Insufficient storage space is one of the major issues faced by smartphone users around the world. Most users tend to manually back up their content on one or more cloud services when their internal storage becomes full. However, Nextbit has taken the idea of cloud storage, and taken it a step further. It has combined physical and cloud storage to create the world's first cloud-first smartphone in the form of the Nextbit Robin. The Robin offers users 32GB of physical storage, which is augmented with 100GB of additional cloud storage. It is the way these two storage mediums work in tandem with each other that makes the Nextbit Robin different from the other smartphones in the market.
The device runs Google’s Android OS, with the company’s own Nextbit OS layered on top while staying close to stock Android experience. The Smart Storage feature is deeply integrated into the operating system in order to seamlessly expand storage to the cloud.The Robin continually syncs photos with the cloud before the user even starts to run out of storage. The phone learns which apps and photos users tend to use the most and archives those that are used the least. This helps ensure that the user always has space for more apps or content. By default, the Robin only syncs when it is plugged in and is connected to Wi-Fi. This helps avoid battery drain and saves data charges. Further, since content is already synced, the Nextbit Robin can resolve storage issues even when the device is in Airplane mode. The four LED lights located at the back of the device will let users know when the phone is solving their storage issues.
Retrieving apps and photographs is also quite simple and straightforward. The apps that have been archived appear greyish, and tapping on them restores it back to the way it was. Same principle applies to photographs taken by the phone. The images are downsized to the screen resolution of the phone and are linked to its full-sized versions in the cloud. The data transfer between the phone and the cloud occurs securely and the data stored on Nextbit’s server is encrypted.
However, it isn’t just the cloud-first approach of the Nextbit Robin that makes it such an attractive proposition. The phone features a stunning design that is unlike any other smartphone available in the market right now. The device has a very colourful and simple design consisting of circles and clean lines. This makes the phone aesthetically appealing and different from the generic-looking smartphones in the market. The square-sides make the phone easier to grip, while the rounded sides make it easier to hold. Further, the weight of the Nextbit Robin is balanced in order to ensure that the phone is centered on the user’s hand when it is held. Nextbit has also integrated the fingerprint sensor into the power button to ensure that there is no need for a separate fingerprint reader on the phone, which would have altered the clean looks of the device. The button itself is placed on the edge of the phone, where the finger naturally rests.
The rest of the specifications of the phone are also pretty impressive. The phone features a 5.2-inch Full HD IPS display that is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. It is powered by a beefy Snapdragon 808 processor with 3GB of RAM. At the back is a 13MP primary camera with phase-detection autofocus and dual-tone flash, while at the front is a 5MP camera. The Robin also supports Quick Charge 2.0 and features a USB Type-C port.
The beautiful aesthetics of the phone, combined with the cloud-first storage approach, make the Nextbit Robin the perfect smartphone for those looking for a device that would ease their storage woes. In addition, the impressive specifications of the phone will also make it a joy to use everyday.