Google today unveiled the second generation Android One handset from Lava in India — the Pixel V1. The handset has been designed from the ground up and features design inputs from the Indian OEM unlike the last time.
The Lava Pixel V1 comes with a 5.5-inch 720p screen, which is protected by a DragonTrail glass. It is powered by a MediaTek quad-core 32-bit MT6582 chipset. Compared to its competition, Lava and Google have gone in for a relatively older chipset for their second generation Android One handset. Other specs of the handset include 2GB RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot and dual SIM connectivity.
As for the cameras, the phone has a 13MP rear shooter with 1.4u pixel size and an F/2.0 aperture, and an 8MP selfie shooter with F/2.4 aperture in the front. The Pixel V1 will come with a 2,650mAh battery and will be available in gold and white colors.
On the software front, the Pixel V1 will be running on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop out of the box. Being an ‘Android One’ branded handset, it will receive direct Android updates from Google over the next two years.
Unlike the first generation Android One handsets, the Lava Pixel V1 will be available in both online and offline stores. Online, the handset will be available exclusively through Flipkart for Rs. 11,349, and will be making its way to physical retail stores later next month.
Compared to the likes of other phones priced in the Rs. 10,000-11,000 range, the Lava Pixel V1 feels awfully underpowered. By paying only an additional Rs. 2,000, consumers will be able to purchase the Xiaomi Mi 4i, which features a Full HD display, a faster octa-core 64-bit processor, and more. Other phones in the sub-10k range in the Indian market also feature better specs than the Pixel V1, making it unlikely that Google is going to meet with any sizeable success with its Android One program this time around as well.
