Archos has launched a line of unlocked, affordable Android smartphones. The smartphones come with a Qualcomm CPU and dual SIM cards, which allow users to manage two providers simultaneously. The line includes the Archos 35 Carbon ($99.99), Archos 53 Platinum ($249.99), and the flagship Archos 50 Platinum ($219.99). The phones will be available starting in Europe at the end of May 2013.
The flagship device, the Archos 50 Platinum, features a 5.0 inch full black IPS display paired with a quad-core CPU at 1.2GHz and 8 M Pixels camera. End-users will have an experience similar to a Samsung Galaxy S3 for half the price, claims the company. The Archos Carbon runs Android Ice Cream Sandwich, and the Platinum models feature Android Jelly Bean.
Loïc Poirier (CEO, Archos): The smartphone market is shifting, as SIM-free sales versus subsidized sales are increasing, and Archos is prepared to respond, as we can offer retail channels affordable, unlocked and feature-rich smartphones without the need to subsidize.
Ranging from 3.5” to 5.3” in size, the first three smartphones will be released in Q2.