In addition to it smartwatch, Archos will also introduce the Helium 4G range of unlocked smartphones, the company’s first LTE smartphones powered by Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean”. These unlocked phones, the 45 Helium and 50 Helium, will have a starting price of under $200, and support Google services like Google Play and Google Maps.
“The launch of the ARCHOS 45 and 50 Helium 4G phones addresses the growth in global 4G network availability and the increasing global demand for affordable mobile technology,” states the company’s announcement. “ARCHOS’ new smartphones build on the company’s overwhelming success in the European mobile market and takes advantage of its partnership with Qualcomm, leader in mobile chipsets and processor, to jointly engineer and launch affordable 4G solutions worldwide.”
According to the specs, the 50 Helium smartphone will sport a 5-inch IPS screen with a 1280 x 720 resolution. Under the hood will be a quad-core Qualcomm 400 (MSM8926) clocked at 1.4 GHz, 1 GB of LPDDR3 600 MHz RAM, 8 GB of internal storage and a microSD card slot for additional storage. Other features include Bluetooth 3.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity, an 8MP camera on the back and a 2MP camera on the front, and a 200 mAh battery.
As for the 45 Helium, the phone is somewhat identical to the 50 Helium save for the IPS screen, which will measure 4.5 inches and have an 854-480 resolution. The phone also will only provide 4 GB of internal storage, a 5MP camera on the back and a VGA camera on the front, and a 1700 mAh Li-on battery. This phone will retail for $199.99 whereas the 50 Helium will retail for $249.99.
Both will feature Android 4.3 “Jelly Bean” out of the box, and upgradable to Android 4.4.2 “KitKat”. Stay tuned for more Archos coverage next week.
