Amazon plans to launch “Ice” smartphone series

You probably remember the Amazon Fire Phone, launched in the summer of 2014. It had all the top specs like 4.7” display and Snapdragon 800 chipset, but Amazon opted out of Google services, making the phone undesirable for many. Three years later, the online retailer is preparing its launch of new smartphone series named “Ice”.

According to several sources, Amazon is trying to get back in the smartphone game, and the new devices would be more user-friendly and affordable (read not high-end). A test units are reportedly built, and they have screens 5.2 - 5.5” in size and Snapdragon 435 chipsets. The memory combo would be 2 GB RAM + 16 GB storage.

There would also be a 13 MP rear camera and a fingerprint scanner, also placed on the back. The next “Ice” device will have regular Android 7.1.1 Nougat instead of the heavily customized version of previous Amazon devices. The phones are said to lack Alexa support (although it might get later since it is a prototype), but at least it has Google Play.

By the end of 2017 the new Amazon "Ice" phone is expected to launch for a price of INR6,000 or about $95.

Via