While Lollipop is still a far-off pipe dream for the overwhelming majority of Android users, its software successor – Android 5.1 – has turned up on two low-end smartphones in the Philippines.
Two devices, landing as part of the Android One program, have just been announced in the Southeast Asian island nation running Google’s currently unannounced software update (via Unbox.ph).
Android One is Google’s emerging market initiative, announced last year, that sees the search engine giant offer guidelines to OEMs on producing low-cost, cheaply sold Android handsets.
This means that the two new handsets – the MyPhone Uno and the Cherry One – boast distinctly low-tier spec sheets.
Both handsets tout 4.5-inch LCD displays with resolutions of 854 x 480. Inside is a 1.3GHz quad-core Mediatek MT6582 chip, paired with 1GB of RAM and 4GB of storage (8GB on the Cherry unit).
The handsets also offer dual-sim 3G connectivity, 5-megapixel rear-facing cameras, 2-megapixel front-facing cameras, a microSD slot, and a 1700mAh battery.
Related: Android 5.0 Lollipop Update: When will my phone get it?
It’s not yet clear what Android 5.1 Lollipop will bring to the platform, but it’s interesting to learn that the software is ready to ship, at least.
It’s also worth noting that Google reportedly forced both smartphone manufacturers to scrub off the OS version from their handsets’ spec sheets, which implies that we might not be seeing Android 5.1 rolled out to a wider user-base just yet.
Android One has now been rolled out across six countries, with the Philippines marked as the latest nation on Google’s budget blower roster.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
