Dual-Screen smartphones aren’t something you’re going to see very often, especially not here in the U.S. after the official launch of the Yotaphone 2 was halted for the market of U.S. consumers. That doesn’t mean of course, that there won’t be other options made available, as CRBT Inc. has just announced today the beginning of their Kickstarter campaign for an upcoming device called the Siam 7X. It’s being positioned as the first dual-screen smartphone for the U.S. market, powered by Android, and offering a similar experience to what could be found on the Yotaphone 2 with a normal screen on one side and an E-ink display on the other.
When it comes to specifics about the technical specifications of the device, the Siam 7X features a 5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display and a 4.7-inch black and white E-ink display on the back, allowing users to utilize the rear side of the phone to conserve battery life while still using functions like GPS or reading, although it can also display your notifications, calendar, weather, and other apps. The Siam 7X is unlocked and supports dual SIM cards and can be used both internationally and in the U.S. on carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T. Both screens are also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass, and it boasts a waterproof build with an IP67 rating to keep it protected should it ever get wet.
The dual-screen display does not seem to be its only focused feature, though. Both sides feature an omni-directional “studio standard” speaker that are supposed to deliver users excellent quality audio no matter which side of the phone they’re using. Although many people might already have a pair of headphones to listen to music with this device, it will come packaged with a set of Biosport earbuds by SMS Audio in the box (Kickstarter backers only) along with the charger. When it comes to security, while most OEMs are focusing on adding fingerprint sensors for an added layer of protection, the Siam 7X is said to feature earprint biometrics as well as satellite tracking and a factory installed kill switch should it ever be lost or stolen. It also features a 16MP rear-facing camera with auto-focus and LED flash and an 8MP front-facing camera for pictures and video chat.
It’s powered by a MediaTek 64-bit quad-core MTK6735 CPU and an ARM Mali T760 GPU for the graphics. It supports WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.0 and inside it’s featuring a non-removable 2100mAh battery. It also runs Android 5.1 Lollipop. Devices are supposed to begin shipping in December to backers, and early bird pricing starting at $420 which is $129 less than what the retail price is supposed to be, making it $549 once it becomes available for purchase outside of the Kickstarter campaign. Backers also get the protection of a lifetime warranty which CRBT states also covers accidental damage from drops cracks and spills.
