Skip to main content

Love the notch? Check out these five weird and wonderful iPhone X clones

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Remember all the hubbub around the “ugly” notch on the iPhone X just a few months ago? Well, it looks like some Android smartphone makers got a case of notch envy. At this year’s Mobile World Congress we saw a range of iPhone X clones ranging from awesome to absolutely awful. Here’s a few of our favorites.

Asus Zenfone 5

Asus Zenfone 5 review
Simon Hill/Digital Trends

There’s no question that the new Asus Zenfone 5 is an absolutely stunning device. It features a gorgeous 6.2-inch IPS display and a pretty capable dual-camera setup. But let’s be honest, it looks a whole lot like the iPhone X on steroids.

And no, it’s not just the top notch (that Asus wants you to know is 26 percent smaller than the iPhone X); you’ll also find the placement of the rear-camera lenses to look quite familiar.

While the Zenfone 5 has a lot in common with the iPhone X when it comes to design, it comes in at several hundred dollars cheaper than the Apple flagship.

Leagoo S9/S9 Plus

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Can’t decide between the Samsung Galaxy S9 or the iPhone X? Well, Leagoo may have the answer. The S9 sports Apple’s now-iconic top notch, as well as well as the name of Samsung’s newest flagship. Coming in at $150, it’s way cheaper than either of the phones from which it draws inspiration.

While the Leagoo S9 and S9 Plus does pack in 4GB of RAM, 32GB of storage, and a dual-pixel camera, you’re never going to mistake this phone for a flagship. We did a brief hands-on with the phone and it was incredibly buggy and slow. To be fair, it is running what we hope is preproduction software, but there was still incredible lag between app changes.

Noa N10

Image used with permission by copyright holder

First introduced at Mobile World Congress, the Noa N10 looks an awful lot like the iPhone X. For its price, $350, it packs some pretty nice specs. The N10 has a dual-camera, 64GB of onboard storage (with MicroSD slot), and 4GB of RAM. It will ship with Android 8.0 Oreo.

While it sounds like a pretty attractive phone for the price, we didn’t have a chance to test it out; Noa representatives were fiercely protective of the phone and kept it under a plexi-glass display throughout the show. The N10 will be available in April or June, according to two different Noa representatives.

Vinci 6205

Image used with permission by copyright holder

We’re not entirely sure you’ll ever see the Vinci 6205 in stores. It appears to be more of a concept phone marketed by a Chinese OEM device manufacturer. The phone should ship with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, though a representative told us we could easily upgrade RAM for $10 a gig. It also features a facial authentication system called FaceID, of course.

We were unable to get exact pricing on the 6205, but one representative told us $120 while another said $340. The device may ship in June.

Ulephone T2 Pro

Image used with permission by copyright holder

At first glance, the Ulephone T2 Plus is quite beautiful. Definitely derivative of the iPhone X, it comes in more color options and has a slightly chunkier bottom bezel.

The T2 Plus features a Helio P70 processor with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. It also features a dual-camera setup with 21- and 13-megapixel cameras, and a front-facing camera that can unlock the phone.

While it looks pretty good at first glance, we definitely found some issues. We were told the model we looked at was basically ready to ship with the exception of a camera bug that caused a continuous bootloop, but once we tried to actually use the phone, Android apps like Gmail and Chrome immediately crashed. There was also issues with the power button, so it was nearly impossible to turn it on once the screen turned off.

The Ulephone T2 Plus should ship in July. A Ulephone representative assured us the device would be available in the United States if you’re inclined to give it a try. It comes in at $380, which is about $600 less than the iPhone X.

Editors' Recommendations

Steven Winkelman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven writes about technology, social practice, and books. At Digital Trends, he focuses primarily on mobile and wearables…
iPhone 16 buyers may be treated to slimmer bezels and bigger screens
Lock Screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple is reportedly planning to further shrink bezels with the upcoming iPhone 16 series. According to Korea’s Sisa Journal, Apple is banking on a new display tech called BRS (Border Reduction Structure) that has allowed suppliers like Samsung, LG, and BOE to reduce the size of the black borders around the screen.

Notably, all four iPhone 16 trims will get the display tech upgrade, but its true benefits will be reserved for the pricier Pro models. The report, citing market research firm Omdia, notes that both the Pro models will see their screen size go up by 0.2 inches thanks to slimmer bezels.

Read more
iPhone not holding charge? How to replace an iPhone battery
How-to-replace-iPhone-battery-feature-image

When smartphones were in their infancy, battery packs were easy to replace. Most products let users open a flap on the back of the device to easily remove the battery, giving them a quick way to ditch a dead battery and install a new one. Fast forward to 2024, and that's a rarity. Replacing batteries is much more difficult today than it was a decade ago, and that's especially true for all iPhone models.

Whether you're working with the new iPhone 15 or an old iPhone 12, you can't just run out to the store and snag a new battery for your smartphone. Instead, you'll need to contact Apple directly or go through elaborate workarounds to install the battery yourself.

Read more
The iPhone 17 may get a display upgrade I’ve waited years for
Someone holding an iPhone 14 with the display turned on.

No, you didn't read the headline incorrectly. Although we expect Apple to release the iPhone 16 series later this year, there's already a new rumor about the 2025 iPhone 17 — and it's a potentially big one.

Instant Digital, who is known for leaking iPhone information, recently posted a new iPhone 17 rumor on the Chinese social network Weibo claiming that Apple has developed a new display technology for the iPhone 17. Specifically, it's one that could greatly reduce reflections and scratches.

Read more