Huawei's IDEOS X1 smartphone, otherwise known as the Gaga (apparently no relation to the oddball singing sensation of the same name), is an Android device that looks set to bring the barrier to entry for smartphones below the important R1000 level.
This does not mean, however, that users have necessarily been given the short end of the feature-rich stick. Weighing in at a miniscule 100 g, the Gaga runs off the older Android 2.2 (Froyo) and packs a 528 MHz processor on the Qualcomm MSM7225 chipset - pretty much in-line with other entry-level models. Joining it is 256 MB internal memory, although this can be extended up to 32 GB using the microSD slot. The Gaga also supports both 2G and 3G networks.
One of the more noticeable places to pick up if a phone is entry-level is the screen. In the Gaga's case you'll find a smallish 2.8" capacitive touchscreen, at a so-so resolution of 240 x 320 pixels. It might not be the best in the business, but it's a reasonable sacrifice for full smartphone capabilities under R1000.
While the three megapixel camera is what we would expect on a budget offering, some high end features are also included on the phone. These include geotagging of pictures, Wi-Fi 802.11n and the ability to use the phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot. Assisted GPS also makes an appearance, as does an FM radio, which is still a handy and appreciated addition to any phone.
Most importantly, Huawei's offering can further accommodate a variety of apps, including Twitter and Facebook, which can be downloaded from the Android Market. This adds a whole heap of extra functionality to the phone which regular feature phones cannot provide.
Particularly important on any phone is its battery life. On the Gaga, the Lithium-Ion battery is rated as offering up to 336 hours standby time and up to four hours talk time. An HTML web browser caters for internet surfing, while an included document viewer and H264 video player should meet productivity and video watching needs respectively.
The Huawei Gaga comes with recommended retail price of R999.