Google and Sharp have Launched a New Android One Smartphone in Japan

As it turns out, Google’s ambitious project to offer stock software on a budget – Android One isn’t dead yet. Sharp has launched its third Android One smartphone – the X1 in Japan. The handset is powered by a bloat-free version of Android Nougat 7.1 and is compatible with FeliCa support for Android Pay.

To begin with, the Sharp X1 features a rather standard design with rounded edges and a thick chassis. There’s a 5.3-inch Full HD LCD panel up front, and underneath, you will find an oblong fingerprint sensor. The smartphone runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 435 octa-core processor, 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal storage that is expandable up to 256GB via a MicroSD card, and a massive 3900mAh battery which is rated for a staggering 4 days of usage and charges over USB-C.

The camera arrangement includes a 16.4-megapixel rear shooter, LED flash and a wide-angle 8-megapixel lens for selfies. Additionally, the device is water and dust proof as well. Sharp has also bundled support for FeliCa which is a widely used card system in Asian countries for banking and transit purposes. The technology will work in conjunction with Android Pay and should provide enough leeway for Google to establish its image which is, though, considering the possibility that this phone sells well.

Sharp promises that the X1 will receive monthly security updates for two years, along with one major update. It is available for purchase from Japanese carrier Y! mobile. There are three color options for you to choose from – white, dark purple, and mint green.

It’s unclear what Google is planning with Android One here and whether it will be launching any new handsets in other countries as well. However, we are not anticipating them to revive the lineup as they also announced another project called “Android Go” which is expected to make its first public appearance sometime next year.

from Technology Personalized