Google is working to bring their low-cost Android One phones to the United States, according to online sources. The handsets were part of a program to bring smartphone usage to underdeveloped countries. It made its debut in India in 2014.
A secret campaign team by Google has reportedly selected an unnamed manufacturer that will bring the cheap phones to the US market.
Google will give this retailer direct funding so the phones can come out at lower prices.
There are currently four Android One models in the Asian market, The Karbonn Sparkle V, the Micromax Canvas A1, the Spice Dream UNO, and the more expensive 5.5″ Lava Pixel X1.
The source has reported the new phones could come out somewhere in the middle of this year, with prices ranging between $200 and $300.
The philosophy behind Android One
The project wants to present a better way to build smartphones, focusing on practical features and giving users fast updates and less bloatware.
The manufacturers produced the cheap phone according to a set of guidelines by Google. The lineup started with $100 phones and gradually moved up in price, but they are still affordable.
Google did not disclose which manufacturer would build its American Android One phones, but rumors state that LG is a strong possibility. As a side note, both companies are currently working on a new lineup of smartwatches.
Android One phone’s specs and features
All the four models currently available come with the 1.3GHz Cortex A7 quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM, except for the Lava Pixel, which comes with 2GB.
They also feature only 4GB of internal storage but can hold an SD card of up to 32GB. The Lava Pixel’s internal out-of-the-box memory is 32GB, and it also has an SD slot for the same capacity.
They are also double-SIM capable and come with a 4.5″ FWVGA display, except for the larger Lava Pixel. The first three hold two cameras (front and rear) of 5MP each and have a 1700 mAh battery.
The larger Lava Pixel has a 13MP front camera and an 8MP camera on the back, both enhanced by software, and a 2650 mAh battery. All phones come with a vanilla variant Lollipop 5.1 but receive instant updates when new version come out.
Google’s phones in the US might have similar specs and keep up with the same fast updates and practical features. The models above can only be purchased in Asia as of now, through local online retailers.
Source: The Verge