There is little left in the world that is unique – everything has been borrowed from someone in one way or another. This kind of “copy-paste” is especially noticeable among electronic gadgets: the basic principles of the devices have long been invented, and in appearance, smartphones and tablets differ little from each other. Suffice it to recall dozens of patent disputes between Apple, Samsung, Nokia. Russian manufacturers also do not stand aside..
Tablet “a la iPad mini”
Russian gadget manufacturers are not averse to copying successful models of world brands, as they say, inside and out. Some are not at all shy about this and openly declare that they have released a “copy of the iPad”! One such example is tablets from the bb-mobile brand. So, the bb-mobile Techno 7 model.85 3G looks exactly like an iPad mini:
Moreover, the bb-mobile tablet is fully compatible with the American “twin” cases and is equipped with the same high-quality IPS screen as the iPad mini. The tablet also has GPS and 3G modules. Despite all the similarities, there is one significant difference – the price of bb-mobile is 2.5 times lower than the price of an iPad mini (7,490 rubles versus 17 thousand rubles).
Tablet for “Korean”
bb-mobile didn’t stop at just one imitation. Another tablet model is Techno 7.0 3G – externally identical to the design of the popular Samsung Galaxy Tab.
This bb-mobile also has https://jettbetcasino.co.uk/bonus/ GPS and 3G modules, which means it can be used both as a smartphone and a navigator. Moreover, inside there are as many as two slots for SIM cards, even the top Korean tablets cannot boast of this. And, of course, in price ours again surpassed the original source: bb-mobile Techno 7.0 3G will cost less than 4 thousand rubles, and the Galaxy Tab costs about 8 thousand.
Smartphone with E-Ink
And here is an example of outright “borrowing” of technology under the guise of “our know-how”. The sensational Russian YotaPhone is far from a pioneer among smartphones with two displays, one of which is based on electronic ink. Back in 2012, the Taiwanese company E Ink Corporation presented a similar device at the IFA exhibition.
The only difference between the prototype and the model implemented by Russian craftsmen is in the operating systems – instead of Windows Phone, the two-screen gadget got Android. Although in fairness it is worth mentioning the dual-screen hybrid of the reader and tablet Highscreen Alex, which back in 2010 demonstrated the ability to combine E Ink and TFT screens in one gadget.
The famous Caterpillar brand, which produces everything from boots to giant excavators, recently entered the mobile electronics market. In 2012, a secure Android smartphone was released under the CAT brand – CAT B10. A year later, the Russian company teXet introduces the teXet X-driver, which is very similar in appearance.
Here they spied on the appearance and borrowed technology. Both models have a rubberized, impact-resistant case with yellow inserts (protection level IP 67 and IP 68), both smartphones run on Android OS. But “our” teXet X-driver will cost much less: 10,450 rubles versus 19 thousand. At the same time, in terms of impact resistance, a domestic smartphone is in no way inferior to an overseas one and can even withstand the weight of a car:
As a rule, when the phrase “luxury smartphone” is mentioned, the Vertu brand immediately comes to mind. Indeed, smartphones made of precious metals with equally precious stones are their “trick”.
But recently Vertu has been competing with smartphones from the Gresso brand, an American company assembled in Russia. Hand assembly, the use of expensive materials such as titanium, platinum and gold – this is what makes smartphones from two luxury brands similar. The price of the Gresso smartphone is from 55 thousand rubles, the Vertu Constellation smartphone is from 224 thousand rubles. But Gresso have developed the idea of “rich” gadgets into accessories: for existing smartphones like the iPhone or Samsung Galaxy SIV, you can choose a bumper case made of crocodile or snake skin, with white or yellow gold. Prices for such cases start from 20 thousand rubles and reach 45 thousand.
But sometimes everything is exactly the opposite: it’s not us who copy, but ours! Oddly enough, the Americans also managed to borrow from the Russians… a smartphone! Yes, yes, the Motorola Moto G model, presented in November last year, is strikingly similar to the device of the domestic brand – Highscreen Omega Prime Mini.
Both smartphones have 4-core processors from Qualcomm, non-removable batteries and the main feature is replaceable panels in different colors of their identical plastic. With one difference: the Highscreen Omega Prime Mini has all five panels (orange, white, black, red and blue) already included, but for the overseas Moto G each cover will cost an additional $15 apiece. Plus, the “chameleon” from the domestic brand is more compact and much lighter, and costs one and a half times less than the American “copy”. A cool comparison of smartphones can be found here.
The design of smartphones with large buttons from Just 5 was created in Russia in 2009. And now the model with a memorable streamlined body shape was almost exactly copied by the Chinese for the Fly brand.
Fly Ezzy even has the same orange SOS button on the back of the case as Just 5! Not to mention the shape of the case and the buttons themselves. Today you can buy the “granny phone” Just 5 CP10S in one of eight colors for 2,850 rubles. A black or white Fly Ezzy will cost 2,090 rubles.
However, borrowing is one of the “side effects” of globalization. And it’s becoming increasingly difficult to come up with something fresh, new and truly valuable. And why, if there is already something ready?