A while back, Dell announced their first ever smartphone, the Dell Mini 3i, an Android powered beastie that was destined only for China. And it looked rather nice, if a little conservative in places. Oh, and it was only going on sale in China. Which was annoying. Well now, a version of that phone is due to be launched with a GSM antenna in it, and that means it’ll (theoretically) work in the UK, which much improves our chances of actually seeing it on shelves over here.
They’ve even given it a new name, according to Unwired View, who are reporting that the phone’s turned up in Brazil. The version with the necessary bits and bobs to (theoretically) work over here is now called the Dell Mini 3iX.
The first noticeable difference is, of course, the interface, in that it’s now in English, so we can actually have a look at what the phone’s doing.
And of course, I need to try and describe the looks…
Er, they’re a bit eclectic, aren’t they? Those icons put me in mind of a packet of Skittles, if Picasso had painted ‘em. It’s pretty standard practice, nowadays, to re-skin the Android interface when you release a phone using it, and there’s no doubt whatsoever that the Dell Mini 3iX has been re-skinned. By someone who had a religious experience while watching Chorlton and the Wheelies would be my guess…
The big addition over the Chinese version is the fact the phone now supports tri-band 3G, and WiFi, which (theoretically) means it’ll work in the UK. I’ve no idea whether we will actually see it on shelves over here, but I hold Dell computers in very high regard (both my PCs are Dells, y’see, and they’re rock solid, PLUS my advice to anyone buying a laptop is always G.A.D… Get A Dell), so I’m really crossing my fingers that we will.
So, will I get one? Well, no, because my next phone will undoubtedly be the HTC HD2, but the Dell Mini 3iX looks like a solid, reliable phone.
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