Lenovo's Android phone for China hotter than a G1 with a defective battery

What if we told you the most beautiful phone in the world was a Lenovo? Reactions to that statement are likely going to oscillate between "Lenovo doesn't make cellphones" and "impossible, considering this is the country that gave us the QKfone G998," -- but seriously, have a look. Even if you don't agree that it's one of the most attractive mobile devices you've ever laid eyes on, you're going to have a hard time making a cohesive argument that the Android-based slate doesn't run circles around the G1 for physical design. 'Course, that just makes it all the more maddening that it's apparently nothing more than an early model of the "OPhone," a handset designed to comply to China Mobile's Open Mobile System that combines Android's core with support and apps for the carrier's homegrown TD-SCDMA 3G network. Translation: we'll never see one outside China, so yeah, just lust from afar while you pray HTC and its comrades are busy cooking up some stellar gear.

[who? @ Dec 12th 2008 3:47AM]

There's the iPhone, the mPhone, the zPhone, and now the Ophone. All I want for Christmas is aPhone, nePhone, and I'm not even getting that... Damn recession.

[aznofazns @ Dec 12th 2008 4:11AM]

poor baby...

[Samboini @ Dec 12th 2008 4:17AM]

**stops burning his £50 notes**

[Wonderkid @ Dec 12th 2008 4:31AM]

Indeed, puts us in a bind. We registered ophone.com (in what was nothing short of a co-incidence) a few days after Apple registered iphone.org. Like the rest of the world, we had no idea Apple were even considering a phone back then. We registered the domain after deciding that an open source technology based device would be exciting. Anyway, we're close to choosing Android as a basis for our ophone. As a footnote, it is amazing how the Chinese can sometimes fail to take trademark or copyright law into account.

[JZ @ Dec 12th 2008 4:47AM]

But then its also sometimes amazing how people confuse trademark/copyright on a product thats generic. I´m not saying that the Chinese are notorious for copying but lots of people have the idea that if its flat and touchie its an iPhone (not realizing that the Prada was way earlier released and Motorola was in the early 90is already doing mobiles with a touchscreen).
That said, I´m not surprised as the power from the Chinese isn´t the copying but copying and improving at a superb speed.

[LondonConsultant @ Dec 12th 2008 7:44AM]

I would have expected the ThinkPhone from Lenovo...

[Google @ Dec 12th 2008 8:07AM]

I get low ranked all the time with my opinion that Lenovo's are generally ugly. When this story begins with the same sentiment and surprise over how sexy this phone looks (and it does) there's no hue and cry about it? Horse shit.

Also, on a semi-related tangent.... it would kick ass if we could rank stories. They wouldn't change colors or fade away, but it would be more useful than 3 pages of comments about how it's "not news" or "[OTHERSITE] said this 3 days ago"

[kjb434 @ Dec 12th 2008 8:32AM]

I choose not to live in a recession!

[??? @ Dec 12th 2008 8:34AM]

@Google: Maybe the reason you get so low-ranked is that you sound like an asshat when stating your opinions. But I dunno.

[applechat @ Dec 12th 2008 9:05AM]

http://www.macaround.com/blog/2008/12/12/ophone-iphone-or-gphone.html

iPhone wins! LOL

[Indefinite Implosion @ Dec 12th 2008 3:47AM]

Quick someone st... *drools*
sorry got distracted. So yeah, someone start a petition to get this outside of china, they know they wanna ;)

[B3astofthe3ast @ Dec 12th 2008 3:51AM]

I for one like the design of the G1....

[Brad @ Dec 12th 2008 4:22AM]

You're right....for "one"

General opinion is "Great phone, looks like it was designed by a drunk toddler.

[davelogan77 @ Dec 12th 2008 7:28AM]

no... The G1 is an awesome phone, no question.
All the complaints out there on the G1 are weak, except for being on T-Mobile, just not a fan..

[Lee @ Dec 12th 2008 11:57AM]

The G1 is one of THE ugliest phones out right now! Yes, it has some cool tricks that it can do, but it is an UGLY phone!

[Jason Wright @ Dec 12th 2008 12:45PM]

That makes 2 of us. I really love my G1.

[linuxamp @ Dec 13th 2008 1:56AM]

I like the G1 Developers Edition.

[lpppppl @ Dec 12th 2008 4:09AM]

It's nice... but there are too many "big screen, black body, silver rim" designs around already. It's numbing my senses.

[thedesolate1 @ Dec 12th 2008 4:13AM]

Thats a pretty bold statement to make based off of a SINGLE leaked picture... come on engadget I thought you were better than that. Is your iphone fanboyism starting to wear out amidst all the nitpicking you had with the N97.. I can agree it looks sleeker than the G1 though.

[Chris Ziegler @ Dec 12th 2008 4:20AM]

The question I'm posing in the first sentence is a hypothetical one. Totally agree, too early to tell.

Good one with the iPhone fanboyism, by the way! Hadn't heard that one before.

[hamza @ Dec 12th 2008 4:28AM]

@thedesolate1:

Chris Ziegler is probably the only Engadget editor who isn't an iPhone fanboy, so have some respect.

[Matthew C @ Dec 12th 2008 4:46AM]

Ok - so it might not be the most beautiful device, but its still pretty amazing to see something with such an attractive design coming from lenovo, let alone a phone. Dont get me wrong: they make some quality harware, but your average thinkpad isn't exactly beautiful. This phone should be a good mix of quality and design (probably a whole lot sturdier than an m8). If only it would come to the states.....

[ace587 @ Dec 12th 2008 9:43AM]

Agree, Chris is definitely better than other editors, if another editor would write this, he would definitely make some connection with Apple and say that it would be a knock-off

[thedesolate1 @ Dec 12th 2008 1:06PM]

Yeah I know lenovo has a reputation for building solid laptops so im not doubting that it will be a good device. I mean it isn't aimed at the sidekick generation like the G1 so It will be a more serious competitor. I wish it will have a high res display but since its never coming out in the states we can only dream. Now about that iPhone thing forgive me I was referring to the site as a whole. I wasn't quite sure how deep the apple lobby has reached.

[AlDeezy @ Dec 12th 2008 4:22AM]

Sexy indeed!

[adam @ Dec 12th 2008 4:22AM]

GIZZ IN MY PANTS!

[Matthew C @ Dec 12th 2008 4:39AM]

normally I would completely ignore such an unrelated comment,but as i just watched that video for the first time earlier to night, a could not contain the "lol". So,

lol.

thats all.

[j_g_puff @ Dec 12th 2008 6:33AM]

You spelt 'jizz' wrong.

[TareX @ Dec 12th 2008 7:24AM]

and you spelled "spelled" wrong.

and no it's not like learnt/learned.

[Samboini @ Dec 12th 2008 8:14AM]

Tarex:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spelt

Suck my balls.

[j_g_puff @ Dec 12th 2008 8:28AM]

Tarex,

Once you've finished with Samboini's, mine will be waiting for your attention. I should warn you that they'll be dripping with irony.

[Gad Get @ Dec 12th 2008 4:26AM]

The design is similar, yet inferior, to quite a number of other phones, including the Blackberry Bold. (Aren't you glad I didn't say "iPhone"?)

[Dahk @ Dec 12th 2008 4:43AM]

... I think you just lost.

[davelogan77 @ Dec 12th 2008 7:30AM]

iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone! iPhone!

[Tim @ Dec 12th 2008 4:34AM]

@Gad Get: I sure am...

Its pretty and all, but it looks like most other touchscreen phones out there? Anyone who has sight or vision (either will do) or isn't a vegetable has heard of the Dare and Instinct. Ill give it props for not running Symbian though.

[MahRain @ Dec 12th 2008 4:45AM]

Stellar design or iPhone knock-off?

[Mobius_1 @ Dec 12th 2008 7:04AM]

Stellar design.

And about the iPhone: Stellar design or Prada knock-off?

[McPOW @ Dec 12th 2008 4:53AM]

Its a glass brick. just like about 10 other boring glass bricks like the iPhone, Bold, Samsung Touch, I'm just failing to see the sexiness.

[alexkapone @ Dec 12th 2008 6:28AM]

They even copied the earpiece speaker slot and used it as the button at the bottom.

But I mean really what can you expect; These phones are all manufactured using similar processes and so they are going to be constrained by the materials the manufactures have already been working with. What apple has been good at doing is combining design with affordable materials. this is where they get their competitive advantage. They also secure the latest in mass production tech out of china and incorporate it into their products quickly. It looks like other companies are copying apple's designs but its really that they are limited in how much they can vary from apple's design because of manufacturing reasons. That large touch in particular is a few in most of these phones.

imitation is the greatest form of flattery...

orr... imitation is a great way to benefit off of another product's success.

this is surprising from lenovo though... they're usually not going after the market that values design aesthetics over saving some money.

[TareX @ Dec 12th 2008 7:14AM]

It doesn't look THAT good. It actually looks like they were trying "too hard" to give it some fashion feeling.

The iPhone's simplistic design looks a lot better. I'd rather get the G1 over this phone. At least for the keyboard.

I need the keys.

[Will H. @ Dec 12th 2008 7:45AM]

I disagree, taken together with it being a Lenovo, and that makes it sexy.

[Félix @ Dec 12th 2008 7:23AM]

Looks nice but not that amzing.
I rather the X1 or the Touch HD for the design..
It would be about time Manufacturers Wake the ***** up !
I mean HTC how comes you make a Real sexy device for WinMo and a fugly one for Android ?
Can't you just make a sexy one for the OS everyone wants ?

It's like no one wants to kick Apple's ass ...
I'm starting to wonder if they do not do it on purpose...
Like Ok we have some awesome phone right here but it's dangerous, we might actually compete with the iPhone with this one so let's find something that's gonna ruin or product : like crappy design or shitty 2 years old OS....

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 12th 2008 9:10AM]

As I understand it, HTC was not the designer of the G1. They manufactured it but the design was actually made by the dude who created the Sidekick.

HTC will be coming out with their own line of Android phones next year, designed entirely in-house, and you can feel confident that they will be every bit as slick as their WinMo Touch lineup.

[Félix @ Dec 12th 2008 10:15AM]

Well could they hurry the f*** up already ?
It's been ages since android is out.. (or so it seems to me lol ^^)

[hustler @ Dec 12th 2008 7:34AM]

You're just jealous.

[applechat @ Dec 12th 2008 8:02AM]

Im getting it yep!

[nickz @ Dec 12th 2008 8:12AM]

Not bad. What I really could use is a conservatively styled IBM Thinkphone : )

[mos @ Dec 12th 2008 8:18AM]

I will save iEye's trouble by taking words from his mouth and so he does not have to type

"That is an iPhone's clone"

[Gautam @ Dec 17th 2008 4:43PM]

u even took over the ranking part 4 him!

[chefgon_ign @ Dec 12th 2008 9:06AM]

At least the G1 isn't a shiny black slate with rounded corners and a chrome border. Do all touchscreen phones really need to look EXACTLY the same as the iPhone? I welcome a little design variety, and Lenovo isn't providing it here.