In china whilst discussing the most recent cell phones and gadgets the definition of shanzhai is bandied about to describe fake or counterfeit phones with similar features to those of the mainstream manufacturers.The fake phone market is booming with high end cell phones being cloned and reproduced as quickly since the big brands can get their products to the market. The fake handsets are attractively priced OldIronsidesFakes , often undercutting the genuine phone by countless pounds, but there are obviously potential pitfalls the buyers may encounter.
On the face of it, the phones are given in by reputable shops in shopping malls across China, and are given in sleek well produced packaging which looks a as good as the genuine product, some of the phones will be have already been carefully copied using logos from Sony Ericsson, Apple, and Nokia, whilst others are rebranded with a fake id similar compared to that of the telephone they are attempting to fake.
The phones with a fake id usually takes the proper execution of slight alteration to the spelling of brand names, as an example Nokia becomes Nekia, and for the most part, only careful examination of the telephone reveals it is a convincing fake handset.
Cutting the Corners
Producing cheap phones requires even cheaper components, many users will quickly discover this, often the fake mobiles will have a very basic operating-system with limited scope for an individual to improve even the most basic settings, the limited functionality also becomes apparent with deficiencies in support for common applications such as for instance java. The digital camera fitted to the fake handsets will often not surpass the customers expectations or of those quoted on the box, often an alleged 5 mega pixel camera will materialise as a 1-2 mega pixel camera, an unhealthy sensor will increase the disappointment returning small images that will not scale up when used in a pc.
The set of inadequacy continues, the music players on most of the fake phones only support a restricted selection of file extensions, mp3 is generally supported but the most common file type wma is not, resulting in frustration amongst customers as music tracks have to be converted on PC before being transferred onto the phone. The exact same could be said for the video support the phones offer, dated technology is employed to provide some function, but the standard quality of 20fps video provided by the fake phone manufacturers will be below that of the genuine product. In addition, the grade of playback will be vastly afflicted with the use of low power and poor quality speakers.
Other drawbacks that may be apparent on these fake or shanzhai handsets is quality of other key features, GPRS, TV reception and gaming. Of the phones tested many could receive GPRS signals, due to not having a recipient fitted, the fake phones will sometimes have the ability to receive TV broadcasts, but often the picture quality is very poor because of the internal phone aerial being of inferior quality.
There’s widespread support in china for the manufacture of fake cell phones, excessive cost of the large manufacturers phones is cited as the main reason for producing the fake phones at low prices. Other critics though argue the shanzhai market for everything fake is damaging Chinas reputation to effectively trade on world markets, as consumers become reluctant to source products manufactured in China, as a result of concerns about fake goods, and lack of warranties.