Android One Arrives In Europe

Mike Moore,
A smartphone

Google’s super-affordable smartphone launches in Turkey as part of worldwide expansion

Google’s aim of making sure customers in developing markets have access to affordable smartphones has taken its first step into Europe with the launch of the first Android One phone on the continent.

The company has announced that Android One will be going on sale in Turkey thanks to a new partnership with local carrier General Mobile.

Costing around £165, the imaginatively-named General Mobile 4G will offer Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, 4G networks (the first Android One device to do so) and a 13MP camera, making it a handy proposition for many who can’t afford a high-end smartphone.

Android One_Hero ImageOne for you?

The device itself is not a bad-looking offering, featuring a 5in HD IPS screen made with Gorilla Glass 4. On the inside, there has been a significant change, as unlike most other Android One devices that have used MediaTek processors, the Turkish device is powered by a 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chip, backed up with 2GB of RAM.

Alongside the 13MP rear camera, there’s also a 5MP front sensor, and 16GB of internal storage to keep all your media safe.

“Our goal with Android One is to empower more people to do great things with the internet by putting a high-quality, up-to-date smartphone into their hands,” Caesar Sengupta, VP, product management, Android One said in a statement.

“Turkish creativity and innovation are already exciting, so we can’t wait to see what people do with Android One.”

Launched in June 2014, Android One aims to create cheap but high quality smartphones as part of Google’s efforts to extend its reach into developing markets. So far, it has launched in six countries – India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

All Android One handsets must be at least 4.5 inches in size, have 1GB of RAM, a five megapixel front-facing camera and two megapixel front-facing sensor and quad core processor. The devices run stock Android and there is room to add market-specific features such as FM radios, MicroSD card slots and replaceable batteries.

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