First off, I gotta say, buying a fake of *anything* is always a gamble. You’re basically rolling the dice on quality, functionality, and whether it’ll even work past next Tuesday. Aaaaand, let’s be real, a “U8 clone” watch? That’s about as far from a genuine Apple Watch as you can get.
Now, the articles you dug up are kinda…all over the place. We’ve got someone in Berlin dealing with two *identical* clones from the same batch having different firmware. That alone tells you about the quality control (or lack thereof) going on. Then there’s the Blades and Sorcery modding guide, which is actually about unbricking things, which is kinda relevant since, let’s face it, trying to mod a dodgy U8 is basically bricking roulette.
The bit about updating mods from U8 to U9? Completely unrelated. It’s about game mods, not watches. My bad!
And then there’s the VWAR Watch 7 Ultra mentioned, which is kinda-sorta-but-not-really relevant because it’s another cheap smartwatch trying to cash in on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra hype.
So, *can* you mod a fake U8 watch?
Well, technically…maybe? It’s a computer, right? It has firmware. But the REAL question is *should* you? And I gotta lean towards a resounding NO.
Here’s why, and this is just my personal opinion, mind you:
* Firmware Support? LOL! These things are often made in some factory somewhere with zero support. There’s no official website, no updates, no community. You’re on your own.
* Bricking Potential: You mess with the firmware on a *real* smartwatch and you might be able to recover it. Mess with a fake U8? It’s probably toast. You’re turning a $35 paperweight into a… well, a different $35 paperweight.
* Effort vs. Reward: Honestly, the amount of time and effort you’d put into trying to reverse engineer the firmware, find compatible tools, and actually flash a custom ROM would probably be better spent learning a new skill or, you know, making toast.
* It’s a Fake! At the end of the day, it’s a cheap imitation. Even if you *did* manage to mod it, what are you really gaining? A slightly less terrible fake watch?
Look, I’m not saying you shouldn’t tinker. If you enjoy the challenge and don’t mind the risk of completely destroying the thing, go for it! But realistically, the chances of success are slim, and the reward is minimal. You’re probably better off saving your money and buying a legit, even if older, smartwatch that actually has community support and a chance of being modded in a meaningful way. Or just, you know, getting a nice normal watch.
