Archos Expanding Inexpensive Helium Plus Smartphone Line Next Month
Archos has added two new smartphones to its "Helium" portfolio: the 50 Helium Plus and the 55 Helium Plus. Both will be made available in July, packing Android 5.1 "Lollipop," screens of up to 5.5-inches and 13MP cameras on the back.
Both phones will be based on the 64-bit quad-core MediaTek MT6735P SoC clocked at 1 GHz and the Mali T720 GPU. Backing the SoC will be 1 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for expanded storage (up to 64 GB). Both phones will also feature the company's Fusion Storage tech that combines the local capacity with the space provided on a microSD card, creating one large drive.
In addition to the 13MP camera on the back, customers will also have a 5MP camera on the front for high-definition selfies. Other ingredients the phones will share include a 1280 x 720 screen resolution, Bluetooth 4.0 LE and Wi-Fi connectivity, GPS, support for two SIM cards installed simultaneously and a USB 2.0 port that supports On The Go, which allows the user to plug in a keyboard or mouse via an adapter.
So what makes these phones different from each other? The 55 Helium Plus will have a 5.5-inch IPS screen and a Li-on 2400 mAh battery, whereas the 50 Helium Plus will have a 5-inch IPS screen and a Li-on 2000 mAh battery. The 50 Helium Plus will also weigh slightly less than its bigger brother, and the larger 55 Helium Plus will include a 16 GB SD card in the box.
"Archos Helium line showcases a refreshed style with sleeker designs and a 'Glass Effect' finishing," the company's announcement said. "Available in either Jet Black or White Frost exteriors, the Helium Plus models are distinguished by the quality and brightness of their screens."
The 50 Helium Plus will be made available next month for a low price tag of $109, whereas the 55 Helium Plus will sell for $139. Based on the specs, the phones sound like a great deal for customers who don't want to be trapped by the two-year ball-and-chain offered by wireless carriers. And when comparing the two, the 55 Helium Plus seems like a better deal with the larger screen, larger battery and the included 16 GB microSD card for 30 extra bucks.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.