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Transparent-display Explay Crystal is a phone merging the past and the future

Transparent-display Explay Crystal is a phone merging the past and the future

Posted: 29 May 2012, 06:16, by Victor H.

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Transparent-display Explay Crystal is a phone merging the past and the future

The Explay Crystal is a strange phone - it features a revolutionary transparent color display that will make you look uber-cool, but at the same time it’s a simple feature phone with no other perks. That amalgamation of futuristic display technology with unimpressive other hardware leaves us with mixed feelings, but taking a look at the price we come to understand it - the phone only costs $215 off contract, affordable for the masses in Russia where it will hit shelves on July 1st, 2012.

Now, we have to mention that the Explay Crystal, as awesome as it looks, is not the first phone of its kind. Transparent displays arrived first on the 2009 Sony Ericsson Xperia Pureness, and then only in 2011 Lenovo released the S800. And that’s pretty much it for transparent displays on phone - they are not common at all, as you might have noticed. A huge contributor to that is the outlandish pricing. The Xperia Pureness cost well over a $1,000 intially, and the Lenovo S800 prices started at around $800. This we imagine a pretty big showstopper for wannabe adopterds. But are transparent displays cool? We’d say yes, and are curious to hear your opinion in the comments below.

As to the Explay Crystal itself, it’s a simple feature phone with dual-SIM support, a microSD card slot and microUSB charging slot on the side. There is a choice of a traditional grid menu, and a fancy animated one. The camera is weirdly placed on the back right below the screen. That’s about all we know about it. Head on to the pictures below to see the future of the past. Or the past of the future. You decide, but in either case, if there was an excuse for buying a feature phone in this day and age, a transparent display sounds like the right one.

source: Explay via NoMobile

*Explay Crystal images below courtesy of NoMobile.

Transparent-display Explay Crystal and other similar phones Fullscreen

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1. QWIKSTRIKE posted on 29 May 2012, 06:22 6 0

Nice technology but over all fugly design if you ask me.

2. osamalone posted on 29 May 2012, 06:30 4 0

ithink they are just good not very good because the colour reproduction is hideous but they r not bad either considering the technology and the price point

3. kshell1 posted on 29 May 2012, 07:59 1 0

Cool concept IF they could get it to be cheaper and not shatter like a iphone

4. OpTiMuS_BlAcK posted on 29 May 2012, 08:00 1 0

Probably just for show-off.

5. wendygarett (limited) 6 days ago posted on 29 May 2012, 08:17 1 0

wow
Sony should done this to xperia s transparent button for 1st place
Oh well, waiting your new flagship

8. spiderpig2894 posted on 29 May 2012, 10:56 1 0

yeah! but the xperia P has capacitive transparent belt

6. DIYguy posted on 29 May 2012, 08:27 0 1

Hmmm... with this price you could get a lumia 610... Thats not a hard choice is it.

7. Ubi2447 posted on 29 May 2012, 09:43 0 0

Very cool. I just feel like applying it to phones isn't the right medium. You want your handset to invoke a feeling of comfort, personal, and with the case of android, customization. Certainly don't want to stare at your own hand or your buddies crotch as you look down at your handset while waiting in line for a movie or something. Again, cool but probably better suited for other applications. Just my opinion.

9. hova1 posted on 29 May 2012, 14:37 1 0

lg crystal u all forgot

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Transparent-display Explay Crystal is a phone merging the past and the future

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Transparent-display Explay Crystal and other similar phones Fullscreen

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9 Comments Follow Following

1. QWIKSTRIKE posted on 29 May 2012, 06:22 6 0

2. osamalone posted on 29 May 2012, 06:30 4 0

3. kshell1 posted on 29 May 2012, 07:59 1 0

4. OpTiMuS_BlAcK posted on 29 May 2012, 08:00 1 0

5. wendygarett (limited) 6 days ago posted on 29 May 2012, 08:17 1 0

8. spiderpig2894 posted on 29 May 2012, 10:56 1 0

6. DIYguy posted on 29 May 2012, 08:27 0 1

7. Ubi2447 posted on 29 May 2012, 09:43 0 0

9. hova1 posted on 29 May 2012, 14:37 1 0

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