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Huawei's D1 Quad now available in China for $425 unsubsidized
Following the MediaPad 10 FHD quad-core tablet, Huawei's also starting to sell another device powered by its very own HiSilicon K3V2 (Hi3620) chip. Over the weekend, the Ascend D1 Quad (formerly without the "1" in the name) joins the familiar-looking D1 and D1 XL as the third member of the family, but unsurprisingly costs the most out of these three Android 4.0 phones -- we're looking at ¥2,699 or about $425 unsubsidized on Huawei's Chinese online store, while the remaining TI OMAP4460-powered candybars cost ¥100 ($16) and ¥200 ($32) less. Huawei Device chairman Richard Yu said on Sina Weibo that while some local competitors -- namely Xiaomi, K-Touch and Beidou -- are able to offer quad-core devices below ¥2,000 ($315), he assured fans that Huawei's build quality and user experience are worth the price. Staying true to his macho style, Yu also used this opportunity to take a dig at the Galaxy S III's price-to-performance ratio. Meow! Just a quick recap: the D1 Quad comes with a 1.4GHz 40nm Cortex-A9 chip, a mysterious 16-core GPU, 1GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, 160GB cloud storage and microSD expansion, complemented by a 4.5-inch Toshiba IPS+ HD display, Gorilla Glass 2, eight-megapixel BSI main camera, 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, pentaband WCDMA radio, old-school mini-SIM slot and a generous 2,600mAh non-removable cell (same as the D1 XL's). The more we look at this, the more tempted we are. At least until the APQ8064-powered Xiaomi Phone 2 lands in October, anyway.
Huawei Ascend D1 now up for grabs in China, headed to Russia next month
Being related to that considerably powerful Ascend D Quad could spark some sort of a double-edged sword effect on Huawei's lesser-specced D1, but if all those cores the former has to offer mean nothing to those in China, the latter wouldn't be such a bad choice. In case you've forgotten -- unlike its beefier, quad-core-loaded brother -- this 4.5-inch (1280 x 720) Ascend D1's only sporting a dual-core, 1.5GHz TI OMAP CPU, which is paired next to 1GB of RAM and a tasty bite of Google's 4.0 treat. According to Huawei, the device is set to hit online shelves throughout the Great Wall starting today, with Russia being its next stop come August and "other markets to follow" sometime after. Be sure to pay the source below a visit if you're planning on grabbing one of these for yourself.
Huawei Ascend D1 hits the FCC with pentaband HSPA+
Of the trio of Huawei's Diamond-class smartphones announced at Mobile World Congress in February, the dual-core Ascend D1 got the least amount of buzz. Today, however, the handset gets its opportunity to bask in the spotlight, since it's the first of the group to obtain the FCC's nod of approval. No huge revelations were given, but the docs confirm quadband GSM and pentaband HSPA+ / WCDMA, a welcome treat for AWS fans. As always, we can't assume any carrier affiliation here, but at least we know the unlocked versions will work on AT&T and T-Mobile without a hitch. It looks like Huawei's still on track for a Q2 release -- let's hope the same is true for the D1's older siblings.
Huawei outs Ascend D Quad: 4.5-inch 720p display, Dolby 5.1, 1.5GHz K3V2 CPU
We'd seen some prior leaks, but aside from poorly translated marketing jargon, Huawei's managed to keep its latest and greatest smartphone under wraps -- until now, that is. The device is being billed as the "world's fastest quad-core smartphone" with the company's own K3V2 CPU, clocked at 1.5GHz, powering the unit. Sharing a slim, albeit slightly chunkier 8.9mm profile than its P1 predecessors, this Android 4.0 beast sports a 4.5-inch 720p display, 8 megapixel rear camera, Dolby 5.1 surround sound, support for LTE and an 1,800mAh battery bolstered by a proprietary energy management software that the manufacturer claims will last for up to two days. The actual hardware design itself takes a cue from Nokia's Lumia 800, with a screen that blends into the device's edges, creating an "infinity feel."Along with this flagship powerhouse, two other Diamond family members -- the Ascend D Quad XL and Ascend D1 -- will be joining Huawei's lineup. Spec-wise, the XL is essentially an unchanged version of the original Quad, except imbued with a larger 2,500mAh battery, while the D1 swaps out the four core internals for a more 2011-ish, 1.5GHz dual-core setup and smaller 1,670mAh battery. All three are slated for a Q2 release this year and should hit retail and online shops in white and black options across North and South America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Check out the official presser and gallery after the break.
