iLounge

Chinese company Shenzhen SUFF Industry has introduced the SoPhone 4, a new GSM-based handset that aims to be nearly identical to the iPhone 4 in every possible way, blatantly copying the external design of Apple’s fourth-generation handset and iOS 4 UI. Sporting an external body identical in dimensions and button locations to the iPhone 4—even capable of fitting perfectly in existing iPhone 4 cases—the SoPhone features a 480x320 capacitive touch screen, Wi-Fi, 4GB of memory, dual cameras, Bluetooth, FM radio, and a user-replaceable battery, as well as “infrared remote sensor support,” an “electric torch,” and a “gravity inducer.” Notably, though the phone’s UI is sluggish, it’s incredibly similar to iOS 4, with folders, multi-tasking, and volume/silent overlays; the individual apps use similar and in some cases identical icons, but noticeably lack the polish of Apple’s applications, and in some case appear downright crude. The shameless copying extends to the phone’s branding, as it carries the same rear markings as a real iPhone 4 unit, and even displays an Apple logo upon startup. A pair of YouTube videos showing off the phone’s UI and external case demonstrate the cloning; we advise caution as some material shown during the UI demonstration is NSFW.