By It seems Archos has gotten a bit bored in the ultra-affordable tablet space. The manufacturer has announced that it will be providing three new low-cost Android phone options for those who don’t need a big name or don’t want to pay an arm and a leg for a decent smartphone.
Kicking things off is the 3.5 inch Archos 35 Carbon. This device is reminiscent of the G1 days with its HVGA resolution, 4GB of internal storage, 1GHz Qualcomm processor, and dual VGA cameras. It’s price tag of $99 makes us forgive the paltry feature-set, of course, and we’re happy that it will at least come out of the box sporting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Next up is the $219 Archos 50 Platinum (below). This 5-inch device tops out at qHD for resolution, but has a better set of internals with a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm 8225 processor, 1GB of RAM, 4GB of internal storage, and an 8 megapixel 720p HD rear camera with a 2 megapixel front camera. It’ll run the more modern Jelly Bean 4.1.2, in case you were wondering (and worried).
Finally, the 5.3-inch Archos 53 Platinum (below) brings a modest boost for $250. It’s a tad bigger than the 50 Platinum, though it shares the same specs in almost every other area (battery being the only other component separating the two). These devices will be targeted to those in Europe at the end of May, though unlike its tablet line we would be surprised to see the phones launch in the US. If they do, expect them to be available unlocked (because you really don’t need to sign new two-year contracts at these highly affordable prices).
I see stock JB good choice Archos but you will need to step that processor up to a snap dragon 600 at least. $250 is a good price but I would pay more for better specs but these aren’t bad.
5.0 inch QVGA screen? Sign me up!
Only 220? thats low for a dpi these days
It’s apparently actually qHD.
Wow this will be great for people on a budget using prepaid carriers!
More smartphones need to be this price! I’m so sick of smartphones being priced higher than tablets & laptops!!!
Thank you!! I hate seeing those prices. It’s like would you like to buy a new phone or a new laptop. Why are those prices even close enough to put someone in a dilemma like that!?
i chose buying the new phone, why buy a laptop anymore? You will use your phone way more on a daily basis. I will let my two netbooks crap out then i’m out buying my own. Work will always provide one.
yeah but it’s an archos at this price so I guess you are getting what you paid for
You’re crap.
in my opinion. I don’t know if i trust archos. I have owned their products in the past.
Darn, I didn’t know my T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2 was crap.
My $30 prepaid plan with unlimited data (and 5GB at LTE speed) is probably crap too, huh?
Ooo!! I’d get that plan too had I been able to pick up a phone off-contract. That plan is perfect for me.
I feel like it would still be worth the extra 90 or 50 dollars to grab a N4 if you’re an enthusiast. Of course, we can always use healthy price competition though.
Price points are fine, as long as they deliver adequate performance, which these low end Android phones seem to never do. I’d be fine with it if it was on pure Android. Which they seem to be, then lag and stutters should be almost non existent.
These would be good in between phones phones.
If you drop and smash your phone and don’t want to pay the $600 carriers want to rape you for and you are just a few months away from the next super phone, you could probably get this to hold you over.
I would not spend $100 let alone $200 for a phone I’m only going to use for a few months. I’d rather use a $20 nokia phone.
1999 called they want their comment back.
1999 called, they want their joke back.
but why would 1999 make a joke about callings itself?
The Archos specs don’t list a GSM 850 MHz band. Translation: not coming to North America as is. (Although it is possible that they will manufacture a different tri-band variant for NA.)
qHD, not QVGA.
$250 for a 5.3 Inch smartphone!? I could buy that as a gift for someone!! That’s amazing!!
Imaging marketing that very phone for $100 or possibly even free on 2 year contracts. Oh my gosh!!
And the specs are better than my E4GT, so I’d be fine using that phone. Hmm…
It’s a good phone, i’d buy it.
Good job of Archos to step also in the smartphone market and bring lower-budget phones. More players on the market is always better for the consumer to drop the prices.
Also nice to see that Archos uses a stock Android without any own overlay. Hope they will then also follow the latest Android releases in a (relative) fast way.
These smartphones also are all dual-sim. I don’t know if their are many peoples use this functionality, especially in Europe, where the device will be targeted. In Asia, dual-sim smartphones are very common.
Unfortunately these are 3-band an no quad-band devices, but ok they have to economize to sell these devices at a lower price. Same for processor speed.
You need to be banned.
That sounds really cool. I never heard of the brand name though.
Really dude? Have you been living under a rock? That’s like asking who Samsung are.
I think the 5.3 needs more ram
Yeah. They just got the iphone 5.