Are you planning on upgrading to the latest iPhone? Well, this would usually mean trading in your old device and spending a hefty sum. While not everyone is ready to spend on a new iPhone just yet, some are finding an “affordable” and rather unusual alternative.
A viral video has surfaced online showing how a man transformed his iPhone 12 Pro Max (released back in 2020) into a convincing iPhone 17 Pro Max replica within minutes.
The video clip, now viral on different social media platforms, demonstrates how mobile vendors are modifying older iPhones with fibre body kits and custom metal frames to mimic Apple’s newest flagship design. The transformation is striking.
From the redesigned camera plateau to the vibrant orange colourway of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the altered iPhone 12 Pro Max looks nearly identical to the real thing.
The modified phones feature an aluminium-like finish and a reworked camera bump, making them almost indistinguishable from the genuine model at first glance. This trend is catching on, particularly among budget-conscious Apple fans and street vendors in India and Southeast Asia.
The video includes side-by-side comparisons of the modified iPhone 12 and the actual iPhone 17 Pro Max, leaving many viewers stunned by the uncanny resemblance. However, reactions in the comments section reveal mixed opinions.
Some users were quick to criticise the trend, calling it nothing more than a cosmetic change. One commenter wrote, “Earlier at least it looked like an iPhone; now it just looks like a cheap copy of the iPhone 17 Pro Max.”
Another added, “Vendors can’t really turn an iPhone 12 into a 17 Pro Max; they’re just swapping the body or tweaking the software. Inside, it’s still an iPhone 12.”
Others dismissed the video as mere content creation for social media, pointing out that no amount of external modification can replicate the internal hardware upgrades that define the iPhone 17 Pro series.
Despite the criticism, the viral video underscores the massive appeal of Apple’s latest design. Even though these cloned versions can’t match the real iPhone 17 Pro Max in performance or features, the fact that people are eager to own a lookalike highlights how iconic the design has become.
Answer. It shows a vendor transforming an iPhone 12 Pro Max into a lookalike of the iPhone 17 Pro Max using fibre body kits and custom metal frames, mimicking the latest design.
Answer. Visually, the makeover is striking with a redesigned camera bump and vibrant orange finish, but it remains an iPhone 12 internally with no hardware upgrades.
Answer. Reactions are mixed. Some admire the creativity, while others criticize it as superficial, noting that it’s just cosmetic and doesn’t replicate the actual performance.
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