[DAY1] Introducing the XDA Labphone — Smooth, Sleek, and Ready to Flash

We’ve been hard at work at the XDA HQ for close to two years, with only one goal — to answer a fundamental question. That question is, “Just how powerful can Android get?”

After years of development, and countless bricked devices, we are ready to take the wraps off XDA’s biggest project yet: the XDA Labphone, XDA-developer’s first foray into smartphone manufacturing. Packing the best internals available in a durable, sleek design, the XDA Labphone will allow you to experiment like no other device ever has.

We’ve made sure to include everything XDA users need for a safe, bug-free experience. XDA Labphone will be running honest-to-Duarte Stock Android, no alterations, no filler, no bloat. The XDA Labphone’s software is fully open source and timely, with guaranteed updates coming no more than two weeks* after Nexus releases, zip-aligned and with Aroma installation to trim the experience as much as you want.

The XDA Labs application will also be updated with a menu for all-things Labphone, including easy-to-flash themes and mods, with developers keeping 100%.

We have also been working closely with the good people over at Team Win to bring a custom version of TWRP to the device, you will be able to connect to WiFi (mobile data to come in a future update) and browse a stripped down version of the XDA Labphone’s Original Development forum. From here you will be able to flash installable ZIPs such as ROMs and mods the second they finish downloading. This version of TWRP will have full access to the Labphone’s 32GB Developer partition (separate from internal storage) where you can store and boot to your preferred ROM at any time. From this recovery menu you will be able to choose whether to boot automatically to a preferred ROM, the last one booted or give you the choice when you turn on the phone. Prefer the AOSP look but want PC capabilities as well? Add your preferred Linux build to the Dev partition or the latest Remix OS ROM provided by Jide and hook up the provided HDMI cable to your monitor or TV.

As for hardware, we know what you want, as we wouldn’t give you anything we wouldn’t want ourselves. Rest assured, the XDA Labphone will bring the extremely snappy Snapdragon 820, finely tuned by the best kernel developers that ever graced this site. Once you read Franco’s contributions to the code repo, you’ll know it’s in good hands. This phone is also coming with 4GB of DDR4 RAM with better app-holding capabilities than any other 4GB phone out there — we’ve been able to increase RAM efficiency by close to 40%, meaning an additional 6 applications over the average 4GB phone!

You want optics? No problem. The XDA Labphone will pack the same camera hardware of the Nexus 5X and 6P, but with OIS 2.0 and some very nifty camera optimization courtesy of XDA Recognized Developer Xplodwild of Focal fame. And you’ll be able to show off your pictures in full glory thanks to the Labphone’s stunning 5.5 inch Super AMOLED display, the very same found on the Nexus 6P.

 

Our community is filled with road warriors, so we didn’t skimp on battery either. In fact, we sacrificed some thinness to go beyond the average capacity: the Labphone packs a 4,500mAh removable battery. With QuickCharge 3.0, you can expect to fully charge your phone in one hour and twenty minutes, or just over two and a half hours using our wireless charging backcover**. Design is just as important as the internals, so the backcover is made with Corning Gorilla Glass 4, meaning the phone will always feel comfortable whether in hand or in your pocket. We listen to our visitors at XDA, so we understand that not everyone appreciates a glass back on a phone and that is why a range of alternate wireless charging backcovers will also be available for purchase including leather, bamboo and “sandstone”.

Ejectable SIM and SD trays are a nightmare for those who swap removable storage or SIMs regularly but lose their SIM tools. We have placed dual sim trays and the SD card (SD card separate from SIMs) slot under the back cover where they belong.

Stay tuned as we release even more details each day over the weekend, head over to the XDA Labs forum to discuss all things XDA Labphone or join us on Twitter at #XDAPhone as we hold a Q&A!

Tweet #XDAPhone
 

* Updates will be scheduled less than 14 days after AOSP branch updates.

** Wireless charging back cover sold separately, to be announced after release.

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