Allphones has partnered with Chinese manufacturer Huawei to exclusively launch the new Vision handset in Australia, pricing the smartphone at AU$279 outright or AU$0 upfront on a AU$19-per-month contract over 24 months.
The Huawei Vision is described by the company as its “most stylish and advanced Android smartphone to date”, packing a 1GHz Snapdrgon processor behind a 3.7-inch WVGA resolution capacitive touchscreen. The glass over the screen is curved, similar to the Nokia N9, and requires 17 hours to manufacture each panel of glass, according to Huawei.
The software installed on the Vision is comprised of numerous third-party apps licensed by Huawei, including the SPB Shell 3D launcher. This home screen alternative gives the Vision a funky 3D appearance, and comes pre-loaded with a selection of SPB-designed widgets. The 3D launcher is also available to download on any Android phone via the Market, and currently sells for AU$14.45.
At the AU$279 price point, Allphones will be pitching the Vision up against the HTC Wildfire S and the Motorola Defy+, available on Telstra, and the Samsung Galaxy Ace, on Optus and available through Allphones, as well. The Vision competes well in this space, with the size and quality of its screen and its 1GHz processor, but the Huawei brand faces an uphill battle beside household names like Samsung and HTC.