Source: Cyrcle
What you need to know
- Tech startup Cyrcle is showing off its prototype Android phone at CES 2020.
- It's got Android 9, two headphone jacks, and two SIM cards.
- Battling against the rectangle conspiracy, Cyrcle's new phone is also a circle.
While some argue that it might be hip to be square, tech startup Cyrcle seems to have a vendetta against rectangles in general. The company showed off its new circular phone at CES this week (via the BBC,) promising a launch later this year or next after five years of development.
The problem appeared to be that while the Cyrcle phone's hardware was ready, the software needed to support the esoteric device wasn't quite there yet. With Android 9 and 10, Google's support for non-slab phone form factors has improved to support the rise of foldables, possibly accelerating development.
From the website, the Cyrcle phone's merits are enumerated:
A non-rectangular phone for non-rectangular people, the new Cyrcle Phone exists to inspire a world where you can be you — whatever shape you are.
While that doesn't tell us very much, we do know from Cyrcle's own video that it's going to feature two headphone jacks, two SIM cards, and at least Android 9 (though the firm may want to upgrade to 10.)
The Cyrcle phone seems like a really cool-looking, albeit really impractical device that probably has no reason to exist. Foldable phones justify their existence with the promise of a screen that showcases more content or a compact folded shape, this Cyrcle seems to exist just to be a circle.
There's a good reason we opted for rectangular phones. Nokia even gave the old form factor a try back in its heydey and Microsoft's Kin was kinda-sorta circlish. The only difference between this and those seems to be that at some point before those eventually crashed and burned, they did go on sale.
CES 2020: The biggest news and announcements so far
Here's why Samsung should have launched a Galaxy S21 mini
The era of the small phone may never come again, but there's still plenty of money to be had if Samsung is willing to give us another diamond in the rough like the Samsung Galaxy S10e. We just have to look behind the annual cycle and broaden our horizons.
VoLTE: How to use it and why you should care
VoLTE — or Voice over LTE — is the new standard for calling throughout the U.S., Canada, and parts of Europe. Not only does it facilitate much higher call quality between cell phones, but it allows devices to stay connected to LTE while on a call, improving data speeds for everyone.
Qualcomm Snapdragon 888: Everything you need to know
The Snapdragon 888 is here, and we have all the details. The chipset is set to power 2021 flagships, and delivers an incredible 25% increase in performance over the last generation. Here's everything you need to know about the Snapdragon 888.
These are the best unlocked phones on Amazon for every budget
Amazon is one of the easiest places to go buy an unlocked phone and have it delivered in a flash. Here are the best unlocked Android phones it's selling at a variety of price levels.