Google today announced that it is expanding its Android One program to Philippines.
The company had unveiled Android One and the first batch of devices from Indian OEMs at an event in September last year, followed it up with the launch in Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and finally in Indonesia earlier in the month.
With Android One, which includes hardware and software designed by Google, the company hopes to launch affordable smartphones that offer a more consistent performance than some of the low-cost, Android-powered phones that are available on the market. One advantage of the Android One platform is that it allows Google to roll out software update without the need to get an approval from handset makers, which tends to delay the release of the software update.
In Philippines, Google is working with Cherry Mobile and MyPhone to make and distribute Android One smartphones.
The launch devices in Philippines are the Cherry Mobile One and MyPhone Uno, which will go on sale in the coming weeks.
Here’s a quick look at the specs:
- 4.5” FWVGA display
- Cortex A7 1.3 GHz Quad-Core processor
- 1GB RAM
- 8GB storage (expandable up to 32GB) in case of the Cherry Mobile One and 4GB storage (expandable up to 32GB) in case of the MyPhone Uno
- 2x micro SIM
- Front and rear facing cameras (2MP and 5MP)
- Rechargeable lithium-ion, 1700mAh
Philippines based website Unbox.ph, who have published a hands-on impression of the new Android One devices, report that the new devices come pre-installed with Android 5.1 Lollipop just like the Android One devices in Indonesia.
Android 5.1 is expected to include number of bug fixes and improvements according to the leaked change log, and has been rumored to be released this month.
The pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but Unbox.ph reports that the devices could be sold for around Php 5,000 (approx. $110).
[via Google, Android One Philippines]