There are lots of wonderful things that rival smartphone makers could steal from the iPhone X, but its notch shouldn’t be one of them. It seems some Chinese vendors didn’t get that memo — as you can see from these photos of one iPhone clone with a notch of its own.
Every time Apple redesigns the iPhone, there’s a race to copy it among smaller smartphone makers — mostly those in China. Being the first to market with a phone that looks just like the latest iPhone, with a drastically smaller price tag, usually means big business.
Doogee recognizes that, which is why its new V series smartphone has dual rear-facing cameras just like iPhone X’s, and a display that’s almost exactly the same shape as iPhone X’s. But Doogee also stole iPhone X’s worst feature, and that’s its notch.
Is there anything they won’t clone?
Just like Apple, Doogee uses the notch to accommodate a speaker, front-facing camera, and the usual sensors. There is no TrueDepth camera in there for Face ID, however. This particular handset, posted on Twitter by Benjamin Geskin, also has a 6.1-inch screen with rounded edges.
Chinese smartphone prototype with iPhone X style notch pic.twitter.com/c58ZJ1uz1J
— Ben Geskin (@BenGeskin) January 19, 2018
Unlike iPhone X, though, the Doogee still has a physical button. Its display doesn’t extend all the way to the bottom edge of the phone, which makes us wonder if there’s any point in it extending all the way to the top. Why not cut it off before the notch? Are those horns either side really needed?
It seems we can forgive the notch on iPhone X because the rest of the device is beautiful, and there are plenty of stellar features to help you get over it. But I’m almost certain that isn’t the case with the Doogee. I could be wrong, but this looks like another budget Android that’s not that great.
If you need a notch in your life and you haven’t got $1,000 to spare, it’s at least an option. In China.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
3 responses to “Chinese smartphone makers are ripping off iPhone X’s notch”
Now it’s no longer “ugly” but “functional”, amirite?
Whether you like the notch or not, it is an iconic look that is (or at least was) unique to the iPhone X. I’m sure there are some Chinese that would want such a device as a status symbol. The fact that it’s available in that shiny gold color is not a coincidence.
It’s like copying a flat tire.
If someone is stupid enough to copy it, good luck with that.
But for someone to have a fit about them copying it is hilarious.
From what I can gather anyone who makes a smartphone with a screen and a button is accused by Appletologists of copying Apple.
P.S. I own no Google, Android, Samsung or Microsoft products. But DO own over a dozen current Apple products.