The Fake Apple Watch Is Nothing New
Knockoff versions of the Apple Watch can be found at Huaqiangbei electronics market in the southern city of Shenzhen, and others are being sold nationwide via popular e-commerce websites.
The fakes mimic the design and style of Apple’s (AAPL, Tech30) new offering, right down to the digital crown. With names like “Ai Watch” and “D-Watch,” they cost between 250 yuan and 500 yuan ($40 to $80).
I’m not surprised these knockoffs are getting so much coverage today, but they’ve actually been available commercially since last year. Here’s a video review from a month ago:
Somehow, I actually have a little bit of real-world experience with the “universal” operating system this thing runs. A friend of mine found one of these variants in a parking lot, and he brought it to over to my place so I could “fix” it. But the thing wasn’t broken. That’s just how bad its generic OS really is.
But having to use such a cheap, simplistic, limited wearable — I wouldn’t even call it a “feature watch” — just further reinforced my interest in Apple’s offering and all its carefully thought-out UX details. If you’re even halfway curious about Apple Watch, do yourself a favor and sit through a few reviews of all the “competing” products out there.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a better argument in Cupertino’s favor.