US$90 Samsung Z1 Launches in India - Xiaomi Redmi and Google Android One competition with Tizen OS and Samsung Galaxy S5 stylings

“The smartphone market in India is rapidly evolving, with many consumers using their device as their screen of choice for content including videos, television programs and video games, as well as a range of apps. We have customized the Samsung Z1 to meet these unique, entertainment-focused needs of local Indian consumers for a personal and reliable mobile experience”

Hyun Chil Hong, CEO of Samsung India Electronics commenting on the launch of the Samsung Z1 smartphone powered by Tizen OS

Looks like the wait is finally over!

Samsung has finally launched the long-awaited US$90 Samsung Z1 smartphone powered with their own Open Source Tizen OS on Wednesday January 14^th 2014 as stated in the article “Samsung launches first Tizen-powered smartphone in India”, published January 13, 2015 11:00 PM PST by Steven Musil, CNET News.

Personally, I was expecting this smartphone to launch on Sunday January 18^th 2014 as per my prediction in my blog article entitled “US$90 Samsung Z1 to launch in India - 1.2 billion Indians up for Grabs as Tizen OS hints competition against US$100 Google Android One”, but I guess the potential loss of the Indian market to Google Android One wasn’t something they could stand back and watch happen.

Costing US$90 or 5,700 Indian rupees (also AU$110 and £60 for Australians and Brits), the Samsung Z1 may not be coming to Jamaican any time soon, albeit it might be coming to the Latin American market, with Jamaica being used as a launchpad.

US$90 Samsung Z1 – Xiaomi and Android One are their competition in India

To make it acceptance easier, it's said to be running Google Android Apps, suggesting that there may not be enough Tizen OS Compatible Apps at launch as hinted in the article “Samsung's Tizen-based Z1 will run Android apps upon launch”, published 13 January, 2015, GSM Arena.

It's lower pricing point gives it as fighting chance against more aggressive smartrphone maker such as Micromax, Lava and international competitor Xiaomi, who've already beaten them in China as noted in the article “Samsung launches Z1, first smartphone powered by its own Tizen OS, for Rs 5,700”, published 14 Jan, 2015, 12.40PM IST By ET Bureau, Economic Times.

Samsung already has the Samsung Gear S smartwatch that use the Tizen OS as noted in my Geezam blog article “Samsung's Galaxy Gear S smartwatch coming to Jamaica while Reppin' for Tizen”.

But that a high-end product costing some US$250.

The only other product that Samsung has that's also reppin' for Tizen Os is their new JS8500 Series of Smart SUHD TV just recently launched at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) that use Quantum Dot Technology and runs on Tizen OS as reported in my blog article entitled “Samsung's SUHD Smart TV Running Tizen OS as UHD Alliance Grows and Internet of Things Beckons”.

So what are the specs of the Samsung Z1? More in the next section.

Samsung Z1 running Tizen OS - The Google Android One competition with Samsung Galaxy S5 stylings

The specs of the Tizen OS powered Samsung Z1 is as follows:

1.      OS: Tizen OS, v2.3

2.      Screen: 4.0 inches 480 x 800 pixels (~233 ppi pixel density), TFT capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

3.      Dimensions: 120.4 x 63.2 x 9.7 mm (4.74 x 2.49 x 0.38 in)

4.      Weight: 112 g (3.95 oz)

5.      Chipset: Spreadtrum SC7727S

6.      CPU: Dual-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 Processor

7.      GPU: Mali-400

8.      RAM: 768MB of RAM

9.      Internal Memory: 4GB

10.  External Storage: 64GB using a microSD Card Slot

11.  Rear-Facing Camera: 3.1-megapixel, 2048 x 1536 pixels, LED flash

12.  Front-Facing Camera: VGA

13.  SIM Type: Dual 

14.  Cellular Internet: 3G

15.  Wireless Internet: Wi-Fi b/g/n

16.  Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0

17.  Features: FM radio, GPS 

18.  Battery: 1,500mAh battery, 7 Hours Video

The Samsung Z1 comes in the following colours:

1.      White

2.      Black

3.      Wine Red

The Samsung Z1, aside from supporting Android Apps, will also sport a service called Joy Box that will give Z1 users access to music, movies, and TV programs. They'll also have access to some 270,000 songs that they can stream or download and 80 live TV channels via Club Samsung, a Digital Entertainment App that comes preloaded on the smartphone.

The Samsung Z1 also has features of a higher end smartphone. 

One such feature is the Emergency SOS panic mode that alerts those closest to you via IM (Instant Messaging) or SMS that you've been kidnapped, very similar to the Samsung Galaxy S5 as described in my blog article entitled “Introducing the Samsung Galaxy S5 – 16 Megapixel Camera with Fingerprint Scanner and Fitness Tracker is Improved Fun Experience in a better Business Suit”.

Finally, another high-end feature handed down from the Samsung Galaxy S5 to the Samsung Z1 is the Ultra Power Saving Mode as described in my blog article entitled “Samsung Galaxy S5’s Ultra Power Save Mode - Samsung gives you 24 Hours to Die Another Day as This is Not The End”.

So now that an Indian launch is confirmed, will Jamaica and by extension the rest of Latin American be getting a taste of the Tizen OS smartphone? I've got my ears to the ground as Samsung approaches the Caribbean and Latin America......

Samsung Z1