Back in 2014, Panasonic combined its Lumix camera brand with an Android smartphone to create the Lumix CM1. The device was pricey, setting buyers back $1000, but now Panasonic has created a version that’s a smidge cheaper.
The Panasonic Lumix CM10 has been announced in Japan, and from the looks of it, the CM10 is the same as the CM1 save for one thing: voice calling. The CM10 does include a SIM slot and 4G LTE connectivity so that you can upload your photos wirelessly, but Panasonic explicitly says that voice calls are not supported on the CM10.
Save for that missing voice calling functionality, the CM10 is largely the same as the CM1 that made its way to the US in 2015. That means that the CM10 is packing a 4.7-inch 1920x1080 display, quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 16GB of storage, a microSD slot for adding more storage, 2GB of RAM, and a 2600mAh battery. The software on the CM10 is Android 5.0 with Google Play support, so you can download all of your favorite apps.
Of course, the highlight of the CM10 is its rear camera. On the back of the CM10 lives a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch MOS sensor with 28mm f/2.8 lens made by Leica, 4K video capture, RAW image support, a dedicated camera key, and several other camera-related goodies.
The Panasonic CM10 will launch in Japan in late February at a price of approximately 100,000 yen, which is around $859 USD. That’s a bit cheaper than the CM1 was when it launched, and while the CM10’s spec list isn’t exactly high-end by 2016 standards, the big focus with the CM10 is its camera. The device is meant for folks that want a relatively slim device with a beefy camera sensor and the ability to easily share photos on the go.
Right now it looks like the CM10 will only be available in Japan. Folks in the US that want one can instead opt for the original CM1, which you can snag from B&H for $579.99.
