Samsung launches Samsung Z1 on Tizen OS

Rumors have been circling for several years about a Tizen powered smartphone from Samsung making its way into the market. Today, after a long wait, the Tizen powered smartphone Samsung Z1 has officially launched in India.

For two years there was a lot of speculation. Rumors about the specs of the device, features of Samsung’s OS, what difference it will make compared to the Android etc.  One thing to note here is that the device has way lower specs than what was originally reported.

Samsung Z1 has a 4 inch display with 480 x 800 resolution. It features a dual core processor clocked at 1.2GHz, 768MB RAM and 4GB internal memory with an expandable microSD slot. The phone comes with a 3.1MP rear camera and a VGA camera at the front. The phone is powered by 1500mAh battery which makes for a suitable battery given the specs for this device.

The phone will be running Tizen OS 2.3, will include built-in antivirus protection, an ultra-power saving mode for extended battery life, and free membership to Hungama music for the first three months.

Hyun Chil Hong, CEO of Samsung India Electronics, said in a statement,

“The smartphone market in India is rapidly evolving, with many consumers using their device as their screen of choice for content including videos, television programs and video games, as well as a range of apps. We have customized the Samsung Z1 to meet these unique, entertainment-focused needs of local Indian consumers for a personal and reliable mobile experience.”

Samsung Z1 is priced at 5,700 INR which is about $90, putting it straight with the low cost Android One smartphones that Google introduces last year.