Panasonic Eluga: The Chuck Norris of designer smartphones?

The Gadget Show  Tuesday 21 February 2012

Panasonic isn’t a name we’re used to seeing in the smartphone arena, but it’s now making a comeback, with the Panasonic Eluga. The Panasonic Eluga is a 4.3-inch smartphone with a not-too-shabby clean rectangular design, NFC talents and dust and waterproof credentials.

Panasonic could not have chosen a more competitive time to re-enter the smartphone market. Apple’s iPhone, and numerous Android handsets remain dominant. And then we have the impending rise of Windows Phone devices. But re-enter the smartphone market Panasonic has with a smartphone called the Eluga that at least looks the part.

Motorola’s first intel-powered phone leaks ahead of MWC 2012

The 4.3-inch Panasonic Eluga, reportedly out this March features minimalist rectangular looks in a clutter-free design. The Panasonic Eluga also weighs just 103 grams and has a slim 7.8mm profile.

As specs and features go, there’s a dual-core 1GHz processor, an 8GB internal memory and an 8-megapixel camera. According to Panasonic, the Eluga is also dust-proof and waterproof – the kind of boasts you’d normally hear associated with much more rugged-looking handsets.

Unfortunately the Panasonic Eluga will not have the latest Android 4.0 operating system at launch, although Panasonic reassures that an update will come out this summer. So keep your eyes peeled for that one.

The big question is whether gadget fans will take to a new competitor in the market, where brand loyalty counts for a lot. Mobile World Congress at the end of the month will see new phones from almost every phone manufacturer, bar Apple.

Would you buy a new Panasonic in favour of a HTC, Sony, Nokia, Motorola or BlackBerry?

Top 5 smartphones form CES 2012