by Brian Klug on 1/24/2013 10:48 PM EST
Posted in smartphones , Intel , lexington , Z2420 , android , Yolo

At CES I took a look at Intel's newly announced Lexington platform FFRD (Form Factor Reference Design) which is an entry-level smartphone design aimed at emerging markets and uses a lower clocked 1.2 GHz Z2420 SoC, dual-SIM supporting XMM6265, and smaller 3.5-inch HVGA display. I came away decently impressed with the Lexington platform when you consider the broader context of the entry level market which it was designed to compete in. Later that week on the AnandTech podcast I joked about Intel naming a part with Y in it the Yolo, amazingly enough, today Intel announced the availability and launch of their first Lexington smartphone platform device win with the Yolo smartphone in partnership with African carrier Safaricom. Intel seems to have adopted a rather interesting naming scheme here, since we had the Lava Xolo, now the Safaricom Yolo, I guess that means Zolo is next

This is essentially the Lexington FFRD but in final form for the market it was intended. Many of the Lexington's design features were catered to entry level design, with things like ease of manufacture, somewhat rugged construction, and other features at heart. Reviews website Techweez got a copy of the Yolo in for review and from their report it looks like the Yolo is identical to the Lexington FFRD.

The Lexington FFRD popping up in the African market for 11,000 Kenyan Shillings ($126 USD) isn't entirely unexpected, as this is exactly the kind of place that a performant, properly priced device could disrupt some of the very under specced entry level Android phones. 

Source: Intel, TechWeez (Photo Courtesy)

HVGA? by Communism on Friday, January 25, 2013
I'm confused about the use of HVGA (480 x 320) .

I would imagine the phone would be good for all markets if it were WVGA (800 x 480).

It sounds way too powerful of a device for HVGA to properly make much use of.
Communism
RE: HVGA? by Brian Klug on Friday, January 25, 2013
Well, the Lexington platform is just designed for HVGA. Might be overkill to have that SoC inside, but it also makes the device pretty speedy. The display is that resolution just for cost reasons. If you want WVGA or qHD there's always the Medfield platform.

-Brian
Brian Klug
RE: HVGA? by Shadowmaster625 on Friday, January 25, 2013
lol what does it cost, an extra 6 bucks for 800x480?
Shadowmaster625
RE: HVGA? by Flunk on Friday, January 25, 2013
No.
Flunk
YOLO by mfenn on Friday, January 25, 2013
Somebody at Intel must be giggling pretty hard that they actually got the brass to approve the name "Yolo". I suppose it does have kind of a self-referential flair to it.

YOLO, AMIRITE????
mfenn
RE: YOLO by nafhan on Friday, January 25, 2013
It sounds like a device for giving your friends jungle animal lower back tattoos.
nafhan
RE: YOLO by Flunk on Friday, January 25, 2013
Sounds sweet!

Too bad I don't need one, all my friends already have jungle animal lower back tattoos.
Flunk
RE: see the benchmark results.. by kmmatney on Friday, January 25, 2013
Pretty impressive for a $126 phone. Keeps up with the Samsung S3 in most benchmarks. Is that $126 without a contract?
kmmatney
RE: see the benchmark results.. by thesavvymage on Friday, January 25, 2013
yup. Mostly due to the super cheap screen (480x320) and small physical size of the phone. Also looks to be somewhat chunky so they didnt need to invest money in getting it thin.
thesavvymage
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