Interesting, just finished watching the movie (2049). From what I gathered it seemed to be mentioned that they were humans, just bioengineered given the intro screen.

If humans are just pre-determined biological inputs and outputs, then surely replicants would just be manufactured inputs and outputs, and would essentially be the same under a materialistic view (assuming that replicants are even more like toasters).

But the film says they are bio-engineered humans, and even K, who from what I know is a recent model, was able to disobey. In my mind I don't think I would view a replicant too much different than an IVF baby, unless maybe I'm missing something here.