The Astro Slide 5G Is a Smartphone/Pocket-Computer

Back in CES 2018, Planet Computers took us dorsum to the '90s with the Planet Gemini PDA. At present, the company is back with another unique device – the Astro Slide 5G Transformer. The "transformer" function in the name represents the pocket-figurer form-factor of the device as the screen of the device slides out to reveal a physical backlit keyboard.

Unlike the clamshell design of the Gemini PDA, the Astro Slide uses a slide-out machinery to reveal the company's signature keyboard. This keyboard is present in their previous devices like the same Gemini PDA and the Cosmo Communicator. These keyboards reflect the design of Psion devices from the 1990s and it is not surprising every bit Planet Computers has some Psion designers working with them.

At present, the slide-out mechanism is dissimilar whatsoever mechanism out there in the market right now. When the half-dozen.53-inch FHD+ screen slides out horizontally, the hinge forms a tilted stand-similar construction to support the screen at an optimal viewing angle. The visitor is calling the hinge the "Rock-up" design that "transforms" your smartphone into a pocket computer.

According to the CEO, Dr Janko Mrsic-Flogel, their niche customer-base always wanted a smartphone with the Planet signature keyboard prepare when needed. And so, the Astro Slide is firstly a smartphone that supports Android, and so information technology's a pocket reckoner that supports Linux.

Techs and Specs

Coming to specs of the device, it comes with a MediaTek Dimensity 1000 MT6889 SoC, which is MediaTek'south beginning 5G chipset. This chip enables the device to accomplish adept 5G speeds (four.7 Gbps download and ii.5 Gbps upload), every bit the company claims. It has a nine-core Arm Mali G77 for the GPU and also has a half-dozen-core APU (AI Processing Unit).

For the I/O, nosotros accept two USB-C ports with OTG and display support and *drum rolls* the headphone jack. At the back of the device, it has a 48MP single camera and the selfie camera is of 5MP.

Apart from these specs, the device also supports QI wireless charging, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, NFC advice and BLE Sound.

Now, equally the Astro Slide is a hybrid kind of device with a backlit physical keyboard underneath, information technology is quite a chunky device. The device is 15mm thick and weighs around 300g (0.66 lbs). For reference, the iPhone 11 Pro Max is Apple'due south heaviest device checking in at 226g (0.49 lbs).

Buy At present and Wait for I Yr…

Currently, the device is in the "Prototype" phase and the company is running a campaign on Indiegogo. Co-ordinate to the company, they are planning to fix the main PCB of the device by Q4 2020 and they will be showcasing the device at CES 2021. And so, if you book an Astro Slide for yourself today, yous will accept to look for one whole twelvemonth to become information technology as the visitor will ship the devices on March 2021.

However, if you book the device now, you volition go the early bird discounts, which goes upwardly to 40%. Currently, yous tin become the device for as low as Rs 40,656 (~$538). According to CEO, Dr Janko, upon retail launch, the price may increase to Rs 75,369 (~$999).

Now, with Microsoft'due south Surface Duo and Surface Neo releasing this year, are y'all willing to go this device instead of those?

Upon asking this question to Dr Janko, he said, "Nosotros are confident that will not impact u.s.a. considering information technology's terrible to type on the screen. Other computers in the by have tried to create a dual-screen typing experience, which has never been very expert."

So, with Blackberry phones gone from the market, if y'all are someone who really liked the thought of a concrete keyboard in a mobile device, then the Astro Slide might be a perfect device for you.

Source: https://beebom.com/astro-slide-5g-smartphone-pocket-computer/

Posted by: salgadohawas1970.blogspot.com

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