Can a Samsung Galaxy S III mini, which went on sale in Singapore last month for S$568, be going for as little as S$179 at a store at Sim Lim Square? Apparently not, unless you’re interested in a fake, or rather, shanzhai, version of the smartphone.
A Techgoondu reader sent us some interesting photos earlier this week, showing copy versions of Samsung phones being sold at one of Singapore’s popular IT malls.
The Galaxy S III mini copy is among several, he said. Yet another model that looks like a Galaxy Note II is also on sale, he added.
The shanzhai version of the Galaxy S III mini claims to have a Super AMOLED screen and a dual-core CPU and runs Android 4.1, just like the original.
However, it has only 4GB for storage instead of the 8GB and 16GB that Samsung is offering. One tell-tale sign of its pirate status: there’s no Samsung logo at the top of the phone, unlike the original.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note II copy also claims similar hardware to the Korean phone maker’s version, along with a matching box which just about reminds you of Samsung without using those exact words.
Like the original Galaxy Note II, the shanzhai version promises a quad-core CPU and a large 5.5-inch screen. No hands-on reviews yet of the device, though we’d be keen to check it out during the next visit to Sim Lim Square!
Saw an interesting shanzhai, pirated or copy of a gadget? Share with us!
I bought Samsung Galaxy S II by http://tinyurl.com/c8hjr4w
I’m using it for Movistar Venezuela, it works perfectly as it should. It’s a beautiful phone with Android OS which makes it an excelent device.
Everything you can see about this phone is perfectly great, the ONLY ONE thing nobody would like is the battery, it waste very fast but making some changes on the OS you can make it improve.
It uses the same bands as Movistar, so it works with 3G and HSPA.
PD: Differences between GT-I9100 and SA-I9100 are just the origin, it does not make any important changes.
I bought the ceramic white and black version to the FGS Trading seller.