The new Ulefone Paris is one such device, packing a MediaTek octa-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage and a 5-inch 720p panel. All this bits and pieces are tucked away under a pane of curved Gorilla Glass and the phone boasts a slim aluminium chassis.

Although Ulefone is not exactly a household name, it is one of many emerging export brands coming out of mainland China. The company has a rather extensive line-up, with a couple of dozen budget phones and phablets, including devices with oversized batteries, fingerprint sensors and other goodies. The company is touting its new 5-inch Paris model as an “extremely balanced” 5-inch device and it’s easy to see why. It’s inexpensive, yet it has a decent spec, it looks like an iPhone, yet there are a few design elements that set it apart, and the phone has very comfortable, curved design.

So far so good, and it gets even better when you check out the price: a mere $119 with free shipping. Considering the spec, this is very competitive. In fact, many competitors sell 5-inch devices with the exact same SoC and a 1080p panel for $50 more.

What’s the catch? Let’s find out.