The latest batch of Nexus smartphones are certainly look quite a bit different to last year’s model. But they’re apparently not unique enough for ZTE, which has accused Huawei of copying the design of its Athena handset when it came up with the Nexus 6P.

Taking to the Chinese social network Weibo, ZTE’s marketing director Lu Qian Hao suggests that the Nexus P6 pays a heavy tribute to the ‘elegant’ and ‘stunning’ ZTE Athena, also known as the Grand S. The message was directed at Huawei’s Yu Chengdong.

I don’t think Google translate is working too well though, as there’s also something about Huawei having a sex change operation thrown in there too? Either way, he doesn’t seem to have taken the 6P’s launch too well.

Comparing the two side by side, there is certainly a similarity between the ZTE Athena and the Nexus 6P when you look at the black bar across the back. Then again, the Athena is a design from back in early 2013 and ZTE hasn’t seemed too bothered about reviving the look for any of its recent models. The Nokia 808 PureView also springs to mind.

Huawei and ZTE have a long running rivalry. The two Chinese companies compete not only in the smartphone market but also in the international telecommunication equipment field too. However, this wouldn’t be the first time that Huawei has been accused of “paying tribute” to other smartphone designs with its products, so perhaps ZTE has a point?

What do you think about the resemblance?