2 months ago we reported that Gree, the world’s largest residential air conditioner manufacturer, was preparing to release their very first smartphone. Over the past two months we’ve heard numerous rumors and reports about the device, as well as multiple leaked specifications and images, but the phone itself never really popped up again. Now Gree finally appears to be ready to release their device into the market.
The device is going to be aimed squarely at the low-cost part of the market as a competitor to phones like the Redmi 2 and Meizu M1, and the recently released specs (courtesy of TENAA) show it. The phone will run a Snapdragon 410 CPU under hood, which will be paired with 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage (expandable to up to 32GB), a 5-inch HD display and a modest 8MP rear camera + 2MP front camera combo. The phone will run Kitkat out of the box.
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What Gree hopes will help differentiate itself from its low-cost brethren is its premium build, design and exclusive Gree features. The phone will have a solid metal body, which should make it standout more than the other affordable models. Gree has also pre-loaded the phone with the ability to control Gree branded home appliances from the device, though this is admittedly less than useful for people who don’t have any Gree products in their household.
With its specs, we don’t expect the Gree smartphone to cost any more than 599 yuan or $96. What do you think? Should Gree have put more into their first smartphone as to give a better first impression, or are you perfectly fine with this combination of specs?
Full metal for less than $100?
I’m in!
With that design (full metal), these specs + that price I would go for it as my “this could be a dangerous day”-phone. keep us posted on this!
A very good strategy :
-very good specs + some metal
Decent strategy :
-very good specs and whatever build
Lame strategy :
-lower than pond scum specs +metal
No overheating issues I guess.
Wait for reviews of Wi-Fi, network and GPS signal strength. Iuni U2 suffers with all because of metal case.
I think this will go well… in China. Little to no international market yet for Gree products. In fact, this is most people’s first hearing of the name.
I just thought of something: Imagine if IKEA made a phone or partnered with a phone manufacturer… Maybe this is the start of a new age for smartphones.
should have called it Gree Faraday Cage!
I don’t aGREE, ARE U OK??