Android One Aims for High End with the GM 5 Plus

The Android One program was setup in 2014 as a set of guidelines, a standard if you will, through which Google aimed to reach much more of the developing world through cheap devices that ran on the latest Android software. Google has expanded the program to more developing countries, providing a lot of people a cheap alternative to the latest AOSP experience when compared to the Nexus program.

As an evolution of the core concept, and because the Android One program was not a phenomenal success in its rigid state, the program has reportedly loosened its strings over the hardware requirements. Phone makers now have more choice in the components they can use while still being eligible for swift updates directly from Google.

With loosened hardware requirements comes the advantage of choice, as manufacturers are no longer restricted to low-tier components only. If they are willing to take the risk, they can create a higher specced Android One, one that stands out from the crowd yet follows along the base philosophy of the Android One program.

Turkey’s General Mobile took to MWC 2016 to announce their new Android One device, the GM 5 Plus.

So what is so good about this device? For starters, you get a 5.5″ FHD display with Gorilla Glass 4. The device has a metallic frame with plastic but colored and textured back panels. Powering the device is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, which is flanked by 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage which can further be expanded upto 128GB by a microsd card slot.

One of the more notable talking points of this device is the large 3100 mAh battery and the USB Type C port. What’s more, the device supports Quick Charge 3.0, so juicing up this battery will not be a test of patience. The rear camera is 13MP shooter with dual tone LED flash. Interestingly, the front camera also sports a 13MP shooter with flash, which seems targeted towards selfie lovers.

Being an Android One device, it also comes preloaded with a clean Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow build, and is promised to be updated for the next two years.

General Mobile did not have a definitive price tag for the device, but mentioned that the device will cost under $300. The price is surprising because it is significantly higher than other Android One devices, but considering the specs of the device, it still is a decent value proposition.

The GM 5 will be available in Turkey by the end of March, and will then expand to 15 other countries. Unfortunately, the device will not make its way to the USA.

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