2014-07-11, 18:31
I got my hands on this huge phablet slightly over two weeks ago - which date exactly I'm not sure. After two weeks of normal usage (hours spent muttering into my keyboard 'how do i fix this damn brick'), I have made some time to write up a small review of the phone, seeing as I have been unable to find even one proper review of it.
Tech Specs:
CPU / GPU: MediaTek MTK6592 octa-core 1.7GHz / Mali450 MP4
System Memory: 2GB
storage capacity: 16GB
Screen: 7.0″ WUXGA LTPS (Full lamination)
Screen resolution: 1920×1200 pixels
Camera: front 5MP + back 13MP
Video screen: Support 1080 P video recording
MS mode: WCDMA/GSM
Frquency band: WCDMA 2100/850 (1900 Optional) and GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Sim card： Dual sim cards, dual standby
Wireless transmission: 3G、Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast、Bluetooth 4.0、EDGE、HSPA+、HSUPA
Navigation: GPS+AGPS Navigator
Light sensor： Support
Proximity sensor： Support
Gravity Sensor： Support
FM: Support
T-flash card: Support micro SD（T-Flash）32G
Battery parameter： 4000mAh \
Headphone jack 3.5MM standard interface
Charging port mini USB 5pin interface
Photos of the phone can be found littered on the internet, albeit designer style photos taken by luftco themselves. The phone does look exactly like the one in the photos, though.
Software:
The phone came shipped with 4.4.2 KitKat. Not bad, seeing as I was expecting 4.2.2. An upgrade to 4.4.2 is already available online, from their website, if you are fearless enough to tackle a Chinese forum (basically resulting in me muttering 'how do i fix this damn brick'). It's rootable, and you can find working CWMs for the phone on the luftco forum itself. All in all quite a simple process. Quite.
Screen:
The screen is...well, to me it is excellent. I have never been much of a resolution junkie, and anything more than 720p was more than enough for me. That said the 1920 by 1200 pixel screen was awesome for a 1080p season of Game of Thrones. One gripe I do have is with the touchscreen itself. I do not know if it is a software or a hardware issue, but the touchscreen is not very responsive. It registers only the harder touches, and some swipes become taps. Other than that, the screen is fine.
Speakers:
The speakers were normal for a phone like this. Nothing fancy, nothing particularly strong, but really, I don't expect much from a phone speaker. Volumes were a bit on the low side, but still could be heard in a busy area.
Camera:
I took a few test pictures the first time I turned on the phone, and the pictures turned out great. I had relatively good lighting conditions, and the 13mp sensor worked as it should have. One bad stroke of luck, though, after I reflashed the phone's rom a couple of times, the rear camera stopped working altogether. I have no idea why that happened, but I didn't notice the fault until recently, which shows how often I actually use the camera function.
Battery Life:
I don't have any actual test results handy on me right now, as I just flashed an update of the phone's rom, but trust me, with 4000mah of juice, this phone's battery life is more than enough. The huge battery is one of the main reasons why I picked this phone, and the company's claim does hold water. I am getting more than one day of heavy use - HEAVY, mind you, meaning lots of games and shows on MX player - and when I plug my phone in at night, its normally left with 50% - 60%. I will update this section with a screenshot of my official battery usage when I have the chance.
Final Words:
If what you are looking for is a budget 7" phablet, this is probably your best bet.
It has some of the best specifications phones of its price range has to offer. Out of the box, it is simple and straightforward - and should you want to delve deeper into the settings many other possibilities are available through rooting.
This phone, however, does come with all the normal risks of dealing with an overseas manufacturer: high shipping costs in case of damage, the language barrier when dealing with customer support, and some more.
Tech Specs:
CPU / GPU: MediaTek MTK6592 octa-core 1.7GHz / Mali450 MP4
System Memory: 2GB
storage capacity: 16GB
Screen: 7.0″ WUXGA LTPS (Full lamination)
Screen resolution: 1920×1200 pixels
Camera: front 5MP + back 13MP
Video screen: Support 1080 P video recording
MS mode: WCDMA/GSM
Frquency band: WCDMA 2100/850 (1900 Optional) and GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Sim card： Dual sim cards, dual standby
Wireless transmission: 3G、Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Miracast、Bluetooth 4.0、EDGE、HSPA+、HSUPA
Navigation: GPS+AGPS Navigator
Light sensor： Support
Proximity sensor： Support
Gravity Sensor： Support
FM: Support
T-flash card: Support micro SD（T-Flash）32G
Battery parameter： 4000mAh \
Headphone jack 3.5MM standard interface
Charging port mini USB 5pin interface
Photos of the phone can be found littered on the internet, albeit designer style photos taken by luftco themselves. The phone does look exactly like the one in the photos, though.
Software:
The phone came shipped with 4.4.2 KitKat. Not bad, seeing as I was expecting 4.2.2. An upgrade to 4.4.2 is already available online, from their website, if you are fearless enough to tackle a Chinese forum (basically resulting in me muttering 'how do i fix this damn brick'). It's rootable, and you can find working CWMs for the phone on the luftco forum itself. All in all quite a simple process. Quite.
Screen:
The screen is...well, to me it is excellent. I have never been much of a resolution junkie, and anything more than 720p was more than enough for me. That said the 1920 by 1200 pixel screen was awesome for a 1080p season of Game of Thrones. One gripe I do have is with the touchscreen itself. I do not know if it is a software or a hardware issue, but the touchscreen is not very responsive. It registers only the harder touches, and some swipes become taps. Other than that, the screen is fine.
Speakers:
The speakers were normal for a phone like this. Nothing fancy, nothing particularly strong, but really, I don't expect much from a phone speaker. Volumes were a bit on the low side, but still could be heard in a busy area.
Camera:
I took a few test pictures the first time I turned on the phone, and the pictures turned out great. I had relatively good lighting conditions, and the 13mp sensor worked as it should have. One bad stroke of luck, though, after I reflashed the phone's rom a couple of times, the rear camera stopped working altogether. I have no idea why that happened, but I didn't notice the fault until recently, which shows how often I actually use the camera function.
Battery Life:
I don't have any actual test results handy on me right now, as I just flashed an update of the phone's rom, but trust me, with 4000mah of juice, this phone's battery life is more than enough. The huge battery is one of the main reasons why I picked this phone, and the company's claim does hold water. I am getting more than one day of heavy use - HEAVY, mind you, meaning lots of games and shows on MX player - and when I plug my phone in at night, its normally left with 50% - 60%. I will update this section with a screenshot of my official battery usage when I have the chance.
Final Words:
If what you are looking for is a budget 7" phablet, this is probably your best bet.
It has some of the best specifications phones of its price range has to offer. Out of the box, it is simple and straightforward - and should you want to delve deeper into the settings many other possibilities are available through rooting.
This phone, however, does come with all the normal risks of dealing with an overseas manufacturer: high shipping costs in case of damage, the language barrier when dealing with customer support, and some more.