The excitement around Apple’s September launches always creates a frenzy of leaks, speculation and, yes, counterfeits. This year is no different, with a dummied-up iPhone 17 Pro creating buzz in the weeks before the real thing makes its debut.

As reported by Chinese media  the bootleg sports a triple-lens camera array, curved titanium frame and USB-C port. The only issue is, as Gizmochina itself points out, it’s “obvious it’s a fake”.

That noted, in the fevered pre-release period, many are now debating how closely it will resemble the actual product.

Pre-release fake iPhones are now becoming an expected part of the hype cycle.

Back in 2007, crude knockoffs of the original iPhone were being sold before Steve Jobs had launched the world-changing device.

By 2016, accessory makers were working from leaked schematics to churn out lifelike iPhone 7 dummy units for journalists to handle on camera. Dummy mock-ups of the iPhone 17 line, complete with an elongated rear camera bar, first surfaced back in March.

For case and accessory makers, dummy units are a business necessity, allowing them to hit the market the same day as the official phone.

For Apple, the dupes are a double-edged sword. They further stoke consumer anticipation but also hijack a narrative the company wants to tightly control.

The real iPhone 17 is expected to have new titanium finishes, upgraded camera hardware, and the latest A19 Pro chip.