Technologies

Orange iPhone 17 Pro Impersonators Were Out in Droves at MWC 2026

Apple was MIA at Mobile World Congress but its signature color was making a splash.

In September, Apple unveiled its iPhone 17 Pro line in a color all its own — a bright tangerine orange that split the CNET newsroom between lovers and haters. And yet, nearly half a year later, that hue is all over MWC 2026, suggesting its fans have gone global.

From accessories to blatant copies of the iPhone 17 Pro Max itself, a shocking variety of products seemingly sampled Apple’s exact color tone to splash over their devices. It’s as brazen as the iPhone maker’s choice to go with such a blinding color.

I first noticed the color’s presence when I walked into the hotel bar that accessory maker Anker rented to showcase its new line of products. While the TKTK recharging plug was originally revealed at CES a month earlier, Anker had it in bright orange for MWC. The charger was already charming with a cute robot appearing on its screen, but the bright orange gave it an undeniable pizazz (and ensures you won’t lose it among other monochrome chargers).

Then I strolled over to check out the Unihertz Titan 2 Elite, a smaller Android phone with a physical keyboard that feels like an homage to Blackberry handsets of yore. It comes in black, of course, but also that arresting orange, which amplified the boldness of a deliberately small phone. Clearly, the orange adds attitude.

When I shared with the CNET team the pattern of orange hues I was seeing, they rolled their eyes as they told me I’d missed the most obvious devices mimicking Apple’s hue. Not one but several phone makers were putting handsets on display that were dead ringers for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, from the size and button layout to the rear camera layout. And of course, they sport the unmistakable orange.

So yes, we saw some of the best phones at MWC that truly excited us but we also saw some deliberate attempts to coast on the headway Apple made with its iPhone 17 Pro Max’s cosmic orange. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? Here’s hoping all those orange phones don’t turn pink like our iPhone did.

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube