Category: Reviews

In case you missed the news last week, a couple of high end smartphone were launched and here is a quick recap of the top 5 smartphones regarding the specs released in the past week.

1. Samsung S8 Active:

Comes packing a 5.8-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 2960 × 1440 pixels paired with the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection. Under the hood, the S8 Active runs on the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor along with the Adreno 540 GPU for graphics and 4GB of RAM while the ROM is pegged at 64GB.

For the camera, it comes to market packing a 12MP Dual Pixel rear camera with LED Flash and on the front panel, an 8MP camera powered by a 4,000mAh battery.

2. Lenovo K8 Note

The Lenovo K8 Note comes packing a 5.5-inch Full HD display with the 2.5D curved glass on top. Under the 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution screen is the Corning Gorilla Glass protection and a deca-core MediaTek Helio X23 processor paired with the Mali T880 MP4 GPU for graphics and 3GB of RAM. For the ROM, the device packs 32GB of onboard storage and is available in 4GB RAM/64GB ROM variant.

The device comes with support for dual SIM function and packs a 13MP camera on the rear panel while the front panel is integrated with a 5MP sensor all powered by a 4,000mAH battery equipped with the Turbo Charging feature.

3. LG Q4

The LG Q6 comes packing a 5.5-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 18:9 as found in the G6 model. Under the FHD+ display with a resolution of 2160 x 1080 pixels equipped with the  FullVision 442ppi Display is an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor paired with Adreno 505 GPU for graphics and 3GB of RAM. For the onboard storage, the device comes packing a 32GB internal storage size further expandable to as much as 2TB and Dual SIM support.

For the optics, it features a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera powered by a 3,000mAh battery.

 

4. Gionee A1 Lite

The Gionee A1 Lite comes packing a 5.3-inch display with a screen resolution of 1280 × 720 pixels. Under the full HD display is an octa-core Mediatek MT6753 processor clocked at a speed of 1.3GHz paired with the Mali T-720 GPU for graphics and 3GB of RAM for faster processing.

The device comes packing 32GB of Internal memory which can further be expandable to 128GB using microSD card and comes with support for the hybrid Dual SIM (nano + nano/microSD) function. For the camera, it packs a 13MP rear camera and on the front panel, a 20MP sensor powered by a 4,000mAh battery.

 

OUKITEL announced last week that they are starting a new device K4000 plus. As a new version

for the K4000 series, K4000 plus is getting better both in design and user operation experience

among the smartphones around $100.

Today we have got the first hands on video of K4000 plus, showing the design and basic

software.

OUKITEL K4000 plus features a 5 inch 2.5D HD display with 1280×720 resolution. The Touch

screen and LCD are combined together by full lamination tech to make the device thinner as well

as enhancing the transparency of glass to display images on LCD brighter and sharp. 5 points

multi-touch will enable playing games more excellent. K4000 plus adopts CNC crafted zinc alloy

for frame and poly-carbonated material for the battery cover, offering soft and concrete hand

feel.

On the front lays a front press fingerprint sensor which can work not only for unlock device, but

also as a button to return to previous interface by slight tap, or return to home page by single

press, or check recent apps by long press.

In hardware, K4000 plus will get 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM with 4100mAh battery. It will be

powered by MediaTek MT6737 Quad-core chipset. In software, it also offers one tap speed up,

power saving mode.

If you check the power consumption rate of different items, you may find that the screen costs

more power than any other process like wifi, music, web, etc. K4000 plus will specially optimize

the screen power consumption. With a large 4100mAh battery, but low power consumption on a

5 inch HD screen, K4000 Plus will last even longer than normal a 5.5 inch smartphone with

6000mAh battery. According to OUKITEL, K4000 Plus will go to market by next week, users can

get this K4000 plus quite soon.

​Samsung has been in a constant battle of wits with other Android phone manufacturers over the years, and if we are to truly consider the income of the South Korea OEM and as well, the kind of tech that they churn out year after year, we can safely say that they have managed to put themselves miles ahead of any other competitor in that market. Since they have managed to keep their Android competitors at bay, Samsung has been seen in recent years taking the battle to Apple and truth be told, they seem to be the only ones capable of standing against the Cupertino-based company.
With the release of their Galaxy Note 7 last year, it seemed that they finally had the formula to beat the iPhone but then, explosions wouldn’t let the Note 7 be great.
Again, Samsung is planning to make up for all of their mistakes on the Note with a flagship Galaxy S8 launch this year, and we have been hearing a lot of cool things about this unit already. Originally expected to launch at MWC next month, it seems that Samsung has seen the wisdom in ‘better late than never,’ and we would be getting this unit sometimes later instead. However, we could still manage to keep ourselves company with the leaks and render roundups over time.

So, the Samsung Galaxy S8 – what should we expect? And what’s the fuss even all about?

1 Display

This is the first thing we see when we look at a smartphone, so that makes it the best place to start from. From what we have been hearing, the leaks have been consistent about this one being a near bezel less design and due to the curved screen, the display would extend around to wrap some parts of the back.

There are supposed to be two versions of the S8 and this year, we are not to expect a flat screen variants at all. The Note 7 already prepared us for a future of curved Samsung flagships, so this is not shocking. Last but not least, the S8 would come in screen options of 5.7 inches and 6.2 inches, and while we have heard about 4K or QHD, most leaks choose the latter option.

2 Home Button goes home

Since we are looking at a nearly bezel-less design, it has been consistently rumoured that the Samsung Galaxy S8 would not have the home button that has become something of a signature for Samsung in the past years. Since there is supposed to be a fingerprint scanner, there are other rumours to support that the fingerprint technology would be embedded under the display.

Not only would the home buttons be missing, but if other leaks are on the money, there would be no dedicated buttons for rocking the volume too. Don’t worry yourself as all these would be a part of the screen design.

The only button that we might be looking at after all could be the one dedicated to the AI assistant, and that is if it gets fully developed before launch

 

3 Say Cheese!

What would a good smartphone leak roundup be without mention of the camera units? Well, as far as we have heard on the S8, the back of the device would feature a dual camera setup and frankly, we would be disappointed if we found out otherwise. According to a report coming out of South Korea, the camera units on the back would have sensors rated at 16MP each while a nice 8MP unit is nestled on the back.

 

However, Bloomberg seems to think that high manufacturing costs have led Samsung to drop the dual camera idea all together. With Samsung already getting a trademark for the term Smart AF, we could be looking at an autofocus technology like never before too.

4 Hello, AI.

Google has been in development for a long time and finally, they have come out with their own AI which has launched with both of the Pixel units that are on the market. For years now, Microsoft has been improving the Cortana system and Apple is not relenting in taking Siri to new heights. Since this is the trend in the world of smartphones and technology now, it is reasonable that Samsung wants to step things up on their next flagship by introducing an AI.

 

As would have been expected, Samsung should opt for the stock AI developed by Google but in this case, they want to make a name for themselves in this department also. Acquiring an AI company that goes by the name of Viv Labs, Samsung themselves stated that the Galaxy S8 and other products to follow after would get their own AI support. For the voice assistants, we have not heard much, but we do know the names Bixby and Kestra do ring a bell.

For those that might be worried on what these mean, it is that Samsung is looking to give you the option of having a male or female voice assistant, rather than shoving the usual female option down your throats.

 

5 War of Wallets.

If Samsung is to really implement all we have mentioned here, and the other things that we have talked about on the newest member of the Galaxy S flagship family, we could be looking at a considerable hike in price. Let’s be frank with ourselves – component prices aren’t what they used to be, and it is understandable if the S8 packs quite a punch when it comes to their asking prices. Looking at this matter from another angle, Samsung might just let the price on the Galaxy S8 where that of the former flagship is in order to attract a number of customers, and even make up for the undoing of the Note 7.

 

One thing is sure though – this one is a flagship unit, and you can’t expect it to sell for a price that wouldn’t justify that name or any of the crazy specs it would end up carrying.
We have pretty much covered it all. From the material on the screen to the innards, and then again, to what you might be looking to pull out of your savings account to cop this unit. Why don’t you tell us what you feel would be scrapped, what you would have loved to see instead and a host of other things in the comments box?

We talked about how Meizu was looking to cater to its middle level users after the creation of the Meizu PRO 6 and now that the MX 6 has been officially announced, we have all the juicy details from therein to help you make up your mind if this is what you want, and if you are actually getting a great value for your money.

Coming just after the PRO version from the same manufacturer, the 5.5 inches measured and dual SIM MX 6 is definitely behind its high end version, but it gets the job done so well that you wouldn’t even be noticing that in the end.

Under the hood, the device is run by the Helio X20 processor which switches neatly to different cores on its own depending on the kind of workload that the device is currently catering to. Asides that, the 5.5. inches of screen are optimised at a resolution of 1920 x 1080 and with the introduction of full cell in display by Meizu, you just got a smartphone with touch abilities like none other the company has ever made.

For your selfies, there is a 5MP camera attached to the front of the device and they went all the way out to Sony to get the lens that was used for their 12MP rear camera. Running on the latest android version till date, the 6.0 marshmallow, the CPU is clocked at 4GB of RAM and an on board storage capacity of 32GB to start you off.

In conclusion, asides from the fingerprint sensor on the back which is now common with the marshmallow brands, the Meizu MX 6 makes use of the USB type C cable.
Pricing starts at $300, a $90 rebate off the Meizu Pro 6.

Design

Sony Xperia C3 virtually repeats the design of the Xperia T3 – stylish flagship of the company with thin 7 mm body and metal inserts.

In fact, the smartphone looks simple enough, rear surface is completely snug by frosted polycarbonate, design is diversified by mirror insets on the edges. Unlike the more expensive older models by Sony, there is no moisture protection, the thickness of the body is 7.6 mm.

Display

Sony Xperia C3 is not the most compact smartphone in terms of length and width, but, as we said, this is due to a desire to include a larger battery pack in slim body. 5.5-inch screen, with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. It is a model of the middle class, so they decided to make such resolution, not Full HD, as the flagship smartphones have.

Performance

Smartphone got middle-class chipset Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 (MSM8926) with a frequency of 1.2 Ghz, 1 GB RAM and graphics Adreno 305. Among pros we should mention the presence of microSD slots for up to 32 GB (officially, but in practice – up to 128 GB), 8 GB of built-in memory for storing data. For the user there remains 5.5 GB, but the card slot will always come to the rescue. Smartphone well optimized, has fast interface, there are no lags. Also Xperia C3 got a full set of wireless profiles. In particular, it can operate in 4G networks, it has the NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct. There is a version with 2 SIM cards.

Battery

The smartphone has 2500 mAh battery, it’s more than most competitors with the same thickness have (they usually have 2000 mAh batteries), but AnTuTu tests is gathering a record number of points. Xperia C3 lives more than 8.5 hours when watching video on maximum brightness – it is twice more than Xperia T3 with the same screen and battery, which is pretty weird.  So, in general, you can praise it for autonomous work, everything is fine, and the smartphone battery with the active use will last for one and a half to two days.

Software

Sony Xperia C3 running Android 4.4.2, with branded Xperia firmware. This is typical for Sony phones, there can be up to seven homescreens, different desktops, widgets are added. Interface, which, on the one hand, not much different from stock Android and will be great for lovers of simple interfaces, on the other hand, does not offer a maximum additional functions, in contrast to its “peers” by Samsung. Interface is modest, without flashy icons and a variety in styles, and everything works well.

The best place to buy Sony Xperia C3 is Jiji, one of the largest marketplaces in Nigeria. Here you will find it at a best price, because the website is very popular and there is a great amount of ads.

Having a smartphone is one thing, having a smartphone that suits for all your phone need is another thing and speaking of such, we know the oukitel k6000 pro is bound to fill up some gaps its predecessor left in its spec sheet but, there have been lots of hype and anticipations ever since the K6000 pro was announced, the company promises to avail its buyers with some features of a top level smartphone at a very decent price, oukitel phones are known to be very durable.  So with all that, many are curious to see if the device is really worth all the hypes, we will find out at the course of this article. Lets quickly go into the box of the K6000 pro and see what’s in store.

Unboxing

Inside the Oukitel K6000 pro’s box are some quite familiar components except for the reverse charge cord and the extra screen protector, you’ll also find a pin for ejecting the SIM/TF card frame, the big 5v/7v/9v-2A output charger, the USB cord, user guide, warranty certificate and the K6000 pro device that was carefully parked with a rubber case.

Design

The K6000 pro finishes with a very premium design but not really an award winner, the design is quite pertaining to what we have in Tecno Spark K9 but the back camera placement differed.

The lower area at the back where the loud speaker is located and the upper side where you’ll find the camera and dual LED flash are both covered with plastic while the battery area which is also where the Fingerprint sensor is located is covered up with metal. Around the border is a full shiny metal chassis, melded to fit the 2.5D curved screen perfectly.

The device has a body thickness of 9.8 mm and weighs approximately 214gram which is quite good after seeing the K4000 pro weigh 250 gram.

In hand, the K6000 pro does feel a bit bulky, thanks to its phablet-sized screen, but also feels comfortable because of its flat back. The relatively flat sides do provide substantial area to hold on to, which is nice because the back is rather slippery when being handled without the rubber case.

Display

The K6000 pro came very impressive in the screen department, not only having a shatter and scratch prove screen that we also saw in the K4000 pro and K6000, the device crams  a full HD display that measures 5.5 inches diagonally. Its resolution is set at 1920 by 1080 pixels with a pixel per square density of  480. The overall brightness in the K6000 pro is some what outstanding, colours came out very bold and vibrant when viewed from any angle.

Three navigation buttons located at the bottom bezel has no LED light, the screen supports multi-touch with up to 5 fingers and it is also dust and splash proof with IP64 certification.

OS and Processor

Oukitel K6000 pro is running the android 6.0 marshmallow out of the box with the stock user interface on top, some extra features like Gesture motion, Gesture unlock, Float gesture are available to better enhance the user experience.

In the Gesture motion, there are some interesting options like:

• Double tap home screen to lock
• Three point screenshot: you can capture screenshots by just sliding down three fingers at the same time.
• Three point entry camera: Sliding three fingers upwards at the same time will open the camera.

There is also a ‘System UI Tuner’ option where you can rearrange, remove and reset toggles and shortcuts in the Notification toggle. this option is made available by long-pressing the gear icon when pull down the toggle and it can also be disable that same way.

 

It uses a mediaTek6753 Octa-core 64-bit chipset, the CPU clocks at the speed of 1.3Ghz. Multi-tasking in this device was very seamless as no lags were experienced, thanks to its provisional 3GB RAM, a 32GB worth of internal storage space is also on board and can be further expanded with a microSD card if more storage space is required, this should go well for space and heavy users.

Sensor And Benchmark Test

As you might have already seen from the pictures, the K6000 pro features a fingerprint unlock system and just as seen in most android devices, the fingerprint sensor is positioned at the back just below the camera.

Unlocking the device with the fingerprint scanner appeared to be easier and faster, you just have to place a register finger at the scanner –even when the screen is black– for less than a second to unlock the device, it can also be used to control app permissions.

Coming down to the Benchmark tests, the K6000 pro didn’t perform too well in the AnTuTu test, It came in the 15th position with a total score of 35,039, see screenshots of the test info below;

Camera

For photography purposes, the Oukitel K6000 pro is having a 16 mega pixel camera for the rear shutter, great pick for those who can’t get enough of them selves, its double LED flash is set to give you bright pictures even when you decide to take pictures in the dark, it also has an Auto Focus feature that helped focus better on objects.

The gear button in the bottom right pulls up a menu with shooting modes and some more controls, You have Scene modes – landscape, night, night portrait and, well, regular portrait, and also a selection of just few color filter effects. More importantly, the Capture modes offer some interesting options, outside of the usual HDR and Panorama.

At the front is an 8 mega pixel camera for selfie lovers, the camera has a face detection feature which worked efficiently as well, you can take a look at some images that we captured with the device below:

Battery And Connectivity

The battery capacity available in the K6000 pro is really worth mentioning, it houses a massive 6000 mAh non-removable battery, enough battery juice to keep the lights on for as long as 2 day when fully charged. It also supports reverse charge technology which means you can use the phone to power other devices.

If you’re worried about how long it will take to charge up that massive battery, the 5v/7v/9v-2A output charger that accompanied it charges the phone superfast, it took an estimated time of 2 hour 30 minutes to fully charge from 0%.

The K6000 pro is a dual micro SIM phone with dual standby, however, it has only one dedicated SIM slot while the second slot can either be used as an SD card or a second SIM slot.

It supports 4G, 3G, and 2G network options, some other features available are; Bluetooth 4.0, WiFi, Tethering and portable hotspot, Hotknot, Radio, OTG and Super power saving mode.

Wired options include a microUSB port and a 3.5mm jack, The microUSB port supports USB On-The-Go so it can be used to attach an external accessory, flash drive for example.

Summary

The Oukitel K6000 pro is truly monster specced and from what we’ve seen, it will be fair enough to say that it is worth all the hypes it got, the phone can be a great choice if you want to experience the sweet features of a high-end smartphone without having to break the bank to get one.

189 USD price tag is a very nice bargain for a device with the above described features: 3GB RAM, massive 6000 mAh battery a fingerprint sensor and mostly positive impressions in its overall performance.

The measure set back we saw in the K6000 pro so far is its weighty nature but you can blame that on its large 6000 mAh battery, that won’t really be a set back if long battery life is your priority. Finally, the metal body design is more flagship than a mid-ranger.

You can get the device from AliExpress or other online stores.

 

When it comes to making choice of the phone to go for, there are few things people do consider which includes; The price of the phone, Its spec sheet and while some do also consider Brand, some don’t see that as a thing to consider. Speaking of Brands, Gionee and Infinix are both reputable smartphone brands in Nigeria and beyond with lots of descent and budget smartphones rocking the smartphones market today, the Infinix Zero 3 and Gionee M5 lite (coming into Nigeria and some other African countries as M5 Mini) can attest to that, Infinix just recently launched the Infinix S2 Pro to succed last year’s Hot S. Both the Infinix Zero 3 and Gionee M5 lite are well sophisticated spec wise and both coming at a near-budget price makes it even harder deciding the one to go for from the both. Nonetheless, BestMobs is always around to help you make the best choice. So without wasting more time, lets see what these two devices holds in store.

Specs Rundown:

Infinix Zero 3 (X552):

• 5.5 inch IPS HD capacitive touchscreen display, 16 M colours
• Android  OS, version 5.1 Lollipop
• 2.2 GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 processor.
• 3 GB of RAM
• 16/32 GB in-built storage, expandible to up to 2TB with a microSD card.
• 20.7MP primary camera with phase detection, HDR, face and smile
  detection,autofocus, Geo-tagging and LED flash
• 5MP front camerawith auto focus.
• 2G/ 3G network support
• Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi
• 3,030 mAh battery

Gionee M5 Mini (lite)

• 5.7 inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen display, 16 M colours
• Android OS, version 5.1 (Lollipop) with Amigo 3.1
• Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53
• 3 GB of RAM
• 32 GB in-built storage, expansion slot UP TO 128 GB.
• 8 MP primary camera with autofocus, LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, HDR
• 5 MP front camera.
• 2G/ 3G/4G network support
• Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi
• 4,000 mAh battery

Externals: Design and Display:

Infinix Zero 3 (X552):

The infinix zero 3 serves display with an IPS capacitive touchscreen measuring 5.5 inches, the screen has a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels with a pixel density of 401 which makes it a full HD display. It is protected by a Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The zero 3 rocks a sleek and chic classic design which is deemed durable. The exterior is endowed  with a dual-sided explosion-proof glass and a stainless steel frame while the front is processed with glossy piano paint, the back features meticulously brushed metal with diamond patterns.

Gionee M5 Mini (lite)

The marathon m5 mini boasts a 5.0 inches IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen which has a resolution of  720 pixels by 1280 pixels at a PPI of 293 pixels per inch. Very obvious the Zero 3 has more to offer when it comes to display but that doesn’t mean the M5 mini has a bad display neither. Gionee M5 mini  has a brilliant and very fitting body design that has a thickness of 8.5 mm, it is being covered by a plastic material. The front of the m5 mini is as well being protected by an Asahi Dragontrail Glass.

Internals: Hardware and Software:

Infinix Zero 3 (X552):

The zero 3 X552 features version 5.1 lollipop of the android operating system with the new XUI—Slim interface. It houses a 64-bit Octa-core chip that has a clock speed of 2.2GHz and a MediaTek Helio X10 processor,  the Helio X10 chip has multi-media subsystems that support 120Hz displays and the capacity to create and playback 480 frames per second (fps) 1080p Full HD Super-Slow Motion videos. For gamers and heavy users, 3GB RAM coupled with a 64-bit Octa-core chip is a perfect combo, you’re also presented with two variants to choose from: the 16GB and 32GB worth of internal storage variants which can be further expanded to up to a whooping 2TB with a microSD card.

Gionee M5 Mini (lite)

The Gionee M5 Mini also comes running the 5.1 lollipop version of the Android OS with the Amigo 3.1 UI running on top, Its Quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU clocks at the speed of 1.3 GHz and uses a Mediatek MT6735 chipset. The M5 Mini is equipped with a powerful 3GB RAM which is complimented with a 32GB of internal storage space, this feature also makes a great choice for heavy users. The 32GB storage space can still be further extended to 128GB with a microSD card if more space is needed by the user.

 

Camera and Connectivity:

Infinix Zero 3 (X552):

At the back of the zero 3 lays a promising 20.7 MP camera, the camera features phase detection, HDR, face and smile
detection, autofocus, Geo-tagging and a LED flash. It also features a better focus tracking of fast-moving objects and supports 4K video recording. The front of the zero 3 poses a 5MP camera with a LED Flash as well, it can capture up to 2560 x 1920-pixel pictures. Connectivity options available in the dual micro sim based android smartphone includes; Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 2G, 3G.

Gionee M5 Mini (lite)

The Gionee m5 mini on the other hand possesses an 8MP rear shutter that features autofocus, LED flash, Geo-tagging, touch focus, face/smile detection, panorama, HDR, Videos can be recorded at [email protected] fps.  It also carries a 5MP front facing camera which is a great choice for selfie lovers. In the connectivity section, the dual sim based M5 mini avails its users with 4G network connection which is missing in the Zero 3, it also supports Wi-Fi connections, GPS, Bluetooth, 2G and 3G as well.

Battery:

Infinix Zero 3 (X552):

Coming down to the battery department, both device sure had their stance in this one but as you might already know, the M5 mini had more to offer in this section. The zero 3 is powered by a strong 3,030 mAh Li-Po battery, enough battery juice to last you up to 50 hours of talk time.

Gionee M5 Mini (lite)

Being a mini version of the Gionee M5 that has an incredible 6,020 mAh of battery capacity, No surprise the Gionee M5 Mini (lite) carries a non-removable 4,000 mAh Li-Po battery. The battery is allegedly said to last Up to 450 hours with 2G and Up to 400 hours with 3G on stand by, and on talk time, the battery is said to last Up to 33 hours with 2G and Up to 19 hours with 3G.

Conclusion:

So there you have it, although the both devices showcased a really nice spec sheet, as usual, there must be something more to one than the other. Crowning the best between the two won’t be a hard task anymore but its still up to you deciding the one to go for, the one that best suits your needs. The devices will be competing the tecno spark phones, nokia 5, Infinix S2 and tecno spark in the mid-range category.

What the M5 mini lacked in the camera department it sure covered up in the battery section and what the Infinix zero 3 missed in the Connectivity option it leveled up with its display. All the same, the choice is still yours to make, meanwhile, we will like to hear your opinions about the two devices, use the comment box below.

While some top phone brands like Samsung, Blackberry, Sony, HTC, Motorola, iPhone makers Apple are busy stealing headlines around the high-end smartphones market, there’s a lot of interesting things going on at the cheaper end of the market amongst some Chinese OEM like Tecno, Infinix, Xtouch and Oukitel phones. No doubt everybody wants to own the best phones in the market today but unfortunately, the best ones don’t come cheap and due to some financial constraints, people tend to settle for cheaper phones but still want the best of the cheap once.

There are great smartphones you can get with about N16,000 ($80) in Nigeria today and some for even as low as  N10,000 ($50) and some of them offer real value despite coming with a very low price tag.
With the rapid increase in the number of low budget smartphones currently in the market today, making a choice of smartphone has become a more difficult task. But that not withstanding, we’ve rounded up a comprehensive list of 10 best affordable smartphones in Nigeria today. So without wasting anymore time, lets jump right in.

1. Infinix Hot 2 X510

Key specs:

OS: Android 5.1.1 | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1080 | Memory: 1GB/2GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 2,200mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 2MP | Price: N19,500 ($98)

Over the last few years, Infinix has bombarded the android market with lots of highly affordable smartphones with reasonable spec sheets, no surprise they’re the first in our list. The Infinix hot 2 came as the first android one smartphone in Nigeria and as an improved version of the initial infinix hot, It is availabe in different colours ranging from Blue, Red, Gold, White and Black with an irresistible sleek body design.
The Hot 2 X510 comes in two variant; 1GB RAM and 2GB RAM with both having an internal memory of 16GB which can be further extended to 32GB with a Micro SD card. It sports a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 720 by 1080 and having a PPI of 294 Pixels per square inch. Infinix Hot 2 is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core Cortex-A7 CPU, MediaTek MT6582 chipset and also houses a Mali-400MP2 GPU. Its 2200MAh Battery allows you enjoy music, videos and games on top of your calls and regular apps. The Android Lollipop battery saver feature will also give you an extra 90 minute before running flat.

2. Gionee Marathon M3 Mini

Key specs:

OS: Android 5.1 | Screen size: 4.5-inch | Resolution: 480 x 800 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 8GB | Battery: 4,000mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 2MP | Price: N16,800 ($85)

The gionee m3 mini is a smaller version of the official Gionee M3, It showcases a 4.5- inch screen that has a resolution of 480 by 800 pixels with 218 PPI.

The M3 Mini possesses a 1GB of RAM and a 8GB worth of internal storage which will serve great purposes for storage sake. It can be further extended to 32GB with a micro SD card if more storage space is needed.

The Gionee M3 mini hosts a quad-core Cortex-A53 CPU, MediaTek MT6736M chipset, Mali-T760 GPU. Its CPU runs at 1 GHz, which is just average for a smartphone processor.

The M3 mini features a 5 megapixel rear (primary) shutter, Its 2 megapixel front shutter is a perfect match for selfie lovers.

In terms of battery capacity, it houses a 4,000 mAh of battery juice, an impressive battery capacity for a mid-range phone.

 

3. Innjoo Max 2 Plus

Key specs:

OS: Android 5.1 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1280 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 4,600mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 8MP | Price: N23,500 ($117)

Innjoo was introduced into the Nigerian market in mid 2015, the company became well known in Nigeria after the highly anticipated launch of the Innjoo fire in collaboration with Jumia NG and MTN Nigeria. They have done quite well in making good android and windows smartphones with great features affordable in Nigeria today.
Coming with a price tag of N23,500 $(117), the Innjoo Max 2 plus which was launched alongside The Max 2 and Innjoo 2 is a nice smartphone one can own in Nigeria today with having to break the banks.
The Max 2 Plus shows off similar chic border design as the Max 2, It crams in a large 5.5-inch diagonal display offering ample screen estate for content viewing and gaming.
The touchscreen also has an HD resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels with 267 PPI. At the back, you will find a 13-megapixel shooter with double flash, while an 8-megapixel selfie snapper can be seen on the front of the device.
The Max 2 Plus is driven by a quad-core processor that runs along at speed of up to 1.3 GHz. The chip is paired with a manageable 1 GB of RAM and a suiting 16GB internal storage system, it also has microSD slot which hold up to 128GB of more storage if needed.
It packs a humongous 4600mAh battery that should deliver enough power to get you running for hours without needing to hook up the phone to a power outlet.

4. Microsoft Lumia 540

Key specs:

OS: Windows 8.1 | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1280 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 8GB | Battery: 2,200mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 5MP | Price: N28,000 ($140)
The Microsoft Lumia 540 comes armed with many intriguing features such as; Smart Dual SIM which makes it possible to easily enable call forwarding and call waiting between SIMs. It displays with a 5.00-inch touchscreen that has a resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels at a PPI of 294 pixels per inch.

The Dual SIM based Lumia 540 is powered by 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor and it comes with 1GB of RAM. The phone packs 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. In the camera section, the Microsoft Lumia 540 Dual SIM holds a 8-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

The Microsoft Lumia 540 Dual SIM runs Windows Phone 8.1 and is powered by a 2200mAh removable battery. It measures 144.00 x 73.69 x 9.37 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 152.00 grams.

Connectivity options for the lumia 540 includes Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM, 3G, it runs on Windows Phone 8.1 operating system with Lumia Denim update which offers an affordable means of enjoying the Windows 10 through upgrade.

5. Infinix Zero X506

Key specs:

OS: Android 4.4.2 | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1280 | Memory: 1GB/2GB | Storage: 8GB/16GB | Battery: 1,920mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 2MP | Price: N22,000 ($110)

The Infinix Zero X506 is a dual sim based smartphone from Infinix that was reportedly designed in France. it comes running the Android 4.4.2 kitkat.

The zero x506 comes in two different versions, the 2GB RAM version features a 16GB internal storage while the 1GB RAM versions uses 8GB worth of internal storage space which can be further extended to 32GB with a micro SD card if more storage space is required by the user.
The Zero X506 screen measures 5 inches with a resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels, Screen sharpness can be measured in the density of pixels per square inch of screen, and at 294 PPI.

The Infinix Zero X506 hosts an octa-core Cortex-A7 CPU, MediaTek MT6592 chipset and a Mali-450 GPU. Its CPU runs at 1.4 GHz, which is higher than average for a smartphone processor.

It also features a 13 megapixel rear camera with 2MP camera sitting comfortably at the front for selfies and video call. In terms of battery capacity, the zero x506 shelters a 1,920 mAh of battery juice which is not good enough for gamers and heavy users. Infinix also has some budget mid-range smartphones like the Hot Note and Hot Note Pro topping the low-end smartphones market and competing the likes of Tecno Camon CX and Camon CX Air.

6. LG Bello II (LG Max)

OS: Android 5.1.1| Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 480 x 854 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 8GB | Battery: 2,540mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 5MP | Price: N27,000 ($135)

As touted by the company, the LG Bello II is the successor to the LG L Bello. The Android 5.1.1 Lollipop-based smartphone supports 3G connectivity with HSPA+. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, A-GPS, and Micro-USB. The handset packs 2540mAh removable battery in store. It measures 140.8×71.6×9.6mm and weighs 155 grams. The Bello II is available in White, Titan, and Gold colours.

The smartphone features an 8-megapixel rear camera while there is a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. The LG Bello II sports some selfie features such as Gesture Shot and Selfie Flash, already seen on the company’s G Series. Gesture Shot allows users to take selfies without pressing any buttons (click via opening and closing a hand in front of the front camera), and Selfie Flash turns the phone’s display into a soft flash for portraits.

 

7. Innjoo Fire Plus

Key specs:

OS: Android 4.4 | Screen size: 5.5-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1280 | Memory: 2GB | Storage: 16GB | Battery: 1500mAh | Rear camera: 13MP | Front camera: 5MP | Price: N26,000 ($130)
Innjoo Fire Plus is outrightly an upgraded version of the Innjoo Fire, The major difference between the two is a bigger HD display and a better quality 13 megapixels camera at the back plus not withstanding, a bigger battery juice.
The fire plus is served in many colour varieties with a neatly designed polycarbonate shells in with the same colour options as the Fire: classic black, elegant white, luxury gold, or natural bamboo yellow. The Fire Plus runs comfortably the Android 4.4 (KitKat) on a 1.4GHz octa-core processor with 2GB of RAM. It manages a 16GB built-in storage, which you can extend by up to 128GB using a microSD card.
Innjoo Fire Plus features a 5.5-inch IPS display with a 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, which is way better than what I will describe as a pedestrian display from the Innjoo fire.
At the back is a 13 megapixels camera with a LED flash and a 5 megapixels front facing camera for selfie moments and video calls. The fire plus uses a worth of battery capacity

8. Samsung Galaxy Core Prime

Key specs:

OS: Android 4.4.4 | Screen size: 4.5-inch | Resolution: 480 x 800 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 8GB | Battery: 2,000mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 2MP | Price: N21,700 ($109)
Samsung Galaxy core prime is a budget android phone with a 4.5 inches (480 x 800 pixels, 207 ppi) display.The pocket friendly galaxy core prime with model number SM-G360 sets its buyers back by  N21,700 ($109).
Under the hood of the galaxy core prime is a  a quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 410) Cortex-A53 processor, clocked at 1.2 GHz and backed by a sustainable 1 GB of RAM. The galaxy core prime is  equipped with 8GB of  storage capacity expandable to up to 64GB via  microSD card. The  Galaxy Core Prime runs not on the latest Lollipop OS version, but on Android v4.4.4 KitKat OS.
The device features  a 5 MP rear-facing camera unit with LED Flash and auto-focus, plus  a 2 MP front-facing shooter for selfies. The dual-SIM enable galaxy core primes uses micro-SIM type, and also  supports connectivity options like Bluetooth v4.0, Wi-Fi, GPS, HSPA+, NFC and 4G LTE and lastly, the smart device is powered by a moderate  Li-Ion 2,000 mAh battery unit.

9. Lenovo A2010

Key specs:

OS: Android 5.1 | Screen size: 4.5-inch | Resolution: 480 x 854 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 8GB | Battery: 2,000mAh | Rear camera: 5MP | Front camera: 2MP | Price: N16,500 ($82)
Lenovo A2010 was launched in August 2015. The mid-range smartphone comes with a 4.5-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 pixels by 854 pixels

The Lenovo A2010 is powered by 1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735 processor and it comes with 1GB of RAM. The phone packs 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Lenovo A2010 packs a 5-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 2-megapixel front shooter for selfies, It runs Android 5.1 and is powered by a 2000mAh removable battery.
The Lenovo A2010 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts two Micro-SIM. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM, 3G, 4G (with support for Band 40 used by some LTE networks in India). Sensors on the phone include Accelerometer.

10. Alcatel One Touch Popstar

Key specs:

OS: Android 5.0 | Screen size: 5-inch | Resolution: 720 x 1280 | Memory: 1GB | Storage: 8GB | Battery: 2,000mAh | Rear camera: 8MP | Front camera: 5MP | Price: N17,000 ($85)

Launched in September 2015, the Alcatel one touch popstar sports a a 5.0-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels.
It runs the Android 5.0 lollipop, the OneTouch Pop Star is powered by 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6580 processor and it comes with 1GB of RAM. The phone packs 8GB of internal storage cannot be expanded to upto 32GB with a microSD. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Alcatel OneTouch Pop Star packs a 8-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 5-megapixel front shooter for selfies.

The dual SIM based OneTouch Pop Star  and is powered by a 2000mAh non removable battery, Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 3G. Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, and Gyroscope are also the available sensors in the smartphone.

 

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The guys over at Bluboo have shown us that they are not flukes and really know what business it is they are getting into when making a smartphone with cutting edge technology. The only cutting edge thing about this Bluboo Xtouch smartphone is not the technology it employs (which we would be talking about in a while) but rather, the price also. Coming at an amazing $99 on pre-order from the manufacturer and a regular price of $149, the specs would make you nearly want to scream “Unbelievable!”

Coming with a Gorilla Glass 3 technology, the manufacturers of Bluboo added some extra protection for the screen which would make it hard to break. This extra protection came in the form of an additional .55mm of the Gorilla Glass. To demonstrate the hardness, a concrete slab was gotten and placed over the device, face up. The slab was then struck with enough force to break the slab into two and impact the screen below but your guess is as good as theirs when the put up this demonstration – the glass failed to break.

To show you that this is not a one-time thing, the break test was repeated and the device still came out alive. I would say this is a bargain for that price.

The device has other impressive things that it checks off on its spec list. Coming with a 5 inch screen display, this device is powered by a MediaTek processor and 3GB of RAM. The 32GB of memory space on board should do well to keep your files and should you need more, there’s the option to expand. There’s a fingerprint sensor, 13MP rear camera and an 8MP front snapper which are all powered by 3050mAh of battery.

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LG’s latest LG V10 smartphone is really a beauty to behold on the outside and a technological wonder to contend with on the inside. It is on these high notes that this phone and its makers are riding to make the device a very huge success and all hopes are staked high. Some of the ‘special’ specifications that can be seen on the device is the tendency for it to have double of things to which we are used to the single of. For example, a device that comes with both double screen technology and double camera technology likewise isn’t something that we just dismiss with a wave of the hand.

The LG V10’s dual screen technology works in such a way that you have one screen on (on top of the device) which would show you things like the time of day, what date it is and other important notifications likewise. This screen is always on and gives you access to some applications and settings on the devices too.

The comes in the double camera on front. This would most likely be a treat to selfie lovers as this offers a much more wider angle for taking pictures and as such, more people can fit into it. LG calls it the groufie capable camera, feel free to use that language.

With the rest of its specs which are also some of the awesome things we’ve seen on phones this year, we wish the LG V10 all the luck it needs to fight out there.

The Gionee M3 Mini as the name implies, is the mini version of the Gionee M3 device that would be for the lower budget smartphone users. Announced earlier this year, the device was finally launched from the staples of Gionee on the 12th of October. With the launch came the full spec sheet of the device from the manufacturer and below is the total specs the device carries.

Out of the box would see you facing a 4.5 inch device that has its resolution set at 480 x 854 pixels and 195 ppi. The screen is protected by LCD capacitive touchscreen technology too.

 

Going further down into the hood of the device, it comes with a processor clocked at a speed of 1 GHz all running on four codes. The processor is of the MediaTek MT6736M and is a total 64-bit Cortex-A53. There’s an amazing 8GB storage on board which can be expanded as seen fit by the user up to 32GB. All these functions are all controlled by the CPU inherent which lies at a decent 1GB or RAM.

The camera pair on the Gionee M3 mini device is pretty impressive with the rear camera coming in at 5MP and the front at 2MP, both supporting video recording and the front having video call capabilities over 3G or higher and Wi-Fi. The rear camera comes with its own LED flash mechanism for handling low light situations and also supports the autofocus technology to take your pictures.

Running on a relatively big 4000mAh of battery, the device packs other miscellaneous specifications such as the support for FM Radio, GPS, availability of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options and sensors such as the traditional accelerator, proximity and compass.

Do you think you’ll get one? Let’s know in the comment box.

The Samsung Galaxy J5 is one of the newest releases of Samsung for the mid-tier and budget smartphone users and considering how the device has fared, we can say it was able to hold its own sword tight against all other competitors in this market range. So, what do you say? We check out what makes the Galaxy J5 so special? You bet!

The device comes with a screen that is baked in Super AMOLED Technology and a dual SIM functionality gets thrown on board. The back of the device is covered in plastic which can be easily removed to access the battery and SIM ports.

The J5 comes with a decent 13MP of camera on its back quipped with its own LED flash to handle low light situations well. The front then features a 5MP camera that allows you all the selfie and video call freedom that you so deserve.

The device runs on the Android Lollipop 5.1.1 version and is powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 chipset, holding its own processor frequency at 1.2GHz. The CPU is clocked at 1.5GB of RAM and there’s 8GB of user expandable memory on board. Not to forget, this baby packs a battery of 2600mAh

Don’t you feel its little wonder why the Samsung Galaxy J5 would do well even in the (over)populated mid-tier smartphone market?

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has been in the news for a while now and for all we know, a lot of information has been flying around with you not even knowing which to keep up with. Well, from the things we’ve heard, seen, read and reported, we’re bringing you a rapsheet of some sort on the device now.

Release Date

Although this is one of the easiest things to predict about a new smartphone given that manufacturers have a certain date they stick to, its likely to not be the same this year. Samsung has reportedly revamped its manufacturing process which has given much more efficiency to the total process than how it was before. This would then lend credence to the rumors that we’ve been hearing of a January launch date.

Variants

The Samsung Galaxy S6 (bottom) and Galaxy S6 edge.

Like with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge simultaneously, we might be looking at another of such feats being pulled off by Samsung as there are also rumors of a Galaxy S7 Edge coming with the S7. They’ve done it before, who’s to say they won’t again?

Newbies

This device doesn’t really bring too much of newcomer specifications to the table, but there’s a very high chance that we’re looking at a Marshmallow device here. Also, there’s the promise of the 4K display which is not totally feasible but would be cool if we had it. There’s also a chance that Samsung would return to the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor on this one.

You already have the specifications, so we won’t be boring you with that. Still Happy with the S7?

We brought to you not quite long ago that Samsung has unveiled and is planning to release some budget smartphones into the market, bringing about the Samsung Galaxy On5 and the Samsung Galaxy On7. Well, here’s the full rundown of the features and specifications packed by the Samsung Galaxy On5. We aim to help you decide whether or not this device is what you want to cash your bank on.

Samsung Galaxy On5

The Samsung Galaxy On5 comes with a nice 5 inch of screen display as earlier reported, having its resolution set at 720 x 1280 thus giving it a pixel density of 294 PPI. There’s 3G and 4G support on board for the device which runs on a single SIM (Micro SIM technology) and comes pre-loaded with an Android Lollipop 5.1.

Going deeper into the dashboard, the device runs on a quad-core 1.3GHz CPU which is powered by an Exynos 3475 processor. A RAM of 1.5GB has been brought on board to help you against system lags and the internal memory on this device is 8GB, user expandable up till 128GB.

There’s an 8MP camera that is not out of sight on the back of the device, possessing its own LED flash while a 5MP camera just adorns the front of the smartphone. With a battery of 2600mAh, the device supports sensors such as GPS, Accelerometer, Proximity and Compass.

Now, the launch price of the device is USD150. You think you want it?

The HTC One A9 device, latest in the line of smartphones released by HTC, has finally dropped and it seems to be all we can talk about. This should be expected as you don’t make a claim to want to replace iPhones and expect to be out of the news. With that settled, it is only natural to want to vet the HTC device for the edge it has over the iPhone device and true to itself, this device really has some story to tell. Below is a list of reasons why we believe that the newly launched HTC One A9 might be better than the Apple iPhone 6S.

1. Resolution Display

The Apple iPhone 6S has done well enough to bring us higher resolution displays with its screen having a 750 by 1334 pixels accounting for 326 pixels per inch. This would have been stunning but compared to the 1080 by 1920 provided by HTC, giving you a pixel density of 440 ppi, it gets the lower hand.

2. Launch Price

Although running on different platforms (the Android OS and iOS), HTC One A9 seems to provide the same and even slightly higher specs in some areas than the iPhone 6S and comes at a lower price, although for a while.

While an iPhone 6S 16GB is sold at a full $649, the HTC One A9 32GB variant comes at very less at just $399. That’s a stunning difference there.

3. Device Care

HTC looked to spice things up this year by throwing an Uh-Oh protection into your warranty package, offering to help repair your device in case of screen cracks or water spillage, all within the first 12 months. More on this is that you get $100 off your next HTC device if you fail to use this service.
In contrast, taking care of your device under Apple Care costs $99 for 2 years, and use of this service costs you a further $79

4. Internal Memory / External Storage

It is no more news that the HTC One A9 comes with a 32GB internal storage capability while the iPhone 6S comes at 16GB. That is one edge. With the ability to expand both devices comes another difference. While you would get a 128GB memory card at $80 on Amazon, purchasing an iPhone 6S 128GB costs $200 more than the 16GB variant. That’s way much if you ask me.

5. Fast Charge

Gone are the days when smartphone users cared about the outer specs only. Now that we want to know how long our devices would be available for us in between charges, the HTC One A9 comes with a Fast Charge 2.0 with an upgrade to 3.0 on the way. This means you can now charge really fast especially when your device is really low on juice.

Disappointingly though, the iPhone 6S would take a rather long 150 minutes to go from 0 – 100. Big difference here, and the HTC wins again.

The HTC seems to be on a quest to validate itself as better than the iPhone.

With the rate at which our smartphone markets are growing and new manufacturers are popping up here and there, the competition is getting tougher and the need to churn out higher quality of devices is now pressing. Entry level manufactures as well as those that have just joined the industry but can not be classified to be entry level counterparts anymore also understand this push and they do their very best to bring us their own latests too. One of such companies is the Ulefone and coming out with one of its latest flagship devices which boasts a lot of promises and also packs some awesome features under that hood, it is then not rocket science that their device begs a review. What makes the Ulefone Paris 4G tick? What’s under the hood? Read on and you just might find out with us likewise.

Design

This device packs with it not only other specifications but beauty too. Beauty really lies in the eye of the beholder, and with this Ulefone 4G smartphone eye candy, it hopes to make everyone its own beholder.
The device weighs an average 128g which means that you wouldn’t have it tugging at your belt when in your pockets or feel uneasy with the device in your hands. It comes with 5′ of screen, having a decent screen-to-body ratio and operating at high definition and pixelated with dimensions of 1280 x 720. This device would handle all of the colors it encounters pretty well with this resolution, giving you a nice contrast ratio setting also. Although it is without a LED Notification, its 3.5mm jack makes it compatible with most headphones and earplugs you can find in the accessory market. Unboxing, the device comes with a 2250mAh of battery under the hood which should let you explore for a while before you get the red bar.

Ulephone Paris unboxing pictures

CPU and Processor

Away from the aesthetics of the device. What good is a device that is beautiful to the face but appalling under the hood? But we promise you, this device is far from appalling as you would soon come to know.

The Ulefone Paris 4G makes use of a 64Bit Octa-Core processor that is allowed to run around on 2GB of RAM. Its Octa-Core processor clocks at 1.3GHz of operational frequency and this means that you never have to worry about lag with fair usage of the device. It would be able to handle nearly anything you throw at it at this processor and CPU rate combo.

You are also sure not to miss anything cool on this device as it comes pre-loaded with the Android Lollipop 5.1, so you get to taste some of the newbies from Google. Being one of the newest smartphone makers though, it is expected that you would get a Marshmallow update for your device sometimes later too. Don’t put your hopes high, but you can still be hopeful nonetheless.

Software, Camera

A smartphone would stop being smart the moment it forgets the need for its users to keep moments. Afterall, a picture is said to tell a thousand tales. With a 13 mega pixel camera on the back of the device, your picture can tell a thousand words more. The rear camera makes use of a f1.8 aperture which allows your camera to take in all the light it wishes to, replicating color and all other features while deleting as much noise as it can from your images. It also has a flashlight to enable it cope well under low light situations and although we are yet to get our hands on one, its specifications being this way means something.

Camera Samples in dark room: Without flash | With flash

The manufacturers have not neglected the community of selfie takers likewise as a 5 mega pixel shooter is not hard to sight from the front of the device. Although it doesn’t come with its own flashlight, it has a fairly wide aperture to allow it take in light and adapt to low light situations so you need not worry about taking outdoor pictures in evening times.

Screenshots from Ulephone Paris

For your media, the device is equipped with a solid internal memory of 16GB. Although some of this space would have already been taken up by system applications, it offers you enough left for your own personal media storage. For those that are heavy space users, the device comes with support for expandable memory which can be up to 128GB in size.

Sensor, Hardware

The Ulefone Paris 4G has come itself built with all of the basic sensors that you need and are familiar with on an Android device although some which are fairly common these days are absent. If you’re not an heavy user though, you might not even notice their absences.
You have your custom accelerometer sensor coming with the device, meaning it obeys all your gravity-related controls and allows for gravity gaming on 3D games such as the Asphalt racings and so on. Also, we have proximity sensor and a light sensor somewhere under the hood of this device. The light sensor would do well to account for the battery usage of your Ulefone device, regulating your screen’s brightness as the ambient light dictates to it.
Some of the sensors we would have liked to see come with this device but that are, obviously, absent, would have been the E-Compass, Gyro and G-sensor, given that they are on nearly every device now.

Connectivity

The Ulefone Paris 4G smartphone comes with a Bluetooth version that has been upgraded to the 4.0. It also supports the Global Positioning System (GPS) and as well, Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi of this device comes in the bands 2.4GHz / 5GHz, supporting the dual band Wi-Fi technology. We have found no TV out button anywhere so no, you can’t make use of the Paris 4G with your television set.

Summary

From what we’ve seen, the device would hold its own in some markets but it is not really high end. It comes with some stunning specs though, even running the Android Lollipop and with its CPU as well as Camera allowances, would certainly be a bargain for you at $169.99

Finally, we’d like to thank PandaWill for the review copy of Ulefone Paris 4G used in this article. To purchase Ulefone Paris 4G, head over to PandaWill official store ASAP. Furthermore, we’ve been supplied a free copy of Doogee Valencia Y100 Pro (from another source) so watch out for the review of that one as as well.

Motorola is here with the new Moto X edition, and if you ask around, you’ll know that they have really outdone themselves on this one. You’ve heard the stories, you’ve read the rumors and you’ve seen the pictures, but what makes this device so special?

Follow us and you’ll get an answer to your question in this quick review we’ve put up here for you at BestMobs.

Body Design

The Motorola Moto X Style is a very sleek device and you need not hold it for more than one second before even your palms wrap themselves around it.

Coming with a 5.7 inch screen doesn’t at all make the device bulky in any way. Although missing a few features such as the fingerprint scanner, the Moto X makes up for this in design by coming with other features worthy to look at such as an NFC chip and expansion slot behind its SIM compartment, where your nano SIM just fits perfectly.

The audio speakers come in dual front facing fashion making sure that you don’t get muffled sounds when the phone is placed face-down. The screens have also been carefully tweaked to make sure that in low light situations, the lightning adjusts to make your eyes comfortable.

CPU, Processor, Battery

The Moto X Style comes with a Snapdragon 808 chipset that runs on a total of 3GB of RAM, which should make sure you don’t get lags.
The device also packs a powerful battery clocking at 3000mAh which is not very impressive but would get the job done, especially if you take to battery-saving options like turning down your brightness.

Camera

Given that Motorola are known for their cameras, it is no surprise that the 21MP rear facing camera on this device beats all of its predecessors and even works better under low-light situations. The camera also adds new features such as allowing you control the focus and brightness of the images you want to take.

Not forgetting the lovers of selfies, a 5MP camera has been attached to the front of this device to take care of your selfie needs, coming with its own camera flash too for taking your pictures in cases of low light.

OS, Others

The X Style runs on the Android Lollipop 5.1 version which has been slightly modified by Motorola. You get the feel that you are using your Android software on a Nexus device.
Motorola has not stripped this device of the additional values it adds to its flagship mobiles as it comes with the Moto Display and Moto Voice. Other applications in there include Connect (which allows you manage external devices like the Android watches) and Migrate.

 

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The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact went on sale in the United Kingdom a little while ago and many that have been on the Sony Platform for a while, especially on their line of beautiful Xperias, will be able to bear witness to it that they do not disappoint with their devices. This is mind, it is now left to see if the Xperia Z5 compact has done its own part to keep the flag flying or let down its predecessors, hence, this review.

The device bears the same design prototype as the other devices in the line of Xperia Zs and a former user would have no issue in spotting this. Having a “Compact” in its name is by no chance just a naming strategy as the device has been made into a smaller version of Xperias, making it really compact. There’s a dedicated camera shutter button on the body of this device and as well, a power button which is now larger than the one featured on others due to the presence of a fingerprint scanner inherent.

 

Enough on body design. Under the hood, the device carries an Octa core Snapdragon 810 processor (supported by an Adreno 430 GPU) which is allowed to run freely on the provided 2GB of RAM. With 32GB internal storage already present, you have the option to expand the memory as you wish. It offers a Bluetooth 4.1 version, NFC capabilities and as well, GPS.

In as much as you’re advised against putting the device underwater or pouring hot drinks on it, it is waterproof enough to protect itself in the rain or when you’re washing something off your hands.

The device has its cameras facing front and upwards, meaning you won’t get muffled sounds when it is placed downwards. The audio quality is also nothing you should worry about as you would get your playback with as little noise as possible.

The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact packs a 2700mAh of battery under the hood too which allows you to use your device for a longer time, especially due to the lower screen resolution which helps in the power conservation.

What would this review be without telling you about the camera? The camera is a stunning 23MP sensor which allows you capture your images and record your videos in very high resolutions. If you’re an average user, this is all you need but some professional users have seen beyond the 23MP and have a few complaints. Don’t be disappointed though. This camera is one of the best there is on the market now.

Coming with an Android Lollipop platform now with the updates to Marshmallow expected soon, you have your cool compact device in the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact.

The LG-made Google Nexus 5X recently went on sale in markets such as the United States and United Kingdom and even though reviews and specifications have been released beforehand, people still has new stunning things to say about the device. For many, this didn’t come as a huge surprise as the collaborators with Google on the Nexus 5X programme – LG – are known to be at their notorious bests with Nexus smartphones.

Coming as a big upgrade to the Nexus 5 phone and within a reasonable price range likewise, the 5.2′ of screen that the device comes with is nearly everything you’ll see on the front of it. The screen is clean, crisp and renders all colors that it is given very well. The base of the device sees a lightning USB port that makes use of the USB Type C cable. Taking a leaf from iPhone’s books, the USB is reversible.

The device features a 12.3MP camera on the back as you might have read, but that’s not the only interesting feature on its back. It also has a fingerprint sensor that has been called the Nexus Imprint, able to recognize up to 10 distinct fingerprints. This fingerprint sensor has an higher edge over its predecessors, even those made by Apple as it allows you unlock the screen without even turning on the screen, and its fast too. Android Pay also uses this fingerprint feature to authenticate your transactions.

That’s not all. The Marshmallow update does pretty much all you’ve read and even more, helping you to maximize battery use when device is idle. The device also supports flash charging, with 10 minutes of charge giving you about 25% of juice.

With the camera efficiency and all the other updates Marshmallow gives on this device, you can’t go wrong with the Google Nexus 5X.

Intex did not wait for long after launching its Cloud Swift smartphone to proceed into the works again, bringing out the third device in the line of Aqua Life series – the Aqua Life III.

Now listed as part of the company’s catalogues on the official Intex website with its full price, the Intex device comes with a dual SIM functionality which translates to you being able to rock double SIM Cards at the same time on this device. Running on the Android 5.1 Lollipop platform, the device comes with a 5 inch display that pretty much gives you the screen. Under the hood is a 1.2GHz Quad-core processor that has 1GB of RAM all to itself. Coming with an internal memory of 8GB and the option to expand up to 32GB, you should never run out of space with fair usage.

For the selfie-conscious, the front camera isn’t really something to look forward to with being clocked at 0.3MP. The back camera is still manageable though, coming at 5MP. The device also packs a battery that is reported would hold up to 2000mAh of power after a full charge has been completed. For those of you that might be wondering, Yes, the battery is user-removable.

Those are the standout specifications from the device. If you wish to know the nitty-gritty, just stay tuned to this section of the website for more updates.