Europe’s very first Android One smartphone has just arrived.
Google’s cheap-but-cheerful handset initiative is behind the new BQ Aquaris A4.5 smartphone.
The thrifty device is set to ship to Spain and Portugal, and will run the latest version of Google’s operating system – Android 5.1.1 Lollipop.
It’s a dual-SIM 4G handset, and features a 4.5-inch 540 x 960 pixel display.
Powering the Aquaris is a 1GHz quad-core processor, set alongside 1GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, and a microSD slot good for a further 64GB of storage expansion.
The Aquaris uses a dual-camera configuration – 8-megapixels and 5-megapixels on the front and back – and features a sizable 2,470mAh battery.
All that will cost customers €169.90 (£125) in Spain and €179.90 (£130) in Portugal.
Related: Best Android Smartphones 2015
Google first announced Android One back in 2014, in hopes of bringing quality budget smartphones to emerging markets.
“With Android One we set the bar to be a great software experience and a great device,” explained Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, speaking at the time. “We really want to bring in a whole new set of people who have never tried a smartphone before.”
The first smartphones from the initiative launched in September that same year, with Indian manufacturers like Micromax, Spice, and Karbonn leading the way.
The platform has already been available in a number of countries in Asia and Africa, including India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, the Philippines, Sir Lanka, Pakistan, and Nigeria.
Check out our smartphone buyer’s video guide below:
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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.
