at CES.
BBC reported that Chinese e-commerce giant; Alibaba is advertising smart watches that replicate the look of the Apple Watch's hardware and software. According to the listing for this AW08 watch, it runs on the Android operating system.
Devices branded the AW08 and the iWatch are listed on Alibaba's Taobao site. BBC noted that both devices sports "digital crown" dials on their sides, identical styled straps as well as identical user interface graphics to Apple's forthcoming wearable. That said, the listing reveal they do not run on Apple's Watch OS, but instead run on Google's Android platform.
Other points that confirm the watches are not the iPhone's official "companion" includes.
The watches are being offered for about 250 yuan i.e. $40; £26.50, which is a fraction of the 2,588 yuan that the tech giant, Apple will charge for its smartwatch in China. Apple Watch is slated to go on sale next month.
These watches do not feature the heart-monitoring sensors on their rear; however BBC noted that this is not always made clear.
These watches even boast longer battery life.
Although the model sold on Alibaba Taobao site features Apple graphics on its screen, but states in its text it is not the official Apple Watch.
In a related story, Telegraph noted that the companies offering the fakes are using the Apple Watch name and logo and some of them go as far as copying the design details all the way down to the four sensors on the back of the watch. 9To5Mac stated that the company advertises an "iWatch" using the slogan "Knockoff Apple watches have hit the market!"
Taobao's owner said it did remove deceptive ads. A spokesperson for Alibaba told BBC that the company is dedicated to fight against counterfeits and they work closely with their government partners, brands and industry associations to handle this issue at its source. Alternatively, the company utilizes technology such as data mining and big data to brush their e-commerce platforms of counterfeits.
Although some of the fakes definitely look cheap, others look pretty convincing, at least in render form.
According to GizChina, the Zeaplus Watch will be available in (fake) gold, silver and gray and will also feature a heart-monitor besides supporting iOS notifications.
Some of the vendors are even offering genuine watches even before they go on sale, and surprisingly at knockdown prices, but BBC notes, what they are in fact advertising in the small-print is the ability to put down a deposit on that day. That said, whether you'll get the real thing if you do, is anyone's guess.
