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When we talk about Android One, it is usually to talk about a new handset that is set to launch in India. Featuring a certain level of hardware at a certain price point and receiving direct software updates from Google. Today though, Karbonn have announced the availability of their Android One handset, the Sparkle V, in the UK for £129. To celebrate Black Friday, the Sparkle V will be discounted to a more reasonable £99.
So what will you be getting for your £99/£129? The display is a 4.5-inch affair, with In-Plane-Switching(IPS) technology and a 480 x 854 resolution.The grunt is provided by a MediaTek MT6582 Quad-Core processor that is clocked at 1.3GHz, and there is 1GB of RAM for app switching. Graphics are handled by the venerable mali-400 GPU. 4GB of internal storage is available, with the ability to add up to 32GB of extra storage thanks to the included Micro-SD card slot. There’s a 2MP front-facing camera on selfie duty, with a 5MP camera and flash on the rear. A 1,700 mAh battery stores the juice.
In India, Karbonn sells the Sparkle V for Rs. 5,999, which directly converts to £61 which is probably what the phone should really sell for in the UK. But, disregarding the one-off sale price of £99 on Black Friday, the Sparkle V is priced at £129, putting it in direct competition with the resident budget handset champion, the Moto G (2013). The Moto G (2013) sells for around the same price, but offers more for your money. And if you were willing to plonk an extra £10 down, you would be able to buy the 2014 Moto G, with the bigger 5-inch display and higher specifications. Not forgetting you will still get relatively quick Android OS updates. Still, if Android One is what your heart desires, the Sparkle V is your only choice at the moment. You can pick up the Karbonn Sparkle V from Amazon UK for £129, but you are probably best off waiting for the price drop on Friday. Karbonn are said to be planning the launch the Android One handset in France and Italy next year. What do you think of the Sparkle V? Would you be happy to see it in your Chrismas stocking? Let us know on our Google+ page.