Fake iPhone 17 released ahead of Apple's September launch?

Fake iPhone 17s are now doing the rounds, with social posts showing look-alike models that run on Android.

And they're attracting attention for their uncanny resemblance — look and feel — to Apple’s design.

Tecno, a smartphone maker, has reportedly rolled out a knock off of the iPhone 17 weeks ahead of the launch of the latest iteration from Apple.

Counterfeit iPhone 17 models — especially mockups of the iPhone 17 Pro— have begun appearing online and in markets weeks before Apple’s expected September debut.

These devices mimic the leaked design of the real iPhone 17 Pro, complete with large horizontal camera modules and Apple-style logos, making them superficially convincing.

The iPhone 17 series is expected to launch in September.

The Pro will reportedly start at $1,049 with 256GB storage. Currently, the iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 with 128GB storage, according to Apple Hub.

Majin Bu, a well-known Apple leaker, has posted on X what he claims is a “clone” of the phone, and that it "looks so good”.

A closer look shows the counterfeits run on Android with heavily skinned interfaces that imitate last year’s iOS 18, but not the upcoming iOS 26 that the actual models are expected to use, as per Gizmo China.

Design flaws — such as uneven bezels, wide chin bezels, and LCD panels instead of AMOLED screens — give away their counterfeit nature.

The appearance of these knockoffs has been facilitated by abundant leaks, renders, and CAD files circulating online — especially those shared by leakers like Majin Bu — which counterfeiters exploit to create quick prototypes ahead of the official release, according to Pravda Report.

These fakes serve as both revenue-generators for illicit manufacturers and cautionary signals: buyers should be wary of “too-good-to-be-true” deals, particularly through unofficial channels.

Meanwhile, @LeakerApple has revealed new features of the Pro, to include:

Though the knock-off iPhones may be real, none of the claimed specs on the upcoming Apple smartphones is official until the tech giant itself holds the much-awaited keynote event in September.