A new North Korean smartphone reveals both advances and limitations in the nation’s technology development. The Samtaesung 8, recently obtained and analyzed by Daily NK, combines dated processing power with significantly expanded storage capacity and improved cameras.
Released around 2023, the Samtaesung 8 uses a MediaTek (MEDIATEK, Inc.) Application Processor (AP), like most North Korean smartphones. The device features the MT6771V (8-core, 2.1GHz) processor from 2019, which is considered a mid-range processor. This older AP offers somewhat lower performance compared to other smartphones released around 2023.
The Samtaesung 8 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. For comparison, the ‘Pyongyang 2425’ smartphone, which Daily NK obtained in 2019, used the MT6771 processor (8-core, 2.0GHz) with 8GB RAM and 32GB storage. While the Samtaesung 8’s processor and RAM specifications are similar to the years-old Pyongyang 2425, its storage capacity has increased significantly. This may reflect consumer demand for more storage space as high-volume content becomes more prevalent in North Korea.
The Samtaesung 8 also features improved screen and camera capabilities compared to previous models. It sports a 6.5-inch FHD+ display (1080×2340, 480dpi) with slightly curved edges for a sophisticated look, though these curves don’t offer any special functionality.
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The camera system includes a 64MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 25MP front-facing camera. These specifications are well-suited for video calls, which became widely available with the introduction of 4G services.
The device runs on an Android 11-based operating system (released in 2020) and features a 4000mAh battery.
When checking the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of the Samtaesung 8 on IMEI.info, it showed the manufacturer as Chinese company “SUGAR” and the model as “S60.” However, the S60 differs from the Samtaesung 8 in both design and specifications.
For context, when Daily NK previously checked the Pyongyang 2425’s IMEI, it showed the manufacturer as China’s GIONEE with model number “2417.” However, this model number didn’t exist in GIONEE’s product lineup, and no smartphone in their range matched the Pyongyang 2425’s design or specifications.
February 24, 2025 at 10:24AM
by DailyNK(North Korean Media)