Samsung launches first Tizen smartphone in bid to break free from Android

Samsung has launched the first smartphone powered by its Tizen operating system, a major development in the tech giant's ambition to build a software ecosystem to rival Android.

The Z1 went on sale in India for 5,700 rupees (€78) each, targeting users looking for their first smartphone.

The no-nonsense handset – one of the cheapest in the Samsung stable – sports a four-inch display, a plastic body and a simplified user interface.

Flagship devices

The launch is a key step in the company’s strategy to break free from Google’s Android platform, which powers Samsung’s flagship Galaxy devices and most other smartphones on the market.

While India is already the world’s third-biggest market for smartphones, most consumers in the country do not yet own one of the devices, meaning the growth potential is huge. A Samsung spokeswoman said the firm had not decided whether to launch the Z1 in any other countries.

Samsung is however pushing to grow Tizen on other platforms such as televisions. Until now, Tizen has been deployed only in Samsung smartwatches and cameras, leading some analysts to doubt if it would ever power devices in the crucial smartphone business.