Archos Mines Two New 'Diamond' Smartphones With Better Than Expected Features
Following the success of its 50 Diamond smartphone, Archos unveiled two new devices in its Diamond product line.
Diamond 2 Plus
Although the phone is relatively inexpensive with an MSRP of $229, it packs in many features we would expect to see on a higher-end smartphone. The Diamond 2 Plus uses MediaTek’s Helio P10 SoC with a total of eight Cortex-A53 64-bit CPU cores, half of which are clocked at 2 GHz, with the other four limited to 1.2 GHz. The SoC also contains a Mali-T860MP2 GPU clocked at 700 MHz.
The Diamond 2 Plus is quite feature rich with 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of internal storage space and a 4G CAT 6 modem. The 5.5-inch display has a max resolution of 1920x1080, with a high pixel density of 400 ppi. Archos opted to use a 20MP Sony image sensor for the rear camera, which is capable of recording video at 1080p. The front camera also has a decent 8 MP resolution.
Some of the more advanced features present on the phone include a fingerprint sensor for securely unlocking your phone and a USB Type-C connector that enables ultra-fast charging and data transfers.
Diamond 2 Note
The slightly higher performer of the two phones Archos announced is the Diamond 2 Note, but to keep the phone budget-friendly, Archos had to pull back on a few features compared to the Diamond 2 Plus. The Diamond 2 Note has less RAM and less storage space, and the rear camera has a lower resolution, but other aspects of the phone are actually better than some of the Diamond 2 Plus'.
Although the rear camera is limited to 16 MP, it is capable of recording video at 4K resolutions, whereas the Diamond 2 Plus can only record at 1080p. The display is better too, as it has a 6-inch borderless 2K screen.
Archos also opted to go with a more powerful MediaTek MT6795 (X10) SoC, with eight Cortex-A53 64-bit cores, all of which are capable of running at 2 GHz. The X10 SoC also has a more powerful PowerVR G6200 GPU. The Diamond 2 Note also loses the USB Type-C connector, though.
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Both smartphones are scheduled to be released in May.
| Archos Diamond 2 Smartphones | ||
|---|---|---|
| Model | Diamond 2 Plus | Diamond 2 Note |
| OS | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| SoC | MediaTek MT6755 (P10) | MediaTek MT6795 (X10) |
| CPU | 4 x Cortex-A53 64-bit Cores @ 2 GHz4 x Cortex-A53 64-bit Cores @ 1.2 GHz | 8 x Cortex-A53 64-bit Cores @ 2 GHz |
| GPU | Mali-T860MP2 700 MHz | PowerVR G6200 |
| Display | 5.5-inch 1920x1080 (400 PPI) | 6-inch 2560x1440 (490 PPI) |
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage Space | 64 GB | 32 GB |
| Rear Camera | 20 MP Black (Sony) | 16 MP PD-AF Fast Focus + Dual LED Flash / F2.0 |
| Video recording Ability | 1080p | 3840x2160 30 Hz |
| Front Camera | 8 MP | 8 MP Wide Angle 84-Degrees BSI Sensor F2.2 |
| Modem | 4G CAT 6 (300/50 Mbps) | 4G Cat 4 (150/50 Mbps) |
| LTE Frequencies | 800/1800/2600 MHz | 800/1800/2600 MHz |
| GSM/GPRS/EDGE Frequencies | 850/900/1800/1900 MHz | 850/900/1800/1900 MHz |
| Battery | Li-ion 3000 mAh | 3610 mAh |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 148.3 x 73.8 x 8.3 mm | 158.35 x 82.7 x 8.7 mm |
| Weight | 130 g | 150 g |
| Special Features | Fingerprint, Fast Charger, Micro USB Type-C | Remote Control, Smart PA (Sound Amplification Support) Fast Charge |
| MSRP | $229 | $269 |
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