Keepin' it real fake, part XCVIII: a near-perfect Nokia N73 rip?

Doing a double-take? Yeah, us too -- in fact, we're not totally convinced it's fake. This here is allegedly a "chinese [sic] clone" of Nokia's 3.2 megapixel N73 candybar for sale in New Zealand, but apart from some wonky looking user interface stuff, it looks like a perfectly legit Asia-spec N73 to us. For what it's worth, the specs list a 2 megapixel cam (1.2 off the real deal's mark), a mere dual-mode GSM radio, and a listing of "data mode" that leads us to believe that EDGE may be nowhere to be found -- let alone 3G -- so odds are the imitation only goes skin deep. Then again, if it turns out to be one of Espoo's own, someone's lined up to get a real steal on an N73, no?

[Thanks, Ebbi]

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 24th 2007 10:59PM]

The most telling sign that it's not legit is that the shape of the joystick is meant to be a larger squarer shape instead of the slightly smaller rectangle that this copy cat has used.

But having said that, there'd be no way that you'd know that unless you know a lot about mobiles.

[jpfree Posted Nov 25th 2007 12:47AM]

FYI New Zealand doesn't have EDGE, only glorious 3G (which is so expensive as to make it pointless anyway)

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 25th 2007 5:37AM]

the UI points it out so very clearly... it's like a stab in the eye to see that after using symbian since the 7650..

and yes, the stick

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 25th 2007 9:17AM]

you can tell it's fake by bands
it NEVER works in America

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 25th 2007 10:09AM]

Not quite, a few happen to work in America, such as one of the iPhone clones (P168, was it?). However, this comes from New Zealand, so that doesn't matter.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 25th 2007 11:41PM]

Whoa, that's freaky. I own this phone, and I did a triple take to spot the differences.

[Tired Posted Nov 26th 2007 2:45AM]

Planning anything special for KIRF 100, Engadget?