DJs
HARDWARE
All in all, the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a nicely designed smartphone, with a decent set of specifications which can get you through most day to day tasks. However it is a bit bigger than we would have liked it to be.
Specs
Design
The Ulefone Be Touch 2 has quite a decent build made out of metal, plastic and glass. The frame which runs around the device is metal, giving the device a premium feel. The design itself is somewhat similar to Apple's iPhone, but this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. The rounded edges also make daily handling the device easier.
The removable back cover is made of plastic, and and has a matte finish which should keep the device from slipping out of your hand. The front is mostly made up of the 5.5 inch glass display, but another visible iPhone inspiration comes in the form of an inbuilt fingerprint scanner, which also doubles as a home button. Two capacitive navigation buttons on either side assist with basic Android navigation.
The power / lock and volume rocker buttons are placed on the left-hand side of this phone. The speaker is located on the bottom of this device, and both the micro USB power plug and a 3.5mm headphone jack can be found up top. All in all, the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a nicely designed smartphone which is a bit bigger than it’s supposed to be.
Display
The display on the handset is a 5.5 inch LTPS display with a 1920 x 1080 pixel (1080p) resolution. This display panel is commonly used by Chinese manufacturers including OnePlus, and is known for its saturated colors, and good outdoor visibility.
While some may wonder why the manufacturer hasnt chosen a QHD display for their flagship, you will find the 1080p display on the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is quite good, and you will notice little differences between its display and a QHD display. The 1080p LTPS panel is also very, very bright. This is actually due to Ulefone’s settings, they’ve set it up this way. You can basically put this thing on manual brightness setting and lower the brightness all the way down to 10-20% and the display would still be bright enough to use. This brightness will also be useful under direct sunlight, where you will usually struggle to read your display.
In terms of the responsiveness, the display is quite good, and you should have no problems with day to day use.
Camera
The rear camera on the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a 13 megapixel fourth generation Sony IMX214 sensor. A 5-megapixel sensor resides in the front of the device, and OmniVision’s OV5648 sensor is in charge of taking selfies.
While we can't attest to the quality of this camera's photos, the Sony sensor is said to provide great output when setup (with the right software). The samples we found prove to be details with saturated colors. Even indoor photos turn out well, though its known to overexpose light. While you dont get features like image stabilization, you will get some decent photos for the price.
Processor, Storage and Memory
The smartphone give you 16GB of storage, which you can expand through microSD. However the real power comes in the form of MediaTek’s MT6752 64-bit octa-core SoC clocked at 1.7GHz along with a Mali T760 MP3 GPU for graphics. You will also find the chip has been bundled with 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, which is a nice addition for its price.
As far as general performance goes, the phone can handle most tasks without issue. Multitasking is responsive, and most games like Dead Trigger 2, Asphalt 8: Airborne and Despicable Me run without lag.
Connectivity and other hardware
The Ulefone Be Touch 2 performs quite well in call quality, and doesn't suffer from dropped calls or anything of that sort. The conversations are clear at both ends, and there were no visible issues during prolonged calls.
The loudspeaker on the other hand could have been improved. While its capable, its a small unit, and output can be weak compared to some of its competitors. As far as general sound quality goes when you plug in headphones, well, that part is quite solid, you won’t be disappointed.
The handset ships with a 3050mAh battery, which should be more than enough to get you through a full day, given the rest of its hardware setup.
SOFTWARE
The Ulefone Be Touch 2 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. However Ulefone has added some customization to enhance the user experience. For example, you get off-screen gestures which can be quite useful actually, like Double tap, Swipe up, Launch Camera, Launch Calculator and Control Music. These gestures can be turned off as well if you want, but they can be quite useful. The double tap on the screen will turn on the screen, while drawing the letter ‘C’ while the screen is off will launch the camera.
You also get HotKnot here, which is essentially MediaTek’s version of NFC. In the settings menu, you’ll also be able to find the ‘Finger Scanner’ option which will let you set up the fingerprint scanner which is located below the display. You’ll be able to set up to 5 fingerprints here, the ones you choose, of course. The setup is quite straightforward, and it works more or less like the other popular products in the market.
Pricing and Availability
From what we see, the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a very capable device, for the below $200 asking price. You get a 5.5 inch smartphone, which a decent build and hardware capable of getting you through a day without out any hassle. The speaker could have been louder, and the battery could have fared better, but besides that you will probably be happy with owning this handset.
The handset can be picked up in either black or white, and is available through various online retailers like VolumeBest. VolumeBest is known for offering various discounts on their handsets, so be sure to check out the website for deals.
Ulefone Be Touch 2 - Review
Ulefone is a China-based manufacturer known for releasing affordable, yet solid smartphones. The Ulefone Be Touch 2 priced $189.24 - $198.06 is the company's current flagship smartphone, which tries to balance a decent hardware lineup into an affordable and attractive package.
HARDWARE
All in all, the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a nicely designed smartphone, with a decent set of specifications which can get you through most day to day tasks. However it is a bit bigger than we would have liked it to be.
Specs
| Design | candybar form factor | ||
| SIM Type | Dual SIM, dual standby (MicroSIM + Standard SIM) | ||
| Conectivity | 4G | FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600 (Band 1, 3, 7, 20) | |
| Display | Size | 5.5 inches IPS LTPS | |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels | ||
| Camera | Rear | 13 megapixel | |
Front | 5 megapixel | ||
| Memory | Internal | 16 GB | |
| External | micro SD | ||
| RAM | 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM | ||
| Hardware | CPU | 1.7GHz MediaTek MT6752 64-bit octa-core SoC | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion 3050mAh | ||
Design
The Ulefone Be Touch 2 has quite a decent build made out of metal, plastic and glass. The frame which runs around the device is metal, giving the device a premium feel. The design itself is somewhat similar to Apple's iPhone, but this doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing. The rounded edges also make daily handling the device easier.
The removable back cover is made of plastic, and and has a matte finish which should keep the device from slipping out of your hand. The front is mostly made up of the 5.5 inch glass display, but another visible iPhone inspiration comes in the form of an inbuilt fingerprint scanner, which also doubles as a home button. Two capacitive navigation buttons on either side assist with basic Android navigation.
The power / lock and volume rocker buttons are placed on the left-hand side of this phone. The speaker is located on the bottom of this device, and both the micro USB power plug and a 3.5mm headphone jack can be found up top. All in all, the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a nicely designed smartphone which is a bit bigger than it’s supposed to be.
Display
The display on the handset is a 5.5 inch LTPS display with a 1920 x 1080 pixel (1080p) resolution. This display panel is commonly used by Chinese manufacturers including OnePlus, and is known for its saturated colors, and good outdoor visibility.
While some may wonder why the manufacturer hasnt chosen a QHD display for their flagship, you will find the 1080p display on the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is quite good, and you will notice little differences between its display and a QHD display. The 1080p LTPS panel is also very, very bright. This is actually due to Ulefone’s settings, they’ve set it up this way. You can basically put this thing on manual brightness setting and lower the brightness all the way down to 10-20% and the display would still be bright enough to use. This brightness will also be useful under direct sunlight, where you will usually struggle to read your display.
In terms of the responsiveness, the display is quite good, and you should have no problems with day to day use.
Camera
The rear camera on the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a 13 megapixel fourth generation Sony IMX214 sensor. A 5-megapixel sensor resides in the front of the device, and OmniVision’s OV5648 sensor is in charge of taking selfies.
While we can't attest to the quality of this camera's photos, the Sony sensor is said to provide great output when setup (with the right software). The samples we found prove to be details with saturated colors. Even indoor photos turn out well, though its known to overexpose light. While you dont get features like image stabilization, you will get some decent photos for the price.
Processor, Storage and Memory
The smartphone give you 16GB of storage, which you can expand through microSD. However the real power comes in the form of MediaTek’s MT6752 64-bit octa-core SoC clocked at 1.7GHz along with a Mali T760 MP3 GPU for graphics. You will also find the chip has been bundled with 3GB of LPDDR3 RAM, which is a nice addition for its price.
As far as general performance goes, the phone can handle most tasks without issue. Multitasking is responsive, and most games like Dead Trigger 2, Asphalt 8: Airborne and Despicable Me run without lag.
Connectivity and other hardware
The Ulefone Be Touch 2 performs quite well in call quality, and doesn't suffer from dropped calls or anything of that sort. The conversations are clear at both ends, and there were no visible issues during prolonged calls.
The loudspeaker on the other hand could have been improved. While its capable, its a small unit, and output can be weak compared to some of its competitors. As far as general sound quality goes when you plug in headphones, well, that part is quite solid, you won’t be disappointed.
The handset ships with a 3050mAh battery, which should be more than enough to get you through a full day, given the rest of its hardware setup.
SOFTWARE
The Ulefone Be Touch 2 runs Android 5.1 Lollipop out of the box. However Ulefone has added some customization to enhance the user experience. For example, you get off-screen gestures which can be quite useful actually, like Double tap, Swipe up, Launch Camera, Launch Calculator and Control Music. These gestures can be turned off as well if you want, but they can be quite useful. The double tap on the screen will turn on the screen, while drawing the letter ‘C’ while the screen is off will launch the camera.
You also get HotKnot here, which is essentially MediaTek’s version of NFC. In the settings menu, you’ll also be able to find the ‘Finger Scanner’ option which will let you set up the fingerprint scanner which is located below the display. You’ll be able to set up to 5 fingerprints here, the ones you choose, of course. The setup is quite straightforward, and it works more or less like the other popular products in the market.
Pricing and Availability
From what we see, the Ulefone Be Touch 2 is a very capable device, for the below $200 asking price. You get a 5.5 inch smartphone, which a decent build and hardware capable of getting you through a day without out any hassle. The speaker could have been louder, and the battery could have fared better, but besides that you will probably be happy with owning this handset.
The handset can be picked up in either black or white, and is available through various online retailers like VolumeBest. VolumeBest is known for offering various discounts on their handsets, so be sure to check out the website for deals.
DJs
HARDWARE
Specs
Design
The Doogee Y100 Pro (or Doogee Valencia 2 Y100 Pro) comes with a fairly modern design, and has a metal frame complimented by a plastic body. Despite its rounded edges being comfortable for one handed use, we noticed that the phone is wider than we would have liked it to be.
The front of the Y100 Pro is covered in 2.5D curved glass, which is a common addition by Chinese smartphone manufacturers. The display neatly curves into the frame which adds to the classy look of the device, though we would have preffered to see a slightly thicker frame for easier grasping.
Below the display, the Doogee Y100 Pro has the set of 3 capacitive buttons - Menu, Back and Home. We were disappointed to see a modern smartphone with a menu button, instead of the common recent apps/multi tasking button.
The rest of the phone is pretty smooth and simple, with a curved back and volume/power buttons on the right edge.
Overall we are impressed with Doogee's design choices on their Y100 Pro. The handset is comfortable to handle and easy to use.
Display
The Doogee Y100 Pro features a 5 inch IPS OGS display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and 2.5D Gorilla Glass coating on top. When affordability is a factor, manufacturers are forced to make compromises, and the display on the Y100 Pro is one of them.
Still the handset manages to offer good viewing angles and has adjustable brightness settings to ensure you wont struggle under direct sunlight.
Camera
According to Doogee, the rear camera of the Y100 Pro is a 13 MP Sony sensor with autofocus and an LED flash while the front camera measures 8 MP.
We usually are very critical on cameras when we review smartphones, and we found the output of the Y100 Pro to be average. The photos are decent at most, and capture basic detail, but the indoor and low light outcome was not favorable.
Despite what the specs look like on paper, we wouldn't recommend this phone for someone who finds photography important in their day to day lives, but the handset delivers what you would expect for its cost.
Processor, Storage and Memory
The Doogee Y100 Pro is powered by a 1.0GHz quad-core Mediatek MTK6735 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. You also get 16GB of internal storage, which can always be expanded through microSD.
The setup is perfect for moderate users, but wont be a good combination for those looking for a gaming device.
Connectivity and other hardware
The CPU comes with a 4G LTE antennae, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the usual sensors like a proximity sensor and gesture recognition.
The Doogee Y100 Pro is outfitted with a 2200mAh battery. The phone is capable of lasting around 2 days with moderate use, as you would expect from the midrange hardware. You can expect the phone to get you through a work day even with heavy use on the 4G network.
Doogee also promises the Y100 Pro will charge up quickly, allowing you to get from zero to 100% in only 3 hours.
SOFTWARE
On the software side, the Doogee Y100 Pro comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop. The company claims to have greatly optimized the platform, promising lesser memory usage, improved performance and lower power consumption.
The result is a well balanced and smooth experience on the Y100 Pro. Doogee has done a layer of customization on top of Android, which we are not thrilled about, yet its pretty cool to look at, despite being a little cartoonish.
Pricing and Availability
The Doogee Y100 Pro is an excellent choice for a mid-range smartphone. While its display and camera are weaker than some of its competitors, its still a top choice in its price range. The phone is clearly designed at the general user, who needs a smooth performer with decent battery life.
The handset can be purchased for around $100 (USD) from retailers like EverBuying, and you can pick between the gray and silver models.
Doogee Valencia 2 Y100 Pro - Review
Doogee is a Chinese manufacturer, known for its comprehensive lineup of affordable smartphones. While the name may not be popular as some of the others, the Doogee Y100 Pro was definitely a smartphone worth taking a look at.
| PROs | CONs |
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HARDWARE
Specs
| Design | candybar form factor | ||
| SIM Type | dual SIM | ||
| Conectivity | 4G | FDD-LTE 800/1800/2100/2600MHz | |
| Display | Size | 5.0 inches | |
| Resolution | 1280 x 720 pixels | ||
| Camera | Rear | 13 megapixel | |
Front | 8 megapixel | ||
| Memory | Internal | 16 GB | |
| External | micro SD | ||
| RAM | 2 GB | ||
| Hardware | CPU | 1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735P | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion 2200mAh | ||
Design
The Doogee Y100 Pro (or Doogee Valencia 2 Y100 Pro) comes with a fairly modern design, and has a metal frame complimented by a plastic body. Despite its rounded edges being comfortable for one handed use, we noticed that the phone is wider than we would have liked it to be.
The front of the Y100 Pro is covered in 2.5D curved glass, which is a common addition by Chinese smartphone manufacturers. The display neatly curves into the frame which adds to the classy look of the device, though we would have preffered to see a slightly thicker frame for easier grasping.
Below the display, the Doogee Y100 Pro has the set of 3 capacitive buttons - Menu, Back and Home. We were disappointed to see a modern smartphone with a menu button, instead of the common recent apps/multi tasking button.
The rest of the phone is pretty smooth and simple, with a curved back and volume/power buttons on the right edge.
Overall we are impressed with Doogee's design choices on their Y100 Pro. The handset is comfortable to handle and easy to use.
Display
The Doogee Y100 Pro features a 5 inch IPS OGS display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution and 2.5D Gorilla Glass coating on top. When affordability is a factor, manufacturers are forced to make compromises, and the display on the Y100 Pro is one of them.
Still the handset manages to offer good viewing angles and has adjustable brightness settings to ensure you wont struggle under direct sunlight.
Camera
According to Doogee, the rear camera of the Y100 Pro is a 13 MP Sony sensor with autofocus and an LED flash while the front camera measures 8 MP.
We usually are very critical on cameras when we review smartphones, and we found the output of the Y100 Pro to be average. The photos are decent at most, and capture basic detail, but the indoor and low light outcome was not favorable.
Despite what the specs look like on paper, we wouldn't recommend this phone for someone who finds photography important in their day to day lives, but the handset delivers what you would expect for its cost.
Processor, Storage and Memory
The Doogee Y100 Pro is powered by a 1.0GHz quad-core Mediatek MTK6735 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. You also get 16GB of internal storage, which can always be expanded through microSD.
The setup is perfect for moderate users, but wont be a good combination for those looking for a gaming device.
Connectivity and other hardware
The CPU comes with a 4G LTE antennae, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the usual sensors like a proximity sensor and gesture recognition.
The Doogee Y100 Pro is outfitted with a 2200mAh battery. The phone is capable of lasting around 2 days with moderate use, as you would expect from the midrange hardware. You can expect the phone to get you through a work day even with heavy use on the 4G network.
Doogee also promises the Y100 Pro will charge up quickly, allowing you to get from zero to 100% in only 3 hours.
SOFTWARE
On the software side, the Doogee Y100 Pro comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop. The company claims to have greatly optimized the platform, promising lesser memory usage, improved performance and lower power consumption.
The result is a well balanced and smooth experience on the Y100 Pro. Doogee has done a layer of customization on top of Android, which we are not thrilled about, yet its pretty cool to look at, despite being a little cartoonish.
Pricing and Availability
The Doogee Y100 Pro is an excellent choice for a mid-range smartphone. While its display and camera are weaker than some of its competitors, its still a top choice in its price range. The phone is clearly designed at the general user, who needs a smooth performer with decent battery life.
The handset can be purchased for around $100 (USD) from retailers like EverBuying, and you can pick between the gray and silver models.
DJs
The name Elephone is not one generally associated with smartphones in the west, but this rapidly growing company has proven its ability to manufacture devices like the Elephone P6000. You can find this cellphone on Gearbest with free shipping, along with some other online retailers.
HARDWARE
Design
Despite having an all plastic body, the Elephone P6000 has a solid build with a sturdy construction. While it isn't the thinnest phone out there, its 8.9mm thickness actually contributes toward its build quality, giving it a firm feel when it is handled. Its design is similar to most modern smartphones, but Elephone has added in rounded edges to make the phone feel comfortable in your hand.
The removable back cover actually contributes to this curved feel of the phone, and power and volume buttons are built into the back casing on the right side of the phone. These buttons are easily accessible when the phone is held in your left hand.
On the top you have a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the micro-USB port can be found on the bottom left of the device.
The rear of the device shows off a prominent Elephone logo, the speaker grill, the flash and the camera lens. Personally I have never been a fan of having the speaker on the rear, as its usually muffled when placed on a desk.
On the front you have a 5 inch 720p display, a front facing camera for video calls and a set of blue capacitive keys on the bottom. The home key glows when used, and also flashes when you have a notification. However, the back and menu keys don’t have a back light.
Display
The Elephone P6000 has a 5 inch IPS display with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, which calculates to 293 ppi. While full 1080p HD displays are common on some 5 inch devices, the P6000 performs adequately with 720p. The display used on the P6000 offers good color reproduction and viewing angles.
Processor
64-bit processors are quickly becoming a stable addition on Android smartphones, and the Elephone P6000 is ahead of the pack as one of the first smartphones from an Asian OEM outfitted with such a processor.
Storage
Camera
The P6000 is outfitted with a 13 megapixel camera on its rear, and a secondary 2 megapixel camera in front for video calls. The inbuilt camera app includes features like HDR and Panorama, while users can change settings like exposure level, the scene type, the white balance, face detection and so on.
The camera should cover all your basic needs, and should perform well as long as you have adequate light. Users can also download and use third-party camera apps from the Google Play Store if they need any.
Connectivity
The Elephone P6000 also comes with built in GPS, which you can use with Google Maps or HERE Maps which include turn-by-turn navigation.
Battery
SOFTWARE
The Elephone P6000 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, and has access to the Google Play Store along with all of Google's apps and services including GMail and YouTube.
CONCLUSION
Elephone P6000 - Review
Android phones come in assorted forms, and from various manufacturers. Finding and selecting a phone that suits you is not always easy, and looking to a lesser known brand like Elephone may be the right solution for the best balance in value and quality.
| PROs | CONs |
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The name Elephone is not one generally associated with smartphones in the west, but this rapidly growing company has proven its ability to manufacture devices like the Elephone P6000. You can find this cellphone on Gearbest with free shipping, along with some other online retailers.
HARDWARE
Design
Despite having an all plastic body, the Elephone P6000 has a solid build with a sturdy construction. While it isn't the thinnest phone out there, its 8.9mm thickness actually contributes toward its build quality, giving it a firm feel when it is handled. Its design is similar to most modern smartphones, but Elephone has added in rounded edges to make the phone feel comfortable in your hand.
The removable back cover actually contributes to this curved feel of the phone, and power and volume buttons are built into the back casing on the right side of the phone. These buttons are easily accessible when the phone is held in your left hand.
On the top you have a 3.5mm headphone jack, while the micro-USB port can be found on the bottom left of the device.
The rear of the device shows off a prominent Elephone logo, the speaker grill, the flash and the camera lens. Personally I have never been a fan of having the speaker on the rear, as its usually muffled when placed on a desk.
On the front you have a 5 inch 720p display, a front facing camera for video calls and a set of blue capacitive keys on the bottom. The home key glows when used, and also flashes when you have a notification. However, the back and menu keys don’t have a back light.
Display
The Elephone P6000 has a 5 inch IPS display with a 720 x 1280 pixel resolution, which calculates to 293 ppi. While full 1080p HD displays are common on some 5 inch devices, the P6000 performs adequately with 720p. The display used on the P6000 offers good color reproduction and viewing angles.
Processor
64-bit processors are quickly becoming a stable addition on Android smartphones, and the Elephone P6000 is ahead of the pack as one of the first smartphones from an Asian OEM outfitted with such a processor.
The handset has been outfitted with a 1.5GHz quad-core Cortex-A53 based MediaTek MT6732 processor. According to Elephone the MT6732 is 20 percent faster than MediaTek’s octa-core Cortex-A7 based processors, but with 30 percent less battery consumption. The setup also features a Mali-T760 GPU and 2GB of RAM, which when coupled with the processor should offer decent overall performance for a mid-ranger.
Storage
The Elephone P6000 has 16GB of internal storage, which is generally adequate for a modern smartphone. You should be able to store your music, photos and a reasonable number of apps without any issues. Additionally the handset also offers microSD storage, allowing your to add up to 64GB of additional storage should the need arise.
Camera
The P6000 is outfitted with a 13 megapixel camera on its rear, and a secondary 2 megapixel camera in front for video calls. The inbuilt camera app includes features like HDR and Panorama, while users can change settings like exposure level, the scene type, the white balance, face detection and so on.
The camera should cover all your basic needs, and should perform well as long as you have adequate light. Users can also download and use third-party camera apps from the Google Play Store if they need any.
Connectivity
The P6000 is a dual SIM phone that offers quad-band GSM, which means 2G will work just about anywhere in the world; dual-band 3G, on 900 and 2100MHz; and quad-band 4G LTE on 800/1800/2100 and 2600MHz. Make sure to check if your carrier supports the bands you want before purchasing the device.
The Elephone P6000 also comes with built in GPS, which you can use with Google Maps or HERE Maps which include turn-by-turn navigation.
Battery
The handset comes with a 2700mAh Lithium-Polymer battery, which should offer a little over 14 hours of battery life with around 3 hours of screen on time. This should be enough to last the day, but we would have liked it to last a little longer, considering its power optimized processor and the use of a 720p screen instead of a higher resolution one.
SOFTWARE
The Elephone P6000 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, and has access to the Google Play Store along with all of Google's apps and services including GMail and YouTube.
CONCLUSION
With the Elephone P6000 you are getting a 4G LTE enabled Android smartphone with a 5 inch 720p HD display and a quad-core 64-bit processor. With Android 5.0 Lollipop and a decent performance, the handset is a great choice for someone looking for a budget friendly smartphone. Check out the Elephone P600 and various other 4G smartphones which can be found on Gearbest.com