Yet another apparently fake model of the Galaxy S9 appeared online on Sunday, having been depicted in the form of a video that can be seen below. The clip in question actually shows two variants of the device and while the one held by the author of the footage resembles Samsung’s Midnight Black finish, the supposed Maple Gold version of the Android flagship doesn’t look similar to the hue used by the tech giant’s previous handsets, primarily because it’s too washed out and not nearly as glossy despite being presented in front of a light source. Additionally, the black smartphone appears to be thicker than even the Galaxy S6 lineup from 2015, whereas the real Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus are expected to have physical footprints that are nearly identical to those of their predecessors, and the same goes for the size of its front bezels. Finally, while the software running on the device appears to be a copy of the Samsung Experience suite, the amount of lag it exhibits hasn’t been observable in Samsung’s flagships — especially brand-new ones — for several years now.
The handset likely wasn’t made as part of an elaborate online ruse but is one of many counterfeit models expected to flood certain markets once Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus actually become official in the coming weeks. As is usually the case with copycats, the newly leaked device will probably feature an extremely low price tag and be advertised using Samsung’s own marketing materials, i.e. attempt to misrepresent its design and functionalities. Counterfeit smartphones trying to emulate products from major brands often hit the market even before their role models do, which may also be the case with this particular handset.
The real Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus have already been the subjects of dozens of leaks, rumors, and reports in recent months, with most insiders agreeing Samsung will use 2018 as a refinement year of sorts, seeking to evolve its bezel-less mobile device formula instead of radically redesigning it like it did last year. The only exception to that plan is the foldable Galaxy X that was already confirmed as being set to hit the market this year, albeit its official name remains unclear and the phone itself is likely to be a niche offering. The Galaxy S9 lineup is rumored to launch in late February at MWC 2018 and start retailing within a month of its announcement.