Huawei is jumping on the trend to make Android-based smartphones thinner and lighter, launching its “Vision” smartphone on Wednesday with an aluminum alloy body.
Huawei’s Vision is equipped with features that are standard on most mid-market Android-based smartphones, including a 1GHz Qualcomm processor, 512 MB of RAM and 2 GB of integrated storage, which can be increased to 32 GB using a micoSD card.
The Vision also supports 720p video recording and has a 5-megapixel camera with a LED flash. Other features include 802.11n wireless chip, an FM radio and A-GPS (Assisted-GPS).
The Android 2.3-based Vision measures 9.9 millimeters at its thinnest point and weighs about 121 grams. By comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy S II is 8.5 millimeters at its thinnest point and weighs approximately 117 grams, although it has a plastic rather than aluminum body. The Samsung’s Galaxy S II has a 4.3-inch screen, while the Vision’s is 3.7 inches.
Huawei isn’t announcing any pricing, but the fact that the phone has a processor with a single core and a display that isn’t a large as the ones on other high-end Android-based models means it may be in lower price range of the mid-market phones.
On the software side, Huawei developed a new user interface, using a 3D-like carousel for accessing a number of different application panels from the homescreen. The smartphone also comes pre-installed with games including Angry Birds, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, Order & Chaos Online and Guerrilla Bob HD.
The Vision will start shipping in selected markets from September. It will be offered through both retail and operator channels, and Huawei is currently finalizing agreements with its partners and will make further announcements later, a spokeswoman said via e-mail.
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