Apple’s former execs introduced Obi MV1 phone at shockingly low price tag
At MWC this past weekend, consumers got a look at different flagships from some of the top companies in the mobile industry. Not only did we get the chance to see our top leaders, but we also had the opportunity to see some lesser-known brands. You might remember hearing about Obi Worldphone last year, the company co-founded by Apple’s former CEO John Sculley. Now, the company is back with their latest smartphone, the MV1.
Similar to last year’s model, MV1 maintains that affordability factor as Obi intends to sell the device for just under $140. Of course, when given a price like that, we should expect some hardware compromises. The MV1 specifications are on the lower side of mid-range devices but for that price, you can’t go wrong if you’re looking for a decent smartphone at a reasonable price.
The MV1 sports a 5 inch 720 pixel display, a Snapdragon 212 SoC processor, 16 GB of internal storage which is expandable via microSD card, and either 1 or 2 GB of RAM (2 GB will push the price just below $150). The phone offers users an 8 megapixel main camera with auto focus and LED flash and a 2 megapixel front camera so while it isn’t as high as some other devices in the market, it still offers pretty decent picture quality to fit basic needs. The phone has a 2,500 mAh battery and is also dual-SIM capable.
Maintaining the design characteristics seen in previous Obi models, the MV1 has a gorilla glass scratch resistant screen and a polycarbonate body with a floating glass display. The design itself looks like a mash up of others and some may even say that its size and frame gives it a similar sleek look to the latest iPhone. Unlike other recently announced smartphones, the MV1 will either support Android 5.1 Lollipop or Cyanogen OS 12.1.1 depending on the market.
For an affordable option that will cost less than $140, it is worth considering for people looking for an entry-level, mid-range smartphone. The phone is set to go on sale right away in Asia and Africa, with Europe and Latin America getting access to the device sometime next month. Currently, there is no word on if the device will make its way to the US market.
