The UK gets its first Android One handset, the Karbonn Sparkle V

One of Google’s most important announcements at Google I/O this year was the unveiling of Android One, their new extremely budget-friendly smartphone program for developing markets and budget users. After a questionably rough start, One is making its way to the United Kingdom with the launch of the Karbonn Sparkle V.

Before we get too ahead of ourselves, let’s talk about One for a second. Google set out to do something big with this program, offering handsets that were cheap in cost but not in quality. They’ve promised un-skinned versions of Android and quick updates for at least two years for each device, making it an even more attractive buy for people who can get their hands on one. Now the UK is getting some Android One love, so let’s take a look at what’s available.

One of the original devices at launch, the Karbonn Sparkle V, is now available in the UK for only £129.99. If you don’t mind waiting until this Friday, the handset will be available for only £99.99!

The Sparkle V has a 4.5-inch 480 x 854 IPS LCD display, a 1.3GHz Quad-core MediaTek processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage with microSD support for up to 32GB. For the price, these are awesome specifications. It runs smoothly and is guaranteed quick updates (including Lollipop), but there’s a slight problem in the pricing structure here. While Android One is better than many ‘cheap’ smartphones out there, there may still be a better bang for your buck with Motoorla’s Moto G.

The Motorola Moto G (2nd Gen.) costs only £149.99 and has better specs than the Sparkle V in almost every category. Don’t get us wrong, the idea of Android One is awesome. But price-wise, it could possibly use some work. If you’d still like to purchase the Karbonn Sparkle V, head to Amazon to pick one up.

What are your thoughts on the pricing of this device? Do you think it will take off or be overlooked by other handsets?