Samsung launches first Tizen phone for real this time

Samsung’s internally developed Tizen operating system has had a bumpy ride on its way to shop shelves, but the company has finally launched its first proper Tizen smartphone. The Samsung Z1 (neatly ignoring the original Samsung Z announced last year) runs Tizen 2.3 and is available today in India for a price of 5,700 INR (around £60).

There’s currently no word on when, or if, the phone will launch in the UK, but as we can tell from the price, it’s a decidedly entry-level handset with a similarly low set of specifications. It has a 4in 800×480 resolution display with a PLS panel (Samsung’s version of IPS) and is powered by a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 768MB of RAM and has 4GB of internal storage which can be expanded up to 64GB via microSD. On the back of the phone, you’ll find a token 3.1-megapixel camera.

The Z1 also has a 1,500mAh battery which Samsung claims will last for 7 hours of video playback and 8 hours of talktime. That doesn’t seem like a lot compared to other budget smartphones we’ve tested, but at least it comes with an Ultra Power Saving Mode to help you squeeze that bit more use out of the battery. 

“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,” said Mr. Hyun Chil Hong, President and CEO, Samsung India Electronics, “We have customized the Samsung Z1 to meet these unique, entertainment-focused needs of local Indian consumers for a personal and reliable mobile experience.”

As the Z1 runs Tizen rather than Android, Samsung claims it can deliver a faster boot time, quicker access to apps and enhanced web browsing with faster page loading times and decreased data usage. It will also have localised entertainment apps, including Hungama.com’s music streaming service and a paid subscription app to stream live TV from nexGTv and Box TV. The Z1 even has an SOS alert feature that will send out a ‘help’ message to the user’s primary contacts and track the user’s location if you press the power button four times.