HTC outs Gratia low-cost Android smartphone
All the basics on a budget?
HTC will bring its latest Android smartphone, the Gratia, to the UK next month.
Introducing the handset this morning, HTC's announcement revealed only that the handset will run Android 2.2 and incorporate an autofocus 5Mp camera. It'll will come in a choice of colours: black, white and "forest green".
Judging from its 10cm height, we'd judge the screen to be 3.5in or less, but what the resolution is, HTC hasn't said.
And indeed, when we checked with HTC, we learned that it's a 3.2in, 320 x 480 touchscreen. The handset has quad-band GSM/GPRS/Edge support and dual-band HSDPA 3G. Its has 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 on board, plus a Micro SD card slot, a front-facing 0.3Mp camera and a digital compass.
It's driven by a 600MHz CPU, presents HTC's Sense UI on top of Android's own, and goes on sale in November. Given the spec, it's not likely to be one of HTC's more pricey models. ®
COMMENTS
Fully featured device for a "low-cost" Android phone
GPS, WIFI, 3G/UMTS, run Android, sounds like a possible bargain.
Like the idea of the ZTE Blade too, would consider that too if available in UK unbranded, dislike operator livery on my phones.
Are you going to San Francisco?
Orange's San Francisco, aka ZTE Blade, is the budget Android du jour.
Unlike this HTC, it's got a proper screen resolution (480x800) and a nice AMOLED screen with the magic PenTile Matrix tech found in the Nexus.
Oh and it's £99 plus £10 top up. Lots of discounts available, quidco, topcashback, NUS, local government, teachers, NHS, police etc.
Orange San Francisco / ZTE Blade
I think the Orange SF / ZTE Blade will be a very hard bargain Smartphone for anyone to beat. RRP of £99 but it's very easy to get a £20 discount.
Yup
# Inquirer HTC announces European Aria, the Gratia
http://www.rethink-wireless.com/2010/10/18/htc-announces-european-aria-gratia.htm
Looks like the UK version of the HTC Aria
Identical appearance, identical specs - so no camera flash/LED, boo hiss.
