ONLINE RETAIL GIANT Amazon is expected to announce its debut smartphone, likely to launch under its Kindle brand, at an event in Seattle on 18 June, with the firm looking to challenge the likes of Apple and Samsung.
We've rounded up everything we already know about the Amazon Kindle smartphone so far, and will update this as we learn more, so keep this page bookmarked.
Release date
It's pretty much confirmed that Amazon will launch a Kindle smartphone at the firm's 18 June event, which it teases in the below video, but there's no word yet as to when the device will hit shelves.
It's pretty much confirmed that Amazon will launch a Kindle smartphone at the firm's 18 June event, which it teases in the below video, but there's no word yet as to when the device will hit shelves.
However, given Amazon's track record of prompt device release dates, it likely will arrive before the end of the month, despite the Wall Street Journal having previously claimed that it will go on sale in September.
Price
Amazon's smartphone, much like its Kindle tablets, likely will be cheaper than its top-end rivals, such as the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S5. It's unclear how much the smartphone will cost - but it's expected to be priced similarly to the Google Nexus 5.
Amazon's smartphone, much like its Kindle tablets, likely will be cheaper than its top-end rivals, such as the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S5. It's unclear how much the smartphone will cost - but it's expected to be priced similarly to the Google Nexus 5.
Specs
Of course, with Amazon yet to unwrap its debut smartphone, the handset's specifications remain to be announced. However, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the device - telling us almost all we need to know about it.
Of course, with Amazon yet to unwrap its debut smartphone, the handset's specifications remain to be announced. However, there has been plenty of speculation surrounding the device - telling us almost all we need to know about it.
The screen is expected to be the Amazon smartphone's standout feature, with rumours claiming that it will boast a 4.7in HD 720p screen, complete with three-dimensional features. According to reports, the display will support glasses-free 3D images, which it will achieve by using Retina tracking technology embedded in four front-facing cameras. This also will apparently allow users to navigate the device by moving their eyes.
The WSJ reported in April, "The 3D screen technology can sense the movement of a person's eyes and whether the screen is moving closer to a user's face, according to people familiar with the matter. In response, the phone will be able to automatically zoom into images as it moves closer to a user's face and could manipulate text and images as a person moves the phone."
Beyond its screen, the Amazon smartphone reportedly will look a lot like Apple's iPhone, with leaked images (above) pointing towards a boxy, glass-coated casing, complete with exposed screws on its rear. It;s unclear what material the device will be built from, but given that it's likely to be cheaper than its competitors, we'll put our money on plastic.
The Amazon smartphone likely will arrive running Google's Android 4.4 Kitkat mobile operating system, although the firm will skin this in its heavy custom user interface, similar to that found on its Kindle smartphones. This skin likely will provide the phone with Amazon's "Mayday" feature, and will offer access to Amazon's Appstore, which has tripled its content over the past year.
Other rumoured specifications include a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a yet-unspecified dual camera set up, and support for 4G LTE.
