If you’re one of the people who’s been eagerly waiting for an Ubuntu-powered phone to come out (or you’re simply among the curious ones), then the good news is that you don’t have to wait any longer. The first smartphone to run on the Ubuntu OS, the BQ Aquaris E4.5, is going on sale today in Europe.
The phone itself has been available for quite some time now, but with Android KitKat instead of Ubuntu, and although it’s not a flagship device, it’s not to be disregarded either.
BQ Aquaris E4.5: Ubuntu, Dubbed Scopes, and More
What do you get if you decide to purchase an Aquaris E4.5?
Like it’s name suggests, the phone comes with a 4.5” IPS screen, a QHD resolution, and a pixel density of 244ppi. On the inside is a 1.3GHz Mediatek processor, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of built-in storage, which you can expand thanks to a microSD slot (up to 32GB). There’s an 8-megapixel camera on its back, and a 5-megapixel one on the front, with BSI sensors and Largan lenses.
The handset’s connectivity options are nothing to write home about, sadly, offering only radios for 850/900/1800/1900MHz GSM bands and 900/2100MHz 3G. Some of its other specs include dual-SIM support, and a 2150mAh battery.
However, the new OS has to be the star of the show – it is definitely unique, with its grouped tabs instead of the usual app grid, while the interface, called Dubbed Scopes, makes it really easy to navigate panes and get “a scope for every facet of life”.
The BQ Aquaris E4.5 goes on sale today, but you’ll need to check the @ubunto and @bqreaders twitter accounts to see where you’ll be able to get your phone. To learn more about it, head over to the official Ubuntu website.