Huawei's $99 IDEOS X1: definitely not hideous

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Tuesday, 28 June 2011 11:45

Your IT - Mobility

When smartphones get down to the $99 level, you often wonder whether what's on offer is a bunch of compromises, or whether it has the hardware to deliver the goods, even if at a sub-$100 price.

Although claims that Android smartphone makers are in a race to the pricing bottom do have currency when the latest sub-$100 Android smartphone is released, it's always important to look at the specs.

While sub-$100 phones once meant resistive touch-screens, Huawei's IDEOS X1 comes with a 2.8-inch QVGA (320x240) capacitive screen, which should mean smoother fingertip performance for everyday users.

Sure, a 2.8-inch screen isn't as sizeable as a 3.5-inch or larger screen, but it does mean a smaller handset in the palm of your hand, which is also nifty for those that prefer smaller smartphone sizes.

Coming to Optus Pre-Paid from July 1 and running Android OS 2.2, other features within include 7.2Mbps 3.5G capabilities, a 3.2 megapixel camera, the standard MicroUSB port, a proximity and ambient light sensor, 512M (ROM) and 256M (RAM) internal memory, and naturally, integration of Google Maps / Google Search / Gmail / Android Market and social media clients including Facebook and Twitter.

Huawei also says that the IDEOS X1 has 'an update user interface', while also being 'sleeker than its predecessor'.

Mark Treadwell, who is Huawei's local 'Devices Head of Marketing' said that the 'IDEOS X1 is the perfect choice for consumers wanting a smartphone that gives them quick and easy access to all the apps they love, without draining their wallets. Running Android 2.2 and weighing only 100 grams, the IDEOS X1 offers a better experience than other entry-level smartphones - both practically and aesethically.'

Gavin Williams, the Optus Consumer Marketing Director said that: 'We're very pleased to be offering our customers an affordable and highly impressive Android Smartphone. Devices such as the X1 from Huawei really demonstrate the range of smartphone options which are available on the Android platform, as well as the quality handsets which are available across a range of price points for both pre-paid and post-paid customers.'

'With some of the great value offers available from Optus pre-paid, the Android smartphone experience is now something that a huge range of customers can experience,' he said.

Huawei is holding a 2011 product showcase tomorrow, where we'll have a chance to put our hands on the IDEOS X1, but based on what we know so far, if you're looking for a sub-$100 Android handset, putting the IDEOS X1 on your list of smartphones to evaluate before purchase is not an 'ideotic' idea, but a sensible one instead.

We'll have more on Huawei's new product range tomorrow.