A little-known smartphone maker named Zopo just launched the world's first smartphone to boast MediaTek's deca-core Helio X20 processor: meet the Speed 8.
Taking to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 in Barcelona, Spain, Zopo unveiled its latest Speed 7C and Speed 8. While the Speed 7C is an unimpressive mid-ranger based on its specifications, the Speed 8 is shaping up as an intriguing powerhouse with notable specs and an affordable price tag.
The Zopo Speed 8 not only comes as the world's first smartphone to rock the Helio X20 SoC, but it also runs Android Marshmallow out of the box. The handset features a 5.5-inch full HD display (1080p), a deca-core MT6797 SoC with 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of built-in storage, a 21-megapixel rear camera with Sony IMX230 and LED flash and an 8-megapixel selfie cam.
A large 3,600 mAh battery will keep things up and running and should provide a more than decent battery performance. Connectivity options include 4G LTE, 3G HSPA+, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. The Zopo Speed 8 also comes with dual-SIM support.
When it comes to pricing and availability, the Zopo Speed 8 will hit the market on April 12, sporting an affordable $299.99 price tag.
"It represents the pinnacle of design and manufacturing from ZOPO and is one of the most powerful devices to be released to the market during 2016," the company boasts in a press release.
The Zopo Speed 7C, meanwhile, stands out due to its wooden battery cover, as its specifications are otherwise standard for budget mid-rangers. The handset spports a 5-inch HD display (720p), a 1.3GHz MediaTek MT6735 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage and microSD support.
Other specs include a 13.2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash, a 5-megapixel front shooter, 4G LTE connectivity, a 2,500 mAh removable battery and Android 5.1 Lollipop on the software side. The Zopo Speed 7C will launch in Bamboo, Black Apricot, Ebony and Phoenix color options for the back cover. The company says the Speed 7C will launch in February, but urges interested customers to check local stores and online to get pricing details.
