Archos' Android-based GranitePhone focuses on privacy, costs a lot

French gadget maker Archos has partnered with little known Brazilian company Sikur to develop and launch an extra-secure smartphone. Called GranitePhone, the handset was first unveiled at MWC 2015 (without fanfare), and can now be pre-ordered for $849. That high price might make you think we're talking about a high-end phone here, but we're not: the GranitePhone is a mid-range device. However, just like the BlackPhone - another handset that promises to offer a secure mobile experience - the GranitePhone is expensive because its makers believe that users value their privacy more than they'd value the features of a normal high-end smartphone.

According to Archos and Sikur, everything on the GranitePhone is encrypted (calls, messages, etc.), thanks to multiple layers of protection and a "secure operating system" that's based on Android. Unfortunately, for now there aren't too many details on this OS, though we can take a quick look at it in the promo video embedded below.

Hardware-wise, the GranitePhone resembles the Archos Diamond 50 (which costs just $200), thus being powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, while sporting a 5-inch 1080p display. It's also got LTE connectivity, a 16 MP rear camera, an 8 MP front-facing camera, 2 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of expandable storage space. So, is anyone willing to spend $849 on this phone?




sources: GranitePhone, Archos (PDF)