The Huwai P45 Pro: A Fake Phone Flooding the Kenyan Market
The Kenyan smartphone market, a critical hub for digital connectivity with over 64 million mobile subscriptions as of 2023 per the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), has become a prime target for counterfeit devices. Among these, the “Huwai P45 Pro” has surfaced as a notable fake phone, deceiving buyers seeking the innovation and quality of the reputable Huawei brand. This article explores why the Huwai P45 Pro is considered counterfeit, what marks it as a fake, compares it to the legitimate Huawei P50 Pro it likely attempts to emulate, provides pricing and purchase options, and highlights the risks of buying fake phones.
Why the Huwai P45 Pro Is a Fake Phone
The “Huwai P45 Pro” is not a genuine product from Huawei, a Chinese multinational founded in 1987, known for its Pura, Mate, and Nova smartphone series. As of June 12, 2025, no “Huwai P45 Pro” exists in Huawei’s official lineup; the P-series includes models like the Huawei P50 Pro, launched in 2021, but no P45 Pro has been announced or released. Counterfeit manufacturers have fabricated the Huwai P45 Pro to exploit Huawei’s popularity in Kenya, where demand for stylish, feature-rich smartphones drives sales. These fakes flood the market via informal channels—street vendors, unregulated online sellers, and social media marketplaces—luring consumers with low prices. The CA and Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) estimate that counterfeit phones may account for 30–40% of devices in circulation, posing risks to consumers and the economy.
The choice of the Huawei P50 Pro as the likely emulated phone reflects counterfeiters’ strategy to mimic a premium device with a reputation for exceptional camera capabilities and elegant design, leveraging Huawei’s brand recognition to deceive buyers.
What Makes the Huwai P45 Pro Fake?
Several telltale signs expose the Huwai P45 Pro as a counterfeit:
- Misspelled Branding: The name “Huwai” omits the “e” from “Huawei,” a deliberate trick to mimic the legitimate brand while evading trademark laws.
- Poor Build Quality: Unlike Huawei’s premium designs with aluminum chassis, glass backs, and IP68 dust/water resistance, the fake uses cheap, flimsy plastic, with uneven edges, loose buttons, and a shoddy finish. The Huawei P50 Pro’s elegant 195g build with a shiny glass back and gold-trimmed camera modules is absent in fakes.
- Substandard Display: The screen is often dim, pixelated, or uses an LCD panel, lacking the vibrancy of the P50 Pro’s 6.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, 1228 x 2700 resolution, and 450 ppi.
- Unreliable Software: It typically runs a glitchy, modified, or outdated Android-based system, often loaded with bloatware or malware, disguised to resemble Huawei’s HarmonyOS 2.0 or EMUI 12. It lacks access to Huawei’s AppGallery or updates, unlike the P50 Pro’s robust software ecosystem, though it notably lacks Google Mobile Services.
- Invalid IMEI: The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, viewable by dialing *#06#, is often invalid or duplicated. Texting it to 1555, a free CA service, typically confirms it as fake.
- Shoddy Packaging: Counterfeit boxes feature blurry logos, misspellings, or poor-quality printing, with cheap, unbranded accessories, unlike Huawei’s professional packaging with branded chargers.
These traits reveal the Huwai P45 Pro as a deceptive product, preying on consumers’ trust in Huawei’s reputation for photography and design.
Comparison: Huwai P45 Pro vs. Huawei P50 Pro
The Huwai P45 Pro likely attempts to emulate the Huawei P50 Pro, a flagship smartphone launched in July 2021, known for its Leica-tuned quad-camera system, premium design, and powerful performance despite lacking 5G and Google services. Here’s a comparison:
Feature | Huawei P50 Pro | Huwai P45 Pro |
---|---|---|
Manufacturer | Huawei (China) | Unknown, counterfeit producers |
Build Quality | Aluminum chassis, glass back, IP68 rated, 195g, premium finish | Cheap plastic, flimsy, poor fit and finish |
Display | 6.6-inch OLED, 1228 x 2700 pixels, 120Hz, 450 ppi, 1.07B colors | Low-quality LCD, dim, pixelated, uneven lighting |
Processor | Snapdragon 888 4G or Kirin 9000 (5nm), octa-core, Adreno 660 GPU | Underpowered, generic chip, laggy performance |
Camera | 50MP (wide) + 64MP (telephoto, 3.5x zoom) + 13MP (ultrawide) + 40MP (B/W), 13MP front | Poor cameras, low resolution, grainy or blurry output |
Software | HarmonyOS 2.0 or EMUI 12, no Google services, regular updates | Glitchy, Android-based, potential malware, no updates |
Battery | 4360mAh, 66W fast charging, 50W wireless, 17+ hours video playback | Smaller or unreliable battery, potential safety risks |
Authenticity | Genuine IMEI, verifiable via CA’s SMS to 1555 | Invalid or duplicated IMEI, fails authenticity checks |
Warranty | 1-year warranty from Huawei, reliable after-sales support | No warranty, no support, high risk of failure |
Key Differences
The Huawei P50 Pro features a 6.6-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, a Snapdragon 888 4G or Kirin 9000 processor, and a Leica-tuned quad-camera system with a 50MP main sensor, 64MP telephoto, 13MP ultrawide, and 40MP monochrome lens, delivering exceptional photography. It runs HarmonyOS 2.0 or EMUI 12, with a 4360mAh battery supporting 66W fast charging and 50W wireless charging, though it lacks 5G and Google services due to U.S. sanctions. Available in colors like Golden Black and Cocoa Gold, it has a premium design with slim bezels and IP68 resistance. In contrast, the Huwai P45 Pro is a shoddy knockoff, with inferior hardware, poor cameras, and no legitimate software or support, often running a generic Android interface disguised as HarmonyOS, lacking advanced features like Leica optics or fast charging.
Prices and Where to Buy
Huawei P50 Pro
- Price: Approximately KSh 89,000–129,500, depending on the retailer, storage variant (8GB/128GB, 8GB/256GB), and condition. For example, Phones Store Kenya lists it at KSh 89,000, Phone Place Kenya at KSh 129,500, and Zuricart at KSh 129,000.
- Where to Buy: Available from reputable online and physical stores in Kenya, including:
- Jumia Kenya: A trusted platform for electronics with fast delivery.
- Phone Place Kenya: Stocks authentic devices, fast delivery in Nairobi and beyond.
- Phones Store Kenya: Offers genuine Huawei phones, countrywide delivery.
- Zuricart: Reliable for original phones, often with warranties.
Huwai P45 Pro
- Price: Often sold for KSh 10,000–30,000, a suspiciously low price that attracts budget buyers, far below the cost of genuine flagship smartphones.
- Where to Buy: These fakes are not available from reputable retailers but are commonly found in informal markets (e.g., Nairobi’s Mfangano Street, Tom Mboya Street), unverified online sellers, or dubious platforms like social media marketplaces (e.g., Facebook Marketplace) and classifieds sites like Jiji.co.ke. No legitimate links exist, as these are counterfeit products not endorsed by trusted stores.
Note: Prices for the Huawei P50 Pro may vary based on stock, taxes, condition (new or used), and promotions. Always confirm with the retailer for the latest pricing and availability.
Why People Should Avoid Fake Phones
Purchasing counterfeit devices like the Huwai P45 Pro carries significant risks:
- Poor Performance: Fake phones deliver sluggish operation, with laggy apps, poor call quality, and unreliable features, frustrating daily use, as seen in reports of counterfeit devices with inferior displays and slow chipsets.
- Safety Hazards: Low-quality batteries and components may overheat, leak, or explode, posing health risks to users and property, a concern highlighted by the CA regarding counterfeit phones’ potential harmful radiation.
- Security Threats: Counterfeit software often harbors malware, risking theft of personal data—contacts, photos, bank details—exposing users to fraud. Over 150 million counterfeit smartphones are sold annually with compromised security features.
- No Warranty or Support: Fakes lack manufacturer backing, leaving buyers without recourse if the device fails, unlike genuine Huawei devices with a one-year warranty from trusted retailers.
- Economic Impact: Buying counterfeits fuels illegal trade, costing Kenya an estimated KSh 30 billion annually in tax evasion and harming legitimate businesses, with mobile phones accounting for 51.8% of ACA seizures.
- Short Lifespan: Fake phones degrade quickly, negating initial savings as users must replace them sooner, as noted in personal accounts of counterfeit purchases.
The Communications Authority of Kenya and the Anti-Counterfeit Authority actively seize fake goods, such as the KSh 10 million worth of counterfeit phones confiscated in Nairobi in 2019, but consumer vigilance is crucial. The CA offers a free IMEI verification service by texting the number to 1555 and plans to establish an online platform linked to the GSMA global device database to verify phone authenticity. Consumers should inspect device quality, avoid suspiciously cheap deals, and buy only from trusted sources to mitigate these risks.
Conclusion
The Huwai P45 Pro is a counterfeit phone flooding the Kenyan market, exploiting Huawei’s trusted name with a misspelled brand to mislead buyers. Its shoddy build, substandard display, and dubious software set it apart from the genuine Huawei P50 Pro, a flagship smartphone with exceptional cameras and premium design. While the fake tempts with a low price (KSh 10,000–30,000), the authentic Huawei P50 Pro (KSh 89,000–129,500) offers value, safety, and performance, available at trusted outlets like Jumia, Phone Place Kenya, and Zuricart. Avoid fake phones to protect your safety, data, and wallet—stick to reputable retailers and verify authenticity before buying.
KINA MAISHA MAGIC EAST SEASON 5 EPISODE 27