TP-Link may be best known for its networking equipment like routers and switches, but unbeknownst to many, the Chinese firm also has a handful of smartphones in the market under the ‘Neffos’ brand. The company has now announced a further expansion of its smartphone business with the Neffos X1 and Neffos X1 Max smartphones that were unveiled at the IFA trade show in Berlin, Germany. Both phones seem to be premium mid-rangers going by the spec sheet, and according to the TP-Link’s press release, will be available in stores at some stage during Q4 2016. While the Neffos X1 has been priced at €199, the X1 Max will come with a €249 price-tag in Europe. There’s no word on whether the phones will be launched outside the Eurozone.
According to TP-Link, both the smartphones will come with rear-facing fingerprints scanners and will be powered by the MediaTek Helio P10 chipset, which comes with a 64-bit octa-core CPU. The X1 Max will come with an option of either 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage or 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the cheaper X1 will be offered in 2GB RAM + 16GB storage and 3GB RAM + 32GB storage versions. Both of these smartphones will also support micro SD cards. Another feature shared by the two handsets is the Android version. As per the press release, Android 6.0 Marshmallow will come pre-installed on both the Neffos X1 and the X1 Max.
Finally, coming to the imaging options, both the handsets will apparently feature the same set of cameras. The rear camera will have a 13-megapixel Sony sensor with an f/2.0 aperture along with backside illumination, 5P lens and PDAF (phase-detection auto-focus), while the front-facing selfie-cam will come with a 5-megapixel sensor. TP-Link also insists that its devices will have “super-thin bezels” along with chamfered edges. The screen-to-body ratio is said to be at an impressive 76%. While the X1 Max is said to have a 5.5-inch 1080p display with a 2.5D screen protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass, the X1 features a 5-inch 720p panel. Either way, now that TP-Link is taking its smartphone business more seriously, it remains to be seen if the company can make a dent in the super-competitive smartphone market at home and abroad.
