Introducing NuAns Neo. The weirdest Windows Phone ever made.

[AlTech]

The NuAns Neo doesn’t look like any phone released in the past few years. Its chunky 11.3mm-thick frame marks a deliberate attempt to step out of the thinness arms race, and its mix-and-match snap-on covers — in materials like wood and ultrasuede — make it clear that this is more than just a rebranded reference design.

An attempt to step out of the thinness arms race

The Neo is a really nice phone to hold. That’s not to say it feels expensive — it doesn’t have the cold, sleek aluminum of an iPhone or the futuristic glassiness of a Galaxy. But the notable girth is refreshing after years of progressively skinnier smartphones, and the Neo sits in the hand very comfortably. And although the basic construction of the phone isn’t anything special, the way the back cover wraps around the side means your hand is always in contact with the material you’ve chosen. Even the unfinished pre-production models feel more like a product you’d find in Loft or Muji than a typical phone carrier store.

But why is an unorthodox new Windows phone popping up in Japan, of all places? Surprisingly, it’s down to the company’s iOS heritage. NuAns, which means both "nuance" and "new answer," is a new brand that represents a collaboration by Simplism and Tent, two sub-brands of a small Japanese company called Trinity. Simplism is one of the most well-known iPhone accessory brands in Japan, and Tent makes a variety of neat household items with a typically Japanese aesthetic. (Yes, the designers are well aware that the naming of their new phone amounts to Trinity releasing Neo.)

The NuAns Neo will go on sale in January at ¥39,800 ($324), though that only gets you the Core unit — depending on materials, you’ll have to pay from ¥1,400 ($11) for Twotone parts or ¥2,970 ($24) for the Flip case. That’s not an unreasonable price by Japanese standards, but buying SIM-free phones is a relatively novel concept here. Coupled with a retail strategy that eschews traditional electronics stores for design- and lifestyle-focused outlets like Loft, BALS, Isetan, and Arenot, the Neo definitely isn’t positioned as a traditional smartphone.

 

 

 

Opinion - This is super awesome! 

 

http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/1/9826028/nuans-neo-windows-10-mobile-japan

[ThatOneRussian]

Didnt realise windows was in the race lol looking at their share holdings

[iamdarkyoshi]

Finally. Maybe we can have a phone that can last the fucking day. Or maybe not, phone manufacturers will find a way to mess it up. I do like it though, a thicker phone is better than a fragine thin phone with a battery bank taped to the back of it

[Syntaxvgm]

apple meanwhile to make iphones thinner....fuck headphones and battery life amirite?  

[Guest]

apple meanwhile to make iphones thinner....fuck headphones and battery life amirite?  

Apple - Fuck all the ports

[Clyne]

Finally. Maybe we can have a phone that can last the fucking day. Or maybe not, phone manufacturers will find a way to mess it up. I do like it though, a thicker phone is better than a fragine thin phone with a battery bank taped to the back of it

You probably don't want this...

[Daegun]

-snip-

Source?

[Syntaxvgm]

Apple - Fuck all the ports

[AlTech]

Source?

http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/1/9826028/nuans-neo-windows-10-mobile-japan

[Guest Kloaked]

apple meanwhile to make iphones thinner....fuck headphones and battery life amirite?  

 

That's not confirmed is it?

[Syntaxvgm]

That's not confirmed is it?

I uh ...I don't know. But it's the pattern. 

[Guest Kloaked]

I uh ...I don't know. But it's the pattern. 

 

I mean more for the 3.5mm headphone jack going away.

 

I swear that was a rumor last year or something too, but it didn't happen. Not saying it won't, but I'm just skeptical.

[QueenDemetria]

Here is the official website: https://neo.nuans.jp/

 

It lists USB OTG in the specs, hopefully this is a WP10 thing and all devices get it.

 

Edit: Hopefully they add more colors, the ones they have are a bit dull. Also hopefully they fix the fit-and-finish, the pre-production model that The Verge obtained has gaps and doesn't fit together nicely.

[AlTech]

Here is the official website: https://neo.nuans.jp/

 

It lists USB OTG in the specs, hopefully this is a WP10 thing and all devices get it.

 

Edit: Hopefully they add more colors, the ones they have are a bit dull. Also hopefully they fix the fit-and-finish, the pre-production model that The Verge obtained has gaps and doesn't fit together nicely.

Windows 10 adds OTG support. So it'll come to all devices.

[That Norwegian Guy]

The top-down profile looks like a Gen 2 iPod Nano.

[mr.squishy]

Odd...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But I'm strangely charmed.

[Sauron]

Soooo... poor specs and windows phone. A battery size that's unexceptional to say the least given the thickness. Ugly as hell (I mean, I don't usually give a damn about looks, but ffs what's wrong with black plastic? That thing looks like it's made out of cardboard and plywood and assembled with superglue). What exactly is the attractive of this? That it's thick for the sake of being thick?

[ShadowCaptain]

Soooo... poor specs and windows phone. A battery size that's unexceptional to say the least given the thickness. Ugly as hell (I mean, I don't usually give a damn avour looks, but ffs what's wrong with black plastic? That thing looks like it's made out of cardboard and plywood and assembled with superglue). What exactly is the attractive of this? That it's thick for the sake of being thick?

 

I was sat here thinking the same thing

 

also "weirdest" - it looks like a pretty normal phone to me, when we had B&O release their weird updside down phone thing

[LAwLz]

Windows 10 adds OTG support. So it'll come to all devices.

OTG needs both hardware and software support to work. Don't count on it coming to all phones just because Windows 10 supports it.

 

 

 

This phone seems pretty crap. The only impressive spec is the 3350mAh battery but the rest is what you'd expect from a budget phone.

[ShadowCaptain]

This phone seems pretty crap. The only impressive spec is the 3350mAh battery but the rest is what you'd expect from a budget phone.

 

I think that battery is pretty small considering they have gone for it being thick

[suicidalfranco]

specs are meh, not really that interesting of a device, thick and yet the slimmer mi note 3 offers a larger battery.

[atrash]

I actually like the design. Mix and match the duo tone cover that is also replaceable should be a thing. Specs wise, I don't really care that much with it being a W10M phone. 5" is the perfect size for me. Lower res display and that massive battery + efficient OS (I hope it still is with W10M) should means longer battery life. Now if only more third party accessories maker follow something like nuans & Mozo and produce replaceable cover with 'premium' materials like leather or wood maybe..That'd be awesome. 

[AlTech]

I actually like the design. Mix and match the duo tone cover that is also replaceable should be a thing. Specs wise, I don't really care that much with it being a W10M phone. 5" is the perfect size for me. Lower res display and that massive battery + efficient OS (I hope it still is with W10M) should means longer battery life. Now if only more third party accessories maker follow something like nuans & Mozo and produce replaceable cover with 'premium' materials like leather or wood maybe..That'd be awesome. 

Dude, the battery life should be even better since it is more efficient.

[atrash]

Dude, the battery life should be even better since it is more efficient.

 

I personally haven't tried out W10M so I can't really say if it is more efficient than WP8.1. But the SD617 is quite an efficient soc from what I've heard. The gaming performance will be average but it's only a 5" 720p phone display and real world performance should possibly still be almost up there with the flagships. 

[Misanthrope]

I was sat here thinking the same thing

 

also "weirdest" - it looks like a pretty normal phone to me, when we had B&O release their weird updside down phone thing

 

That's not even my final form!