Continuing its tradition of powerful technology paired with smart Silicon Valley design, Obi Worldphone™ today launched its latest model, aimed at young professionals in a host of fast-growing markets spread across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe.
Named the Obi Worldphone MV1, Obi’s latest device embodies the company’s deep-rooted philosophy that sophisticated design is just as vital to a modern phone as its internal components. The phone’s sculptural look was created by Ammunition, a San Francisco-based design firm that shares Obi’s ethos of fashion, form, and function. With the company’s signature elevated screen and palm-fitting body, the MV1 represents a refreshing wave of design packed into a practical 4G LTE-enabled device.
“This is an industry with 200 different brands vying for consumers’ attention. There will be 1.4 billion Android phones produced in 2016 alone, so there needs to be a way to stand apart from the pack,” says Obi Worldphone Co-founder John Sculley. “The components for all these different phones are mass produced, in the same countries, and often in the same exact factories. What we’ve done with the Obi Worldphone from the very beginning is show that it’s possible to have a beautifully designed phone that fits into your lifestyle at an accessible price without sacrificing form and technology. You don’t have to give up style in exchange for substance. With the MV1, you can have both.”
“For our markets, the design of the MV1 is a fresh, modern breath of air in a sea of sameness. Its combination of simple form, iconic outline and resolved details make it an object to be desired,” says Ammunition founder and Obi lead designer, Robert Brunner.
MV1 comes equipped with both Android Lollipop 5.1 and Cyanogen OS 12.1.1, the latest operating system from Cyanogen. Cyanogen OS is an Android-evolved operating system that allows users to personalize and customize their device experience from icons and themes to boot animations and lockscreens. In addition to improved security and privacy options, the OS provides enhanced features like Truecaller, which allows users to block incoming spam calls, and LiveDisplay, which intelligently adjusts the user’s screen based on ambient light.
MV1 – Merging Style and Substance
Obi is quickly becoming synonymous with beautiful, high-performing Android mobile devices. The MV1 merges style with substance in a way that only Obi can and eliminates the notion that exceptional design has to be expensive. With rounded corners at the bottom and a chiseled top, it’s a unique shape for a mobile phone.
Set above the body, the signature floating display gives the phone a certain architectural quality – lending it lightness without robbing it of substance. Jumping to life from that screen is the MV1’s 5-inch in-cell display, which presents images, video and games in crisp detail and radiant color.
The distinctive elevated display is made of Gorilla® Glass, the most durable material of its kind in the industry, and paired with a layer of oleophobic coating that keeps the screen looking new and smudge-free. Added UV protection lets the phone retain its brilliant color.
The MV1 is an unlocked 4G LTE, dual-sim Android phone. From the moment it’s taken out of the box, it’s ready to go – no carrier plans necessary. Backed by a 1.3 Ghz Qualcomm quad-core processor, it delivers premium-tier graphics, speedy download times and fluid multitasking.
It’s all wrapped together in a custom-made OS by Cyanogen, which means stronger security, robust privacy options and deep levels of customization. The MV1 also features Lifespeed™ Obi’s custom clean and intuitive user interface that’s known for letting users access the phone, camera and web straight from the launch screen.
The MV1’s suggested retail price is $149 for a 16GB model with 2GB of RAM as well as another 16GB model with 1GB of RAM, both of which can be expanded to 64GB with a microSD Card. It’s debuting in three colors – red, white and black. The sleek design and premium components give it style and longevity that’s uncommon at this price point.
Distribution
The Obi Worldphone MV1 will be available immediately in Asia and Africa and is coming to Latin America and Europe in March 2016. The phone will be available via online and traditional retail channels.
Obi Worldphone MV1 Specifications
Aesthetics – Polycarbonate body with anti-fade UV coating, smudge-free matte finish, and floating (“raised”) glass display
Dimensions – 145.6 x 72.6 x 8.95 mm
Weight – 149g
Operating System – Cyanogen OS 12.1.1 on Android Lollipop 5.1
Communication – Easy-access, dual SIM (Micro and Nano), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, dual band, Wi-Fi direct. Bluetooth – v4.1, A2DP. GPS – A-GPS/ GLONASS. USB – microUSB v2.0
Sound – DTS SoundTM with dual microphone for noise-cancellation
Primary Camera – 8 MP AF OV8865 with LED Flash; f/2.2 aperture; autofocus; records 1080p @ 30fps
Secondary Camera – 2 megapixels
Processor – Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 212 with 1.3 GHz quad-core processor with Adreno 304 GPU
Display – 5-inch full, high-definition in-cell display. High-definition (720×1280 pixels), 294 ppi
Cover Glass – Scratch definition resistant Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
Coating – Anti-fingerprint oleophobic coating
Networks – GPRS/EDGE/WCDMA/HSPA+/4G/LTE
Memory – 1GB RAM with 16GB internal storage or 2GB RAM with 16GB internal storage, both expandable up to an additional 64GB with microSD
Battery – 2500 milliamp hours (mAh) lithium polymer (Li-Po)
Sensors – Accelerometer (gravity) proximity, ALS (light)
Price – $149 USD for 16GB Internal Storage and 2GB RAM and $139 USD for 16GB Internal Storage and 1GB RAM
