Cheap 'Apple Watch' copies on sale via Alibaba site

Alibaba's Taobao site lists devices branded the AW08 and the iWatch.

They both feature "digital crown" dials on their sides, similar-styled straps and identical user interface graphics to Apple's forthcoming wearable.

However, their listings reveal they run on Google's Android platform rather than Apple's Watch OS.

Other giveaways that the watches are not the iPhone's official "companion" include:

They are being offered for about 250 yuan ($40; £26.50) - a fraction of the 2,588 yuan that Apple will charge for its smartwatch in China when it goes on sale next month

The Apple Watch's user interface, seen on the left, appears to have been directly copied by the AW08, pictured on the right

One Beijing-based expert - who has not seen any of the copycat watches in person - said there could be considerable demand for the gadgets now that they were being advertised online.

"Apple products are very popular in China, and it's possible that Chinese consumers will want to be seen to be the first person on their block to wear its Watch," said Matthew Forney, president of the business consultancy Fathom China.

"However, I think most of those consumers are aware that there has been an issue with fakes and copycats on Taobao and would be highly suspicious of the devices.

"And most people who buy them will do so knowing they are not Apple's real Watch."

They do not feature the same heart-monitoring sensors on their rear - although this is not always made clear

This model - sold on Taobao - features Apple graphics on its screen, but makes clear in its text it is not the official Apple Watch

Taboao acts as a showcase for third-party sellers - much like eBay and Amazon's Marketplace service - and some vendors have taken pains to make clear that the devices they are selling are not Apple's own technology.

One listing, which was highlighted by the Financial Times, even used the slogan: "Knockoff Apple watches have hit the market!"

Taobao's owner said it did, however, remove deceptive ads.

"Alibaba Group is dedicated to the fight against counterfeits," a spokeswoman for the company told the BBC.

"We work closely with our government partners, brands and industry associations to tackle this issue at its source.

"We also utilise technology like data mining and big data to scrub our platforms of counterfeits."

'Room full of mice'

The copycats first came to light in January, when a reporter from the news site Mashable discovered one being displayed at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

(BBC)