{{short description|Chinese specialty smartphone manufacturer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox company | name = Unihertz E-Commerce Co., Ltd. | trading_name = Unihertz | native_name = | logo = Unihertz Logo.png | logo_size = | founder = Stephen Xu (CEO)<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2017-10-23 |title=Mini phone maker admits performance shortcomings |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41722584 |access-date= |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> | area_served = Worldwide | key_people = | industry = Consumer electronics | type = | parent = | products = Smartphones | brands = | num_employees = | num_employees_year = | homepage = {{URL|unihertz.com}} | predecessor = | foundation = {{start date and age|2016}}<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=About Unihertz - Linkedin |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/unihertz/|website=LinkedIn}}</ref> | location_city = Shanghai | location_country = China | capital = | sales = | divisions = | affiliated_companies = | module = | title = }} '''Unihertz''' is a Chinese smartphone manufacturer headquartered in Shanghai, China.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=About Unihertz - Linkedin |url=https://www.linkedin.com/company/unihertz/|website=LinkedIn}}</ref> The company makes mobile devices running Android OS, targeted at niche audiences utilizing design features such as retro-styled QWERTY keyboards, small form factors, rugged outdoor devices, and others. Unihertz initially gained recognition on the Kickstarter platform where its first project was the miniature smartphone named Unihertz Jelly in 2017.
==Company== Unihertz was founded as '''Unihertz E-Commerce Co., Ltd.''' in 2016,<ref name=":1"/> by Stephen Xu (CEO).<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2017-10-23 |title=Mini phone maker admits performance shortcomings |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41722584 |access-date= |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Unihertz<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-23 |title=UNIHERTZ Trademark of Shanghai Unihertz E-Commerce Co., Ltd. Serial Number: 87581083 :: Trademark Elite Trademarks |url=https://www.trademarkelite.com/trademark/trademark-detail/87581083/UNIHERTZ |access-date= |website=Trademark Elite |language=en}}</ref> was granted a United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) trademark on October 4, 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-01-02 |title=Trademark Status & Document - Unihertz - US Serial Number: 87581083 |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=87581083&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |website=United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)}}</ref> a European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) trademark on July 28, 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-07-26 |title=Trade mark information - UniHertz - Filing number 015311277 |url=https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/015311277 |access-date= |website=European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO)}}</ref> and a US patent on December 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |date=2018-12-25 |title=United States Patent, Mobile Terminal, Patent No.: US-D836590-S |url=https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/image-conversion/convert?url=uspat/US/D0/836/590/00000001.tif&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIwNTE3NGU0MS0wNzEyLTQ0YmMtODA5Ni03ODNmN2M4ZTQ5ZjciLCJ2ZXIiOiJjMzA2ODUxMy01OTMzLTQ2MzctOGEzMC01ZjcwZTg4ZjQ3NDUiLCJleHAiOjB9 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20240812112929/https://ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/image-conversion/convert?url=uspat/US/D0/836/590/00000001.tif&requestToken=eyJzdWIiOiIwNTE3NGU0MS0wNzEyLTQ0YmMtODA5Ni03ODNmN2M4ZTQ5ZjciLCJ2ZXIiOiJjMzA2ODUxMy01OTMzLTQ2MzctOGEzMC01ZjcwZTg4ZjQ3NDUiLCJleHAiOjB9 |archivedate=August 12, 2024 |accessdate= |website=US Patent and Trademark Office |publisher= |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Crowdfunding smartphones== {{Promotional section|date=December 2024}} [[File:A11y smartphone 003 Unihertz Titan Slim 005.jpg|thumb|Unihertz Titan Slim]] Unihertz gained attention in 2017 with the launch of its first crowdfunding project for a credit card sized Android smartphone named Unihertz Jelly,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-05-03 |title=Jelly, the world's smallest LTE and Nougat smartphone, reaches Kickstarter goal in under an hour |url=https://pocketnow.com/jelly-world-smallest-lte-nougat-smartphone-kickstarter-goal/ |access-date= |website=Pocketnow |language=en}}</ref> with the Kickstarter project achieving its goal of $30,000 in under an hour, ultimately obtaining US$1.25 million. Another Kickstarter campaign was created to raise funds for the Unihertz Atom, a similarly sized device with a more rugged design.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-27 |title=Unihertz Atom review: You won't want to use it, and that's the point |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/unihertz-atom-review-936593/ |access-date= |website=Android Authority |language=en}}</ref> In 2019 Unihertz launched Titan, which features a physical QWERTY keyboard.<ref name=":03">[https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unihertz-announces-launch-of-titan---unbreakable-smartphone-with-qwerty-keyboard-300892551.html Unihertz Announces Launch of Titan – Unbreakable Smartphone With QWERTY Keyboard]. ''PR Newswire''. July 30, 2019</ref>
Since then, Unihertz has launched several crowdfunding projects for subsequent models including Atom XL – DMR Walkie-Talkie rugged smartphone with a 4-inch display,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-01-26 |title=Unihertz Atom XL rugged smartphone review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/unihertz-atom-xl-rugged-smartphone |access-date= |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> Jelly 2 – a full-featured small smartphone with a 3-inch display,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-21 |title=Unihertz Jelly 2.0 review: Tiny Android 10 smartphone packs a punch |url=https://www.zdnet.com/product/unihertz-jelly-2/ |access-date= |website=ZDNET |language=en}}</ref> Titan Pocket – a compact QWERTY keyboard smartphone,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-11-24 |title=Unihertz Titan Pocket Review: A Niche Phone For Those Missing The BlackBerry |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/2021/11/24/unihertz-titan-pocket-review-a-niche-phone-for-those-missing-the-blackberry/ |access-date= |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> TickTock – a 5G rugged phone with dual-screen,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-12-08 |title=Unihertz TickTock 5G dual-screen rugged smartphone review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/unihertz-ticktock-5g-dual-screen-rugged-smartphone |access-date= |website=TechRadar |language=en}}</ref> Titan Slim – their latest QWERTY phone,<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-05-08 |title=Unihertz Titan Slim review: Back to the future |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/unihertz-titan-slim-review/ |access-date= |website=Android Police |language=en}}</ref> Jelly Star – the world's smallest Android 13 smartphone,<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-06-15 |title=Unihertz Jelly Star: The charming king of compact Android 13 smartphones |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/technology/arid-41162647.html |access-date= |website=Irish Examiner |language=en}}</ref> and Jelly Max – the world's smallest 5G smartphone. {| class="wikitable" |+ !Model !Main features !Crowdfunding achievement !Release time |- |Jelly/ Jelly Pro |Unihertz's first project on Kickstarter. It was then the smallest 4G smartphone (2.45-inch screen display). It runs Android 7.0, which was later upgraded to Android 8.1 Oreo. The smartphone was also released on Indiegogo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-28 |title=Unihertz Jelly Pro Review |url=https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/unihertz-jelly-pro |access-date= |website=PCMag}}</ref> |US$1.25M 10,964 backers |2017 |- |Atom |The rugged version of Jelly, which is called the world's smallest 4G rugged smartphone. Atom is an IP68 certified smartphone with a small screen of the same size as Jelly. It runs Android 8.1 Oreo when first release and later get upgraded to Android 9 Pie. Atom has a better battery capability (2000mAh).<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2018-06-05 |title=Unihertz Atom hands-on: Rugged tiny 4G smartphone keeps you connected in the field for less than $300 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/unihertz-atom-hands-on-rugged-tiny-4g-smartphone-keeps-you-connected-in-the-field-for-less-than-300/ |journal=ZDNET}}</ref> |US$1.29M 5,310 backers |2018 |- |Titan |Titan was Unihertz's first try on the QWERTY smartphone of Android version. It is also an IP67-rated rugged smartphone with a large battery capacity (6000mAh).<ref name=":03"/> The smartphone originally runs Android 9 and get upgraded to Android 10 Quince Tart. |US$ 776K 3,085 backers |2019 |- |Atom XL/L |Atom XL and Atom L are the upgraded version of Atom, with a larger 4-inch screen size, and a 4300mAh battery. The only difference between XL and L lies in the presence of the walkie-talkie function. The smartphone runs Android 10 and then get upgraded to Android 11 Red Velvet Cake.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2021-07-24 |title=Unihertz Atom XL review: Walkie-talkie meets smartphone |url=https://www.androidauthority.com/unihertz-atom-xl-review-1240423/ |journal=Android Authority}}</ref> |US$ 568K 2,341 backers |2020 |- |Jelly 2 |Jelly 2 is the successor of the first generation Jelly. It runs Android 10 and has a 2,000mAh battery capacity.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2020-08-22 |title=Unihertz Jelly 2 review: Size matters |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/08/22/unihertz-jelly-2-review/ |journal=Android Police}}</ref> Its latest Android OS released by the firm is Android 11. |US$ 979K 5,343 backers |2020 |- |Titan Pocket |Titan Pocket is an Android QWERTY smartphone, smaller than the company's previous QWERTY model and is equipped with Android 11.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2021-08-24 |title=Unihertz Titan Pocket review: A phone that's trying to do so much in too little space |url=https://www.androidcentral.com/unihertz-titan-pocket-review |journal=Android Central}}</ref> |US$ 794K 3,425 backers |2021 |- |TickTock |TickTock is a 5G rugged smartphone with a large 6000mAh battery, featuring a unique dual screen design and runs Android 11.<ref name=":33">{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=New Kickstarter Campaign of Unihertz - TickTock, a 5G Rugged Phone with Unique Dual-Screen |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-kickstarter-campaign-of-unihertz---ticktock-a-5g-rugged-phone-with-unique-dual-screen-301441104.html |access-date= |website=PR Newswire |language=en}}</ref> |US$ 184K 608 Backers |2022 |- |Titan Slim |The Titan Slim adopts a rectangular screen and is sleeker and slimmer than its previous QWERTY models.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-02-23 |title=Unihertz's Latest QWERTY Smartphone Raised 400K+ USD on Kickstarter in 12 Hours |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unihertzs-latest-qwerty-smartphone-raised-400k-usd-on-kickstarter-in-12-hours-301544864.html |access-date= |website=PR Nnewswire |language=en}}</ref> It is powered by Android 11 and equipped with a 4100mAh battery. |US$ 589K 2,281 Backers |2022 |- |Jelly Star |A tiny smartphone with a transparent back panel, dynamic LED lighting, and advanced features packed into a credit card sized body, which is powered by Android 13 system.<ref name=":4" /> |US$ 553K 2,281 Backers |2023 |- |Jelly Max |Claimed by Unihertz to be the world's smallest 5G smartphone.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-07-18 |title=Unihertz Surpasses Funding Goal on Kickstarter with the Latest 5G Small Smartphone, Jelly Max |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/unihertz-surpasses-funding-goal-on-kickstarter-with-the-latest-5g-small-smartphone-jelly-max-302200211.html |access-date= |website=PR Newswire |language=en}}</ref> |US$ 380K 1,471 Backers |2024 |} Titan 2. Android 15 Phone with a Physical QWERTY Keypad.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Titan 2 - The Latest 5G QWERTY Physical Keyboard Smartphone |url=https://www.unihertz.com/products/titan-2 |access-date=2025-12-12 |website=Unihertz |language=en}}</ref>
== Other smartphones == Unihertz owns a self-operated smartphone manufacturing plant with a complete production line. In addition to their main featured product lines, the company also releases other unique devices on their official website. Examples include the Tank series and Luna. Tank series is a lineup of ruggedised mobile phones with unique features like compact 4.3-Inch display, large-capacity battery, projector function and laser rangefinder.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shop Tank Series / Luna on Unihertz Official Store |url=https://www.unihertz.com/collections/others |access-date= |website=Unihertz |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.unihertz.com}}
Category:Chinese brands Category:Mobile phone manufacturers Category:Mobile phone companies of China Category:Electronics companies of China Category:Companies based in Shanghai Category:2016 establishments in Shanghai