When the Nexbit Robin came to Kickstarter, it brought with it the expertise of former Google and Apple employees and an interesting concept; a smartphone which runs with an emphasis on the the cloud. Though the smartphone comes with 32GB of storage, plenty for a decent sampling of users, those in need of more. have an extra 100GB in the cloud that content and apps are put in and pulled from automatically and dynamically according to usage. This means the device is still usable to some extent when there’s no signal or Wi-Fi, but it gains a great deal of functionality when connected. Not only is this a good proof of concept for future phones as networks mature, it helped bring down the price of the Nextbit Robin against traditional smartphones. Kickstarter backers paid a fairly budget-conscious $299, while buyers who take interest after the availability period will pay $399, which puts the phone in league with mid-range budget devices like the OnePlus 2.
To cut to the chase, the wait is almost over for some Kickstarter backers. The phone will experience a somewhat slow gradual roll out, but the first 1,000 backers will see their devices begin leaving the factories and heading for their doors on February 16 of this year. No date was given for further shipping or general availability, but the device was originally slated for Q1 2016, which hints at a wider release prior to April, though nothing is set in stone just yet. Those who want to get their paws on the device at this point will have to pay the standard $399.
To give a quick reminder of the Nextbit Robin’s specs in case anybody isn’t already familiar with the device, it packs the same hexa-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 that powers the LG G4, along with a similar 3GB of RAM. Dual, amplified front-facing speakers are all set to bring the noise. A power button with a built-in fingerprint reader flanks the side of the device and around the corner is a 1920 x 1080 resolution IPS LCD screen that should deliver great response and clarity, even if it doesn’t match up to the color of some other technologies. A 13MP back camera is on board, accompanied by a front-facing 5MP snapper. NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, Quick Charge and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac are all on board for connectivity. Since this is an unlocked device, checking that it supports your carrier may be a good idea.