While the tech community has their eyes fixed on the expected quad core mobile phones which will make their first appearance at the 2012 Mobile World Congress, I am more interested in seeing what the new entry level phones will look like.
Sony has already has two smartphones running 1GHz scorpion processors, 512 MB of RAM and decent 320 x 480 resolution screens selling for under Php10,000 in the Sony Ericsson Line with Walkman and the Xperia Mini. These phones both also come with 5 MP camera's so there was actually room for more cost cutting. Similarly, Nokia already came out in 2011 with the Nokia 500 running a 1 GHz processor and a very impressive 360 x 640 resolution screen.
While dual core and quad core phones bring speed needed for heavier software, this really is mainly for the hard core gaming community. I use my phone for communications mainly, calls, SMS, email, social networking and instant messaging and two year old specifications are more than enough. I think most smartphone buyers wont necessarily need the latest and greatest. In fact, in 2012 I think entry level models will be more than sufficient for most users.
I expect that by middle of this year, the entry level Android's will come with 1GHz Scorpion or A8 processors, with Adreno 205 of PowerVR SGX530 graphics and a 320 x 480 resolution or better display. I do suspect most of these devices will still use 3.2-inch and smaller screens, so as to give the entry level products more differentiation from higher end Androids. Hopefully, entry level Droid's migrate to 3.4" and larger screens.
Similarly, the 1 GHz processors and Andreno 200 graphics that are required to run Windows Phone devices are not inexpensive enough to go into phones with a price point below 10K.
In the end, the biggest beneficiary of all the leaps in technology is the entry level buyer.
No comments:
Post a Comment