A photo leaked on the Chinese social network Sina Weibo suggests that the golden finish of the new iPhone 5S may be a novelty for only so long. The image depicts a gold-colored HTC One, and, since a recent leak from the same user was promptly confirmed by the manufacturer, the post has created ripples.
Apple’s release of gold-colored phones is seen as part of its strategy to break further into the Chinese market, where the color has positive connotations for consumers. The gold HTC One posted on Sina Weibo, if it is indeed going into production, doesn’t seem to be a copycat move however — an August date stamp is visible on the prototype, suggesting that HTC has been working on the model for some time.