Hisense A5C, A5 Pro CC, color e-ink phones

[norweger]

Today's the day. Here's the news about Hisense e-ink phones with a color display.

But Hisense didn't just release one new e-ink phone today, they released three. You'll have to use Google Translate, but here's a Japanese site with prices and more details.

Their top model color e-ink (the 128 GB, fast processor, colour display) goes for ¥1999 Chinese yuan, which, using today's exchange rates, is $282 USD.

The three phones they released are called.
• A5C with a color display, costing ¥1699.
• A5Pro with a greyscale display, costing ¥1599.
• A5Pro CC with a color display and either 64 GB, costing 1799, or 128 GB, costing ¥1999.

Looks promising!

[norweger]

[pdurrant]

Here's a google translate link for the Japanese page

[pdurrant]

It seems to me that the A5 Pro CC only has the one colour display.

The A5 Pro has higher-end electronics and a greyscale eInk display
The A5C has lower-end electronics, but a colour eInk display
The A5 Pro CC has the higher-end electronics AND the colour eInk display

[skynet84]

I read also some other website but they don't specify a Dual screen in A5 Pro Cc. ��

[pdurrant]

Abacus News gives release dates fro the A5C and A5ProCC

the A5C is one of the cheapest smartphones you can get right now. It will be available in China for 1,699 yuan (US$240) on April 29. The upgraded A5Pro CC -- which has a quicker refresh rate, NFC and fingerprint recognition -- will launch on June 1 starting at 1,799 yuan (US$254).

I'm not going to be buying one anytime soon, but if I were, I think I'd want to get the A5ProCC.

[stumped]

Was it not established in another thread that it will probably be impossible to add Google services and apps to these. Graduated it cannot be done with existing models, despite many attempts. See xdadevelopers, Reddit, usual suspects
That, and the lack of customer service in the west trumps having colour e ink, for me

[norweger]

Looks like it's their chip manufacturer, UNISOC, who got a little too eager in the press release. They wrote: "The phone uses e-ink for its secondary back display and LCD for the main one." So yeah, it seems like they're all single display phones. Good that you noticed, pdurrant.

@stumped. We're able to get Google Play on the Hisense A5 for 10 euro extra, as described here. Though I dunno if that includes the Google Services Framework, or whether there are any major issues with the tradeoff: no OTA updates. Assuming the new A5 models would sell well, we could very well see something similar, i.e. Cect Shop offering them for a premium with Google Play.

[pdurrant]

I've adjusted the first post to not mention dual displays.

[pdurrant]

I'm hoping that HiSense will decide to release a world-wide version with Google Services.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm hoping that HiSense will decide to release a world-wide version with Google Services.

they would need permission/ licence/ certification or whatever from google for that to happen ?

from what I read, there is a deliberate block in place that stops sideloading google services attempts from working. it's not clear why that is. Probably to support chinese censorship, as HiSense is 40% state owned ?
wikipedia: Owner
Qingdao State-Owned Assets Supervision & Administration (39.5%)

[epaper]

Originally Posted by stumped

Was it not established in another thread that it will probably be impossible to add Google services and apps to these. Graduated it cannot be done with existing models, despite many attempts. See xdadevelopers, Reddit, usual suspects
That, and the lack of customer service in the west trumps having colour e ink, for me

i saw someone on reddit being able to actually do this for a5. they linked to xda developers forum. also i think cect offers gplay activation for 10$ extra.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by stumped

they would need permission/ licence/ certification or whatever from google for that to happen ?

from what I read, there is a deliberate block in place that stops sideloading google services attempts from working. it's not clear why that is. Probably to support chinese censorship, as HiSense is 40% state owned ?
wikipedia: Owner
Qingdao State-Owned Assets Supervision & Administration (39.5%)

I beleive that google services are deliberately blocked on the Chinese model. That doesn't mean they couldn't release a world-wide model. But it's possible that they have no interest in doing so.

I'm looking forward to actual user reviews of this new E-Ink screen. I do wonder whether Amazon have something up their sleeve for this year.

[epaper]

A hands on look at the hisense a5c- Hisense A5C hands on - Chinese

[skynet84]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I beleive that google services are deliberately blocked on the Chinese model. That doesn't mean they couldn't release a world-wide model. But it's possible that they have no interest in doing so.

I'm looking forward to actual user reviews of this new E-Ink screen. I do wonder whether Amazon have something up their sleeve for this year.

Of course models without Google apps a part of the chinese market. But Hisense released A6 WITH Google apps only in Russia market, not anywhere else in other country of the wolrd.
So it's impossible to buy one, unless you go to Russia!
Why Hisense is making this so impossible??
They made the same mistake with A6L (successor of A6) without Google Apps.