Zuk is a brand owned by ShenQi, established in April 2015, as an innovative Internet only (online) company by Lenovo Group Ltd. (LNVGY) with its former vice president Chang Cheng as the Chief Executive Officer. It plans to achieve a US$5 billion valuation within five years.

Its first phone - the Z1 received over two million pre-orders within one week, and 40,000 handsets sold out immediately after the first wave purchase kicked off on 18 August. ZUK has announced that the international version of the Z1 is expected to go on sale in Europe, America, the Southeast Asia and the Middle East from this September, price will start from US$299.

The Zuk Z1 is its first smartphone powered by pure, Google-free, Android Cyanogen. Its specifications are not too shabby:

• 2.5GHz, quad core, Snapdragon 801 (same as used in some of Samsung’s S5)
• 5.5”, 401ppi, IPS, full HD screen
• 3GB RAM, 64GB storage
• 13MP, Sony Exmore RS sensor, f/2.2 camera with OIS, dual LED flash, 4K recording
• 8MP selfie camera
• 4100mAH non-removable (but easy to replace) battery with quick charge
• a U-Touch finger print sensor
• USB-C port, has Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi AC dual band, GPS and all required sensors
• At least 10 LTE bands (world model coning soon)
• Dual SIM – both support 4G
• Cyanogen OS 12.1 (almost pure Android 5.1.1)

Cyanogen is a Google free Android that has Privacy Guard giving users granular control of personal data to apps. Other leading privacy and security features include PIN Scramble to randomize the numbers behind your password, the Protected Apps feature to keep your apps private in lockable folders, and Blocked Caller List to permanently block phone numbers. Cyanogen can of course use the Google Play Store and other app stores.

So why is this important?

First, the Z1 has great specs for a phone selling for under 1799 Chinese Yuan (A$385+GST). All wrapped in an Applesque white or dark grey slab weighing 175g.

Second Lenovo has seen that it needs two models – the ‘retail brand’ [Motorola] and all that entails – design, manufacture, distribution, retail, and country support that makes it more expensive. There is nothing wrong with that model.

And the lean, mean, agile, direct model that can be made almost to order and change specifications quickly. That Zuk can sell for less than half a retail brand and make more by selling direct is further proof of iTWire’s recent article, ‘The end of the $1000 smartphone should be nigh’.

Zuk’s user support will be via Skype and social media channels.

The true origin of Zuk ...

A long time ago in far away Polish city of Lubin lived a man called Zuk. He was famous for making the slab-sided, self-named, Żuk truck – the truck for the people.

Only problem was the Żuk, like Mr Zuk, could be a little testy and its buyers were often heard exclaiming ‘Zuk off’ – meaning literally that. Soon his friends, politely behind his back of course, referred to him similarly.

Seems Mr Zuk became a little tired of the constant ribbing and immigrated to Australia. His English was not so good and when fronted by a typical bronzed Aussie immigration officer who said – “So your Zukoff- right?” Well it stuck. So begins the history of iTWire’s esteemed colleague - Alex Zaharov-Reutt (pronounced Zuk-off-right).

We understand Lenovo’s latest foray into smartphones – the Zuk - may respond to the voice command Zuk-On and Zuk-Off …