With less than a month to go before the official launch of the iPhone 17 Pro Max, an alleged prototype with the screen lit up has surfaced online - raising eyebrows about whether it’s actually running iOS 26.

Observers quickly concluded the device is not genuine, and its design doesn’t fully match previously leaked renders of the real iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Despite this, the fake model has sparked interest. Reputable leaker Sonny Dickson shared three photos of the mock iPhone 17 Pro Max (or possibly the 17 Pro). One image shows a simple retail box with a black iPhone illustration. Another shows the silver-colored device with Apple’s iconic logo on the back. The last one reveals the display turned on.

At a glance, the screen looks like iOS, with familiar icons such as the App Store and Safari. However, Sonny Dickson confirmed that it’s a knockoff running Android.

One clear sign is the time displayed: “05:20.” On genuine iOS devices, even in 24-hour format, Apple typically omits the leading zero for single-digit hours - showing “5:20” instead of “05:20.” In contrast, Android often includes the leading zero, especially in default system UIs and notification panels.

This suggests the fake unit uses Android, customized with third-party launchers, Apple-style icon packs, and iOS-like themes to mimic the look of iOS.

Another clue that caught the attention of Apple fans was the thickness of the screen bezels. The fake model has noticeably thick bezels, while the real iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature thinner bezels - potentially even slimmer than those on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

As the launch of the iPhone 17 series approaches, such counterfeit models serve as a reminder for users to be cautious with leaks and supposed early reveals. While mockups may give a general idea, they rarely reflect the final design that consumers will see when Apple officially unveils its new flagship.

Previously, in late April, a store in China showcased iPhone 17 mockups created using CAD files provided by known leaker Majin Bu. These 3D-printed models allowed customers to compare the new design with older iPhones.

A video shared by Majin Bu on X showed people holding the mockups to examine differences in thickness - particularly the ultra-thin design of the rumored iPhone 17 Air - and observe the redesigned camera modules on the Pro versions. However, unlike the fake model spotted recently, those CAD-based dummies had no functional displays.

Hai Phong