BQ get their Ubuntu phone to market ahead of Meizu


bq-aquaris-e4-5-ubuntu-edition-main

Spanish consumer electronics company BQ have officially released their Ubuntu smartphone, ahead of MWC and ahead of Meizu.

The road to Ubuntu smartphones has been a long one, but finally the journey is coming to an end with BQ unveiling their Aquaris E4 Ubuntu Edition which will be available through flash sales starting this month.

BQ first showed their Ubuntu device at MWC and CES last year alongside a Meizu MX3 also running Ubuntu. Although both companies have signed deals with Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu phones, BQ have been first to release a device.

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Specifications for the BQ Aquaris E5.5 Ubuntu Edition are similar to those of mid-range phones launched earlier last year in China. So just 1GB RAM, a 1.3Ghz MT6582 processor, 8 mega-pixel rear camera and 4.5-inch qHD display.

Anyone wanting something with higher specifications and more power will have to wait for Meizu’s Ubuntu phone (believed to be the Meizu MX4 Ubuntu Edition) which should be shown at MWC next month.

[ Ubuntu ]

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13 Comments

  1. Natsumi
    February 7, 2015

    One point for my Spain XD but they have a lot to improve…

  2. david
    February 7, 2015

    Mtk with gpl violations, android mali driver with libhybis – this is kind of retarded move for ubuntu

  3. February 7, 2015

    wow it looks so UGLY big bezels phone. omg

  4. Manu
    February 7, 2015

    or you can simply buy a normal device with a good modding community and use a custom ubuntu rom

  5. zhongtiao1
    February 7, 2015

    Might as well buy a nexus and install Ubuntu on that

    • balcobomber25
      February 7, 2015

      If you live in the states that is a good idea. But in most countries outside of North America the Nexus can cost as much as $700 US. And that was with the old Nexus phones that cost $300 in the US, I can only imagine what the 6 is going to cost overseas.

      • Krzysztof S.
        February 8, 2015

        Ur right sir. here in Poland its ~700$ for 32GB version.

        • balcobomber25
          February 9, 2015

          In Thailand where I live most of the year the Nexus 5 was selling for just under $600 for the 16GB version.

  6. roni24
    February 7, 2015

    1GB RAM, a 1.3Ghz MT6582 processor
    is this a joke?

    • February 8, 2015

      That’s the joke — and the punchline is $200. Haha.

  7. balcobomber25
    February 7, 2015

    Still need to see it in action but an Ubuntu powered phone could end up being a major plus for businesses kind of like Blackberry once was.

  8. Kieran olsson
    February 9, 2015

    i havent seen a mid-range phone this year that runs on a outdated mt6582, this is a entry level phone, that has entry level specs, mid-range phone early last year you meant to say, and even so mid-range last year was the mt6592. And are you serious a qHD display in a mid-range device? last i checked it was 2015 and not 2013. The differance between this ubuntu phone, and the Meizu phone is a garanteed 5x performance increase

  9. saor
    February 9, 2015

    Doesn’t do your reputation good to release your shiny new ROM on a outdated underpowered phone