An easy and affordable smartphone for newbies
The UK only smartphones are specially made for the tech-averse.
Being late to the party doesn't mean you can't join in on the fun. Haier hopes to land in the hands of senior citizens and tech-averse newcomers with its pair of user-friendly smartphones. The Ezy Smartphone A6 and A8 start at 99€ and 129€, respectively, and are expected to go on sale in Europe in Q2.
The Haeir smartphones ship with a user-friendly interface-- simplified for easy acclimation -- and a capacitive stylus -- for those with shaky hands who need some assistance navigating the touchscreen. For the hard-of-hearing, they're also M4/T4 hearing-compatible and the powerful speakers can reach up to 90dB. In addition to pre-installed apps -- including Facebook and Viber -- there's a SOS button set-up to dial preset emergency contacts.
The A8 is a bit of an upgrade over the A6, rocking a larger 4.5-inch screen, speedier 1.3GHz quad-core CPU, and 5-megapixel rear camera. Other features include the ability to control your TV and air conditioner ( it is Haeir, after all) and built-in speakers on the charging dock.
The user-friendly functionalities aren't breakthrough by any means -- you can easily download apps and Android launchers that do the same thing -- however, if you're a gadget novice, it's easier to buy something that's already set-up and good to go. Availability outside of Europe has yet to be announced. Check out the rest of the cool tech at Mobile World Congress 2015 here.