Planet Computers / Vimeo
Update: January 19, 2021 (05:46 ET): Planet Computers has confirmed that its crowdfunded Astro Slide 5G Transformer smartphone will undergo several technical changes ahead of the new shipping window in June 2021. The company has downgraded the chipset from a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 SoC to a mid-size Dimensity 800 processor, claiming the earlier chip was suddenly no longer available for purchase.
Fortunately, the company decided to do some upgrades elsewhere, such as: B. up to 8 GB RAM (from 6 GB), a Sony 48MP main sensor, an upgrade of the selfie camera (from 5MP to 13MP) and a hardware key combination.
The company originally announced to backers that the 4,000 mAh battery would be downgraded to a 3,500 mAh battery due to concerns about thickness. However, it is now told Android Authority that after a vote by supporters, it will stick to the 4,000 mAh pack, with an increase in thickness expected.
Original article: Mar. 30, 2020 (5:46 AM ET): Smartphones with physical keyboards are all but extinct. The BlackBerry Key series and Fxtec Pro 1 belong to this tiny family. Now, it looks like niche brand Planet Computers is ready to make a crack with the next one, and it is packing 5G too.
The Planet Computer Astro Slide 5G Transformer IndieGogo campaign went live today and features a similar pull-out keyboard design as the Nokia E7 and Fxtec Pro 1 (but with illuminated buttons).
The device's 6.53-inch FHD + OLED display also opens slightly so you can use it like a mini laptop - although it doesn't look exactly comfortable for this purpose. Additionally, the hinge also looks pretty chunky compared to other designs as you can see below. Hopefully it will withstand drops, dust, and other challenges.
Planet Computers / Vimeo
The other big selling point of the Astro Slide 5G Transformer is of course 5G, and this is done through the flagship MediaTek Dimensity 1000 processor. The SoC currently only supports 5G below 6 GHz, but that's the dominant 5G standard anyway. The MediaTek chipset also offers an Octacore CPU layout (four Cortex-A77 cores and four Cortex-A55 cores), dedicated AI silicon and a Mali-G77 MP9 GPU.
Other notable features include 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of expandable storage, a 4,000 mAh battery with wireless charging, an in-display fingerprint sensor, two USB-C ports, NFC and a 3.5 mm port. Do you need to take a few snaps? Then you have a single 48-megapixel camera on the back, while a 5-megapixel camera handles selfies and video calls.
On the software side, the Planet Computers device is equipped with Android 10. However, the company has also promised to support Linux distributions and multi-boot capabilities. So this could be ideal for those looking for a proper desktop operating system or for enthusiasts who just want to tinker with their phone.
The Astro Slide 5G Transformer IndieGogo campaign kicked off today with a goal of ~ $ 200,000. The company has already achieved 84% of its target in 40 days at the time of writing.
Do you fancy a device? Then the $ 546 IndieGogo campaign is the cheapest option. There is also a second tier for $ 637 if the early bird option is sold out. Either way, the phone is slated for release in March 2021 and has a claimed full price of $ 911.
What would it mean to you to buy a phone with a physical keyboard? Let us know in the comments!
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