$75 phones, a new flagship and more: Cyanogen Inc. have big plans for 2016


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After their pact with OnePlus fell apart earlier this year, Cyanogen Inc partnered with various OEMs… but the interesting thing to see here was that these OEMs made phones for ‘power users’ more than high-end phone buyers.

Cyanogen plan to continue doing that, along with some more next year. Steve Kondik revealed at the Big Android BBQ Europe in Amsterdam Cyanogen Inc.’s focus will be putting great software on really budget phones. By ‘budget’, he meant $75 phones.

“We’re trying to take everything we have into APIs,” Kondik said, hinting at a CyanogeMod 13 release “in time for the holidays”. When asked about whether Cyanogen Inc. plans to work with carriers in bringing phones into the hands of buyers, Kondik replied with a rather cheeky “There may or may not be plans in the works for something in Q2 next year that I have to stop talking about or I’ll get in trouble”. This, in plain words, should be a ‘yes’ for most.

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Speaking about the low cost ($75) phones, Kondik said he felt “there comes an absurd amount of bloatware” on these phones — and rightly so — which opens a door of opportunity for Cyanogen OS ROMs, which are known for their light weight combined with the essential add-ons.

Whether you’re a budget phone monger or you have a habit of buying the newest flagship, Cyanogen Inc.’s 2016 plans should have enough to keep you interested.

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26 Comments

  1. iANDROID8.1
    November 12, 2015

    seems pretty good for me, I’m in!

  2. Rob
    November 12, 2015

    Having tried their ROM on a friend’s Galaxy S3, I have to say like them I hated it. Absolutely rubbish IMHO and it at least allowed me to know that I will never buy a phone powered by it!

    • balcobomber25
      November 12, 2015

      I tried it on my Nexus 7 hated it as well. I would take MiUI or Flyme anyday over it

      • Rob
        November 12, 2015

        Well it’s had an unexpected benefit as it finally persuaded him to try a Chinese phone after slagging them off for years (the usual things peeps say about Chinese stuff), got him to order an LETV LE1. Just hope he doesn’t have any problems otherwise I will never hear the last of it.

        • balcobomber25
          November 12, 2015

          Trying to get my GF to go Chinese, she’s in love with Samsung. Although she always wants to *borrow* my MX5…

          • Lazar Prodanovic
            November 12, 2015

            Try with new MX5 Pro it’s Samsung re packed & pretty much enchanted. All do I don’t know would she be comfortable with a Note 4 display (size). ?
            All do I am certain you would like one of those for your self.

            • balcobomber25
              November 12, 2015

              She loves Samsung because they sponsor Chelsea her favorite soccer team. Most Meizu phones are packed full of Samsung parts.

            • Lazar Prodanovic
              November 12, 2015

              This one packs more than most. So the Chelsie girl wouldn’t feel lot’s guilt of conscience & after all its still Chinese phone so you both win.
              Still that is if she like large phablets.
              It’s down now to 460$ at least it whose at resellers in EU last time I checked a couple days ago, who knows me by you can even find a better deal.

              Yust trying to help there mate.
              Meizu is my favorite Chinese manufacturer along with JiaYu…

              Best regards.

            • balcobomber25
              November 12, 2015

              Meizu is starting to become mine.

          • Tajwar
            November 12, 2015

            I get you my friend is like that too, she’s like

            “can you let me *borrow* your need to check something on Google”

            I am like “whyyy? You have a frigging s5!”

            “well you know It’s just… ” (takes phone from me) T.T

          • Mesterio
            November 12, 2015

            You sure it is not to check your messages, making sure you are being a faithful husband ? ?

            • balcobomber25
              November 13, 2015

              I doubt it she already knows all my passwords lol.

    • Lazar Prodanovic
      November 12, 2015

      CM become like that… I remember CM7 back in the days that whose rather very good. Hate the CM now for many reasons as they don’t really contribute to open community much, they are Inc. & they’re optimizations are a bad joke to name a couple. What I like is AOSP as it is clean, pure & ironed hate what Google is considerably pushing as vanilla’s to hurt AOSP a Android: One, Silver & Gold programs…

  3. Muhammad Yasir
    November 12, 2015

    did they say $75 phone ?!

    • MaxPower
      November 12, 2015

      for experience you get what you pay for.

      • Muhammad Yasir
        November 12, 2015

        lets hope it gives us experience of a $200 phone (cant hurt to hope , right?)

        • MaxPower
          November 12, 2015

          it sure can!
          look at those Elephones fans 🙂

          • Muhammad Yasir
            November 12, 2015

            oh … thats a very tragic case 😀

            • Tajwar
              November 12, 2015

              Why sooo mean? eleponz are awesome! lol

          • Lazar Prodanovic
            November 12, 2015

            Wouldn’t mind moddingg the Trunks ROM & actually not to CM.

          • Natsumi
            November 13, 2015

            When I bought a cheap phone or star phone (or tablet), it broke…. I want a mobile which doesn’t do crazy things with the software (crazy keyboard/desktop)…. just that…. I can’t pay 200$ -.-

        • balcobomber25
          November 12, 2015

          There’s only so much they can do software side. At it’s core it will still be $75 phone ($100+ on resellers). Your probably looking at MT6753/35, 1-2GB RAM and a garden variety 13/5mp camera setup. It will be the equivalent of $125-150 phones.

          • Rob
            November 12, 2015

            Your being generous there! 512mb-1GB RAM and more likely 2/8mp cameras, budget phones that say 13mp invariably have an 8mp shooter interpolated to 13mp. But agree with you that it will still be a $75 phone and you will be reminded of that fact every time you pick it up.

            • balcobomber25
              November 12, 2015

              Yea the only good thing about these phones will be regular software updates. Other than that your looking at bargain bin all the way.

  4. Allanitomwesh
    November 13, 2015

    In before mt6753/2GB RAM/720p and an utterly shit battery and camera.

  5. Fox Hunter
    November 16, 2015

    About time, what is taking Cyanogen so long? I’ve been waiting for a 100$ and below CM phone for years. And please use Mediatek chips, don’t use those overpriced overheating Qualcomm chips.