Video Depicts Likely Fake iPhone X-Style 'iPhone SE 2'

A video featuring a device that appears to be a cross between an iPhone SE and an iPhone X surfaced on Weibo this morning and was shared by Japanese site Macotakara.

The smartphone in the video, which has a notch at the front, an edge-to-edge display, and a vertical rear camera in a body that's similar to the current iPhone SE, is very likely an Android clone device. Fake devices like these can often be found in China, where the video originated.

There have been rumors suggesting Apple is working on a second-generation iPhone SE, but none of those rumors have indicated the device will take on iPhone X design elements. There is no indication that the device in the video is a valid Apple product at all, and in fact, it conflicts with rumors we've heard about a potential future iPhone SE 2.

For example, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who often shares reliable information on Apple's upcoming products, has said that if a new iPhone SE 2 is indeed in the works, it's not likely to offer design updates or outward-facing changes due to Apple's work on the three iPhones expected in September of 2018. Kuo is, in fact, skeptical that a new iPhone SE 2 is in development right now.

Rumors about the iPhone SE have been somewhat conflicting in general. Supply chain rumors in November indicated an iPhone SE 2 would be released in the first half of 2018, but recent information suggests Apple has no plans to introduce a new iPhone until later in 2018.

Sketchy rumors from a Chinese site also recently said Apple would introduce a new iPhone SE that looks similar to the current iPhone SE at WWDC, but the site has no reliable track record.

All in all, Apple may have a new iPhone SE 2 in the works, but it's unlikely that the device is going to adopt iPhone X elements as the iPhone SE is a low-cost device while the iPhone X is Apple's top-of-the-line flagship smartphone.

Later in 2018, Apple is expected to introduce a second-generation iPhone X with a 5.8-inch OLED display, an "iPhone X Plus" with a 6.5-inch display, and a lower-cost iPhone with a 6.1-inch LCD display. All three of these are expected to adopt edge-to-edge displays with minimal bezels and the TrueDepth Camera system for Face ID.

It could perhaps be argued that the device in the video is the 6.1-inch iPhone, but we've heard no rumors suggesting that particular device will have an iPhone SE-style body thus far.

Related Roundup: iPhone XS

Tags: macotakara.jp, Weibo

Buyer's Guide: iPhone XS (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

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loftiness

13 months ago

mmm looks real to me, go back and watch the UI closely. @Editors did you folks even watch the video before saying "There is no indication that the device in the video is a valid Apple product at all", because it doesn't match what you already know? Come on, I expected better on this site.

If this is an android copy, it's copying iOS so well and it's essentially indistinguishable, look at the unlock animation and swipe-up animation, I just don't see a cheap android copy that look anywhere close to this. It also wouldn't make any sense since most android knockoffs are really shobby. I can't see any single UI element in this video that says it's not iOS.

So possibilities I see are:
a) This is the real new iPhone SE or, more likely the new 2018 flagship iPhone X

or this is fake:
b) really good video editing CGI compositing job
c) iPhone X disguised in a different case
d) somehow iOS 11 hacked to run on android hardware
e) an almost perfect copy of iOS UI performing on a level that's rare on android

Personally I'm betting on a)

Rating: 6 Votes

CmdrLaForge

13 months ago

In other words - I can keep my money and keep waiting until Apple releases an iPhone SE X

Rating: 5 Votes

tobefirst

13 months ago

I would sell my X and buy this in a heartbeat. I loved my 5S, and thought my 6S was a little too big. Like [USER=148445]@JGIGS[/USER], I would love a 4.2-4.3" phone in a body roughly the size of the SE. It has to have roughly the internals of the X though. I could live without as great a camera, but it has to be speedy and have the other features.

Rating: 4 Votes

MattXDA

13 months ago

The OS shown is iOS, no doubt about it. However, the phone doesn’t look small to me, it looks a very similar size to my X.
I think it’s an iPhone X in a modded body. Pause at 0:15 and look how far the screen sticks out of the body.

Rating: 4 Votes

Uni Grad

13 months ago

from the original source:
https://weibo.com/1926015991/G6zdF3muv?type=comment#_rnd1521145953305

assuming this pic isn't doctored, does it still look like X in a case? :p

Yes it does, it looks like a custom metal bumper case. You can tell from the screen's curvature.

Rating: 3 Votes

Gamer9430

13 months ago

I'm pretty sure this is a fake. I do UI/UX design work and notice small details. The lock icon at the top doesn't unlock when he swipes up. On my iPhone X the icon does a quick unlock animation before it opens unless it is already unlocked from looking at it. I did a frame by frame and it looks like the lock stays locked when he swipes up. It also didn't blur out the lock screen and have "Face ID" text on the display while unlocking. It's a fake.

I closely examined the three times he unlocks the device in the video at .25 speed. The first time it indeed did not show the unlock, but I tried it at roughly the same timing on my iPhone X and sure enough there was no blurred screen with Face ID and no unlock animation. The 2nd time he unlocks it, it shows the unlock symbol. The 3rd time at the end of the video, it shakes the lock, showing it denied his face, presumably because it was sitting flat on the table or his camera/phone was blocking his face.

If its CGI, that some hyper accurate screen placement and reaction times, since everything he does on screen happens without delay. Quite impressive for an amateur video.

If it's a clone, that is honestly the best clone I've ever seen. Appears to be made of steel like the iPhone X, has an edge-to-edge notch'd screen, animations are 100% accurate and smooth with no hesitation, the blurs, colors, and parallax affects are accurate, and apparently has some form of working FaceID. I would also buy said clone in a heart beat just to mess with it since it looks so realistic.

I don't mean to jump the gun, but this thing looks like the real deal to me.

Rating: 3 Votes

JGIGS

13 months ago

Fake. Apple is not going to butcher sales of their high end X model by including faceID, dual camera, oled screen in a smaller, budget friendly phone.

Well I'm guessing it wouldn't be budget friendly anymore. Personally I'd be all over it. I love small phones for one handed use. I find the iphone X a bit too large for my liking (might be better without a case). Loved the size of SE. Could have maybe been a smidge bigger. like 4.2 inches.

4.2 iphone X styled SE2? Sweet! When I say 4.2 I just mean making it a little wider obviously the screen would be bigger.

Rating: 3 Votes

jonblatho

13 months ago

Real or fake it looks awful without the bezels. This bezel less obsession has to stop.

They’re not coming back.

Rating: 3 Votes

shareef777

13 months ago

To me, it looks exactly like an iPhone X. Only when the camera points directly at the side does it show the SE likeness. At an angle the sides curve like the X. I'd chalk this up to CGI work.

Rating: 2 Votes

jonblatho

13 months ago

I haven’t seen an Android iPhone clone that doesn’t have janky animations.

Those animations aren’t janky.

To expand on that: If it’s a clone, they got it down to the translucency effect as Cover Sheet slides up and nailed the icon flyin. And my eyes might deceive me, but it looks like they even got the parallax effect on the home screen. That’s no small feat.

Rating: 2 Votes

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