Given the fact that today is the biggest day of the year for Google, with their keynote speech going on as I type this, you have to think that it probably isn’t the right time to announce a product not coming directly from the search giant. This means that either Chinese manufacturer ZTE didn’t get the memo or they just don’t care because they went ahead and announced a new smartphone to their lineup.
At the MedPi conference in Monaco earlier today, ZTE unveiled the ZTE Grand X2, a smartphone that will run on the Clover Trail+ platform by Intel. In fact this device will be packing the new 2GHz Intel Atom Z2580 processor, a technology that a lot of Android fans have been anxiously awaiting.
According to said Helmut Vogler, Vice President and General Manager of Mobile and Wireless Sales at Intel:
“We are excited to extend our collaboration with ZTE on their latest innovative platform, the new Grand X2 In. Our teams have worked together to harness the power of the Intel® Atomâ„¢ processor Z2580 to create a high performance smartphone with market-leading features and long battery life. The Grand X2 In will provide an excellent choice for consumers in fast growing smartphone market.”
The ZTE Grand X2 will feature a 4.5 inch HD display which will be running on special software designed by ZTE called “My-Pop” that supposedly allows for easier one handed operation of the handset. Additionally picture distortion should be all but eliminated as the result of improved IPS technology.
Another feature that ZTE is hoping to become a calling card is their advanced camera technology. The Grand X2 will come with an 8MP lense on what they are calling a “socially smart” camera. The claim is that users will be able to shoot up to 24 frames per second with zero shutter lag. Using 2x axis stabilization along with face and smart scene recognition, ZTE is promising high image quality in challenging environments.
The full list of relevant device specifications are as follows:
4.5-inch(1280 — 720) Display
8MP AF Flash Rear Camera
1MP Front Facing Shooter
Intel Atom Z2580 with Up To 2.0GHz Processor
8GB ROM
1GB RAM
Expandable Up To 32GB via microSD Card
2000 mAh Battery
Android Jelly Bean Operating System
There is no word on price for the ZTE Grand X2 as of yet and other than a vague Q3 2013 window for European markets there is no hard release date to report on either.