Samsung Z3 reportedly confirmed as the next Tizen OS smartphone

Earlier this week, we heard that Samsung would release "several" Tizen smartphones this year - probably because the Z1, which is the company's first commercially available handset to run Tizen OS (pictured above), is selling relatively well in the few markets where it's available.

While Samsung didn't provide details regarding its upcoming Tizen handsets, SamMobile reports that the next smartphone to be based on the new OS will be called Samsung Z3. It's not the first time we're hearing about this device, but now we know its model number (SM-Z300H), and SamMobile says its insiders can "confirm" that this is indeed the next Tizen smartphone to hit the market.

The features of the Z3 are yet to be confirmed. However, rumor has it that the smartphone will offer a 5-inch display, Tizen 3.0, a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of expandable storage space. A 5 MP rear camera, a 2 MP front-facing camera, and a 2000 mAh battery might also be included.

It's not clear exactly when the Samsung Z3 will be released, but we assume we're going to hear more about this pretty soon.

source: SamMobile

Samsung Z1, First Tizen Smartphone, Launched In India For $92

Samsung Z1 is expected to help Samsung compete with local manufacturers in India. Samsung Tomorrow

Samsung has launched the new Z1 smartphone, the company’s first handset to be powered by its Tizen mobile operating system, in India as part of a broader plan to reduce its dependency on Google’s Android.

The latest Z1 smartphone went on sale in India on Wednesday with a price tag of 5,700 rupees ($92). The device, which is one of Samsung's cheapest, comes with a plastic body and a simplified user interface. Many believe that releasing a phone based on its own mobile OS is a major step by Samsung to compete with Android, which powers its flagship Galaxy devices and many other smartphones currently available in the market.

“Built on the lightweight Tizen platform, the Samsung Z1 delivers a faster boot time and quick access to apps, along with enhanced web performance to offer users faster page loading times with decreased data usage,” Samsung said on its official blog. “The Samsung Z1 is equipped with long-lasting battery performance and also features ‘Ultra Power Saving Mode’ to ensure users can always stay connected, even at the minimal battery levels.”

Samsung Z1 product specifications.  Samsung Tomorrow

The Z1 features a 4-inch WVGA (800×480) PLS TFT display, a 3.1-megapixel rear camera, a VGA front-facing camera, dual SIM slots, Wi-Fi support, Bluetooth, GPS and 3G connectivity. The smartphone, which is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and 768MB RAM, also sports a 1,500mAh battery and 4GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 64GB using microSD cards.

With a price point below $100, the Z1 is expected to help Samsung compete with local Indian smartphone manufacturers like Micromax Informatics, as well as low-cost Chinese brands like Xiaomi and Huawei, while also convincing first-time buyers to pick its Tizen operating system, according to Reuters.

“Samsung has better chances of success with first-time smartphone users, who may have limited exposure to the huge ecosystem offerings from Android or iOS,” Reuters quoted IDC analyst Kiranjeet Kaur as saying.

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Tizen-based Samsung Z1 leaks, launches in India on Jan 18

The first Tizen-based smartphone - Samsung Z - was abruptly cancelled after all Tizen partners backed off the project. Samsung then decided to continue developing Tizen, but instead of targeting high-end devices, as the Samsung Z was supposed to be, it will now be intended for entry level handsets.