Panasonic’s Lumix CM1 stuffs a 1-inch sensor into an Android-powered smartphone

Perhaps taking a play out of Samsung’s playbook, Panasonic has announced its new Lumix CM1, a device that comes off as a point-and-shoot camera that also happens be a smartphone. Referred to as a “connected camera,” this hybrid gizmo features a 1-inch MOS sensor capable of capturing 4K video and 20-megapixel still shots. In addition to a hearty sensor, the Lumix CM1 packs a f/2.8 Leica DC Elmarit lens, along with a physical shutter button, which should give shutterbugs something to smile about.

As for the device’s phone features, the Lumix CM1 sports a 4.7-inch HD display, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage space (expandable to 128GB via a microSDXC card), a 1,600 mAh battery and Android 4.4 KitKat. Set to release later this year in France and Germany, exotic tech collectors might have to jump through a few virtual hoops and Google translations to get this device in their collection, but where there’s a will, there’s a way.

(via Panasonic)