Although it doesn't compare with giant platforms in the mobile business like Android and iOS, Linux is also present in the smartphone scene and has already announced a second Ubuntu phone in the works.
Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu Linux, has announced a partnership with Spanish tech manufacturer BQ to launch the new BQ Aquaris E5 HD. And even if the new phone is leagues away from some of the recently-launched flagship line-ups of other noted tech giants like Samsung and LG, BQ and Canonical assures Ubuntu fans that the new Aquaris is better than its predecessor.
The upcoming Aquatis E5 HD still maintains the same MediaTek A7 quad-core processor of the first Ubuntu phone, but the rest of the specs have been greatly improved. The processor is partnered with 1 GB of RAM, and dimensions-wise, the new phone has a larger 5-inch screen with a 720p resolution. The upcoming E5 HD will also have twice the storage of the old one, coming in at 16 GB.
The new phone will also sport upgraded cameras on both front and back. For the main shooter, the E5 HD will have a 13 MP resolution with 1080p video recording support, high-quality Largan lenses, and BSI sensors and dual flash features for low-light conditions. The front camera, on the other hand, will have a 5 MP resolution.
Canonical still has a long way to go before Ubuntu catches up to the competition. As a niche market, though, Linux-based devices seem to already have a steady following, and Canonical might be using the E5 HD as a step toward developing more and more Ubuntu-based mobile devices in order to capture some of the mobile market.
The Aquaris E5 HD will be available from the middle of the month and can be purchased via BQ's website for 200 Euro. However, there are no details yet if the new smartphone will be made available outside of Europe.
