Oukitel phone (left) next to the iPhone 17 Pro (right). This is supernatural.
Kerry Wan/ZDNET
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Mobile World Congress (MWC) is one of the world’s largest trade shows dedicated to mobile technology. From new handsets to infrastructure to 6G (and I’m not even kidding), it included announcements, keynotes and hardware. However, one notable brand that is usually left out of the show is Apple.
Also: This robotic camera phone is going viral at MWC, and I can understand why
The Cupertino company didn’t come to Barcelona, Spain, even though it had the hardware to show for it. But just because Apple didn’t attend the trade show doesn’t mean it wasn’t there in some capacity. In fact, Apple’s presence was felt in every corner of the show floor, and I saw four notable examples of Apple, even when it wasn’t.
1. Cameras are recording all of us
The first thing I noticed at MWC were camera crews running around, taking footage of the event for the Mobile World Live show, but when I looked closer, I saw something extremely interesting. The heartbeat of this camera rig is none other than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, with all kinds of attachments enabling a production style similar to what we have seen at recent Apple events.
Sure, it takes a truckload of stuff to make this machine work, including a harness, lights, a USB hub, a microphone, and more, but it’s all built around the same phone you and I can carry in our pockets. This is the first time I’ve seen a commercial production rig using Apple hardware, and if I had to guess, it won’t be the last.
2. Entering the walled garden
In the interest of disclosure, I should point out that Honor provided travel and accommodations for me to attend MWC, but Honor is the subject of my second observation. Honor launched the Magic V6 here along with other hardware, and a big part of its keynote was its Honor Connect software. Honor Connect enables file sharing between Honor and Apple devices and even screen sharing from MacBook to Magic V6.
I’m a big fan of this because it gives Apple fans the opportunity to experience a foldable phone while using their other Apple hardware. If Apple won’t make a foldable, Honor will be happy to stand in. Sharing isn’t as seamless between an iPhone and a MacBook, but it’s fairly straightforward, so it may appeal to some Apple users who are curious about folding-screen technology.
3. Breaking the limits of iPhone Air
Tecno concepts are a mainstay at MWC. And this year, the company had a nice modular phone design with magnetic attachments you could attach to the back, including camera lenses, stackable battery packs, and speakers. It’s an interesting idea that has been tried many times before. There is a lot of doubt as to whether this will work or not.
Also: I tried out Tecno’s modular phone concept at MWC — and it quickly got weird
But if you look at the design, you don’t have to look very far to see a familiar shape emerging. Of course, I’m talking about the Tecno Pova that the company shared with me at IFA last year. But I’m also talking about the iPhone Air cues you can see in this design.
4. Shameless clones, everywhere
If imitation is the highest form of flattery. There is no dearth of Chinese phone makers praising Apple. However, the absolute pinnacle of flattery belongs to Oukitel. At the booth, Oukitel had an iPhone 17 Pro Max clone, a big camera island and all.
There was no model number for that phone, but there was a very similar one, with slightly different sensor placement nearby, that’s the C17, but from what I saw it looks like the company bought an iPhone and removed the Apple logo from the back.
Also: iPhone 17e vs iPhone 17: I compared both models to decide which one is better value
“Holy cow” were the only words I could say. By the way, a little further down the line was also sitting the Galaxy S26 Ultra clone. While it’s true that the iPhone 17 Pro Max and S26 Ultra are both exceptional and ambitious devices, these phones fall into that uncanny valley of clones that feels a little dirty.
Apple’s influence on smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, audio, and many other areas is undeniable. A company with such swagger can’t help but impress at the party, even if it’s never visible.
