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.
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One point for my Spain XD but they have a lot to improve…
Mtk with gpl violations, android mali driver with libhybis – this is kind of retarded move for ubuntu
wow it looks so UGLY big bezels phone. omg
or you can simply buy a normal device with a good modding community and use a custom ubuntu rom
Might as well buy a nexus and install Ubuntu on that
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 $300 in the US, I can only imagine what the 6 is going to cost overseas.
Ur right sir. here in Poland its ~700$ for 32GB version.
In Thailand where I live most of the year the Nexus 5 was selling for just under $600 for the 16GB version.
1GB RAM, a 1.3Ghz MT6582 processor
is this a joke?
That’s the joke — and the punchline is $200. Haha.
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.
i havent seen a mid-range phone this year that runs on a outdated mt6582, this is a entry level phone, that has entry level specs, mid-range phone early last year you meant to say, and even so mid-range last year was the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
Doesn’t do your reputation good to release your shiny new ROM on a outdated underpowered phone