The world of Android offers a vast array of smartphones with diverse shapes and features. However, to maximize sales, these devices often lack significant differentiation and tend to follow a common template. Consequently, today’s smartphones are sometimes criticized for being boringly similar.
Let’s explore a country where these mundane Android devices are nonexistent. In North Korea, renowned smartphone brands are absent from the market. Instead, locals use domestically produced handheld devices with unique designs and functionalities that are not found anywhere else in the world.
What Kinds of Smartphones Are Available in North Korea?
Due to limited information sources, it is challenging to confirm the details about smartphones in North Korea. Android Police, a reputable source, has referenced North Korean state media to provide an intriguing glimpse into the country’s smartphone market.
In 2013, five years after the launch of the 3G Koryolink network, North Korea unveiled its first smartphone, the “Arirang.”
The AS1201 model was marketed as made in North Korea, with leader Kim Jong-un personally touring the factory to promote the device. The exact specifications of the AS1201 remain unknown.
Based on visual comparisons, some sources suggest that the first Arirang phone was, in fact, a rebranded Uniscope U1201—a Chinese Android 4 device with mid-range hardware.
Uniscope U1201 and AS1201
In 2016, Arirang released the 151 and 152 models, followed by the 161 in 2017, which featured a fingerprint sensor for the first time (four years after the iPhone 5S).
Unlike the original Arirang, this device appeared to be an original production. However, its design bore a resemblance to Samsung’s aesthetic.
The Arirang 171, believed to be the fifth iteration, debuted in 2018 with a 4.7-inch display, 4GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, and a fingerprint sensor.
Jindallae 3
Jindallae and Jindallae 3
In 2017, North Korea introduced the Jindallae 3 smartphone. According to DPRK Today, the device was designed in a Korean style. The publication also claimed that the phone’s appearance, structure, circuit design, and operating system were all domestically produced.
When placed side by side with the Samsung S7 and iPhone 6s (released in 2016 and 2015, respectively), the Jindallae 3 appears to be a fusion of the two devices.
Following the Jindallae 3 were the Jindallae 5 (2019) and Jindallae 6, 6+, and 7 (2020). While the Jindallae 5 lacked notable features, the 6 and 6+ introduced fingerprint, voice, and facial recognition for the first time.
Phurunhanul H1 and H2
The Phurunhanul H1 was the first smartphone from Phurunhanul Electronics. Little is known about this device, except for its massive 6,000mAh battery, which surpasses even the best Android phones currently on the market.
The release date of the Phurunhanul H2 is unknown, but it is believed to feature improved display, memory, and camera specifications compared to its 2018 predecessor. It also comes with a smaller but more realistic 4,300mAh battery.
Additionally, Pyongyang is the brand with the most smartphone models in North Korea. The Pyongyang 1202, featured on the Sogwang website in 2019, is an attractive clamshell device. The image below was taken at an electronics store.
North Korean smartphones have a limited selection of apps. The Kiltongmu phone, released in 2019, came pre-installed with “30 dictionaries, programs, entertainment, and media popular with users,” according to NK News.
Other phones feature copies of popular games like Angry Birds. Due to the absence of mainstream app stores, North Korea has created similar apps for its smartphones.
Pyongyang 1202
Basic but Sufficient
“The Chongsong 234, Chongsong 222, and Samtaesong 8 are the most popular smartphones these days,” a source told Daily NK in March. “They are popular because they are the newest models.”
North Korea unveiled the Chongsong 234 and 222 in October last year, and Samtaesong has also made an appearance on North Korean television.
To date, North Korea has released around 60 smartphone models and is likely to continue developing new ones. Moreover, the number of smartphone users in the country is expected to increase with the full deployment of 4G mobile services.
According to previous statistics, North Korea has between 6.5 million and 7 million mobile subscribers.
Like everyone else, North Koreans primarily use their mobile phones for everyday purposes such as communication and entertainment.
North Korean smartphones are believed to incorporate advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and biometric identification features such as voice and facial recognition.
While a North Korean smartphone might struggle to compete with established brands in the global market, that’s not the point. For its citizens, such a device is more than sufficient.
