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Samsung is set to launch its very first Tizen smartphone in January, according to new reports.
The Korea Economic Daily has revealed that the Samsung Z1 will enter the market as the first Tizen blower, and will price up at $90 (£58) or less.
The handset is tipped to launch on January 18 next year, and will kick off sales in India initially.
Samsung’s Z1 is an entry-level handset, and marks the South Korean firm’s efforts to simplify its naming strategy – hence no faffy ‘Galaxy’ moniker.
Details are still thin on the ground for now, but it’s looking like the handset will sport a 4-inch display with a decidedly underwhelming resolution of 480 x 800.
Inside we’re expecting to find a dual-core Spreadtrum processor clocking in at 1.2GHz, with 3G, Wi-FI, and dual SIM support all built in.
Snapping potential comes courtesy of a 3.2-megapixel rear-facing camera, with a VGA shooter on the front.
There’s also 512MB, which might sound measly until you remember the cheap-as-chips price tag we’re expecting.
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The most interesting thing about this phone is that it runs off Tizen OS, Samsung’s custom-built software that offers the firm an alternative to its usual Android-powered blowers.
Samsung has dabbled with Tizen in the past, releasing both smartwatches and cameras running off the software. The Samsung Z1 however, is the first proper smartphone we’ve seen.
We’re not sure when, if ever, the Z1 will make it onto UK soil, but we’ll keep you posted as we find out more.
