The France-based consumer electronic producer Archos may not have the biggest footprint in the US mobile market, but it’s ready to make an impression overseas at CES 2014. The company will show off two Android-powered, 4G LTE connected smartphones, both available unlocked for under $250. The Archos 50 Helium and 45 Helium will make a play at CES and in the mobile market as budget-friendly phones.
The two phones are both entries into the Archos Helium line and are the first 4G capable phones from the French manufacturer. Both handsets are powered by a quad-core Qualcomm MSM8926 – better known as the Snapdragon 400 – and feature 1GB of RAM and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (with an update to 4.4.2 KitKat available).
The Helium 50 features a larger screen with higher resolution, a 5-inch display with 1280 x 720 pixel resolution compared to the Helium 45’s 4.5-inch display and 854 x 480 pixel resolution. Priced at $250, the Helium 50 also includes 8GB of internal memory, an 8-megapixel rear- and 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 2000mAh battery. For $50 less, the Helium 45 comes with 4GB of internal storage, a 0.3-megapixel front-facing, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a 1700mAh battery.
For $250, the Helium 50 seems best suited for most smartphone consumers who may be looking for an affordable, off-contract alternative. The Helium 45 is likely capable of doing most basic tasks and, at $200, is priced to be attractive to those just entering the smartphone market. No release information has been made available, but both devices will be on display for the first time at CES 2014.
