In a striking case of tech imitation, a knockoff of the unreleased iPhone 17 Pro has surfaced running Android but heavily skinned to mimic Apple’s design and iOS. The images of the knockoff product were shared by photographer Sonny Dickson on X, showcasing a near-perfect look-alike, complete with a familiar wallpaper and a user interface that takes pixel-to-pixel inspiration from iOS 18. Even though the knockoff looks like it is running iOS 18, Apple’s upcoming iPhone 17 Pro will ship with iOS 26 onboard with the new Liquid Glass redesign. The timing makes it specifically fascinating, as the iPhone 17 Pro is still almost a month away from launch.
Android-powered iPhone 17 Pro clone mirrors leaked design, sparking debate over early knockoff culture
The design of the clone is based on all the leaks and reports we have covered so far, including the camera module layout to the industrial design, mirroring every single cue provided by the speculative renders. In these final hours, device dimensions and an almost final design are available to all in the form of renders and CAD files, especially for case manufacturers. Counterfeit manufacturers can use these details to develop clones and knockoffs long before the actual product sees daylight.
Upon first look, it would be very hard to distinguish between a clone and the real deal, but those who are familiar with Apple’s release cycles will know for sure what they are seeing is an Android-based counterfeit device. However, in markets where official iPhones are unavailable or significantly expensive, the knockoffs become a cheaper but accessible alternative for consumers who want the Apple aesthetic without paying the full premium price.
Furthermore, these clones also operate quite fast, releasing the device way ahead of time to gain traction and possibly some sales. They use low-cost components and Android-based systems to develop a device that just looks premium but is not at all expensive to make. Through fast prototyping and global supply chains, counterfeit products can move from the concept phase to the finished product in weeks, taking advantage of the hype surrounding the actual flagships.
For some buyers, productivity or the full user experience is not as important as the looks, and the internal specifications are a different story altogether. These phones would be powered by the cheapest hardware that would barely qualify as a standard for a usable device, which means that you can expect stuttering performance even right after unboxing. All these iPhone clones are good at is providing a false sense of status, even if the performance falls short.
You can see in the images that the clone features the same giant camera plateau as the renders with a part-aluminum, part-glass design, even though it is clearly for aesthetic purposes. The actual flagship is expected to be unveiled at the company’s rumored September 9 event, where Apple would also announce the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 and possibly a handful of additional products. Are you looking forward to the flagship handsets from Apple?
