O+ Convertible Review

O+ USA is leveling their product line with a new Windows convertible that has a keyboard dock with 500GB HDD. While local competitors already has convertibles and the like under their sleeves, O Plus’ product stands out with its large storage capacity. Here is our review of the O+ Convertible.

Design and Construction

Like any convertibles in the market today, O+ Convertible doesn’t differ in design. It’s a rectangular device that is composed of two main parts, the tablet and the dock. The tablet contains all the paraphernalia needed to make the device work like the processor, memory, battery and display. The dock, on the other hand, has a 500GB HDD for additional storage and the physical keyboard with touchpad. The tablet itself can be used on its own since it has an ample 32GB internal storage to work on.

When the tablet is in landscape orientation, the volume rocker and the physical Start button is situated on the right, along with the micro-HDMI port and microSD slot. Its top has the 3.5mm jack, microphone pinhole, and power/lock button. The bottom of the tablet is where it gets busy. A full-size USB 2.0 and a micro-USB sandwiches the pins that connect the docks interface. Four magnetic latches and two fasteners keeps the dock bonded.

It is worth nothing that unlike some convertibles, the dock doesn’t add battery power, but it gives twice the USB port. Also, the trackpad is irksome to use due to its lack of multi-touch gesture support. You’re better off using the 10-point touchscreen.

Display

Speaking of the display, it features an 11.6-inch TFT LCD with a decent resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels. Viewing angles on both sides are okay but vertical angles are nothing to write about. Despite this, colors are all right, with a hint of bluish tint, plus well suited contrast for every computing. Brightness levels can be an issue especially outdoors. Display quality is no different from any other affordable notebook PCs in the market.

OS, Apps and UI

We have Windows 8.1 with Bing installed, a free version of Windows operating system that has a small catch. It is a bit disappointing to not see Office 360 subscription that comes free with other convertibles. O+ Convertible is bloatware free out of the box, which is a good thing to keeps it fresh and away resource hogs.

Camera and Multimedia

The two 2-megapixel shooter are mediocre at best. There are just suitable for video-calling thanks to its low-quality sensor plus, it hard to frame yourself for chatting, the camera is just not wide enough. Check out the samples below.

If you are in need of instant video recording, it can go up to 720p with so-so quality. Keep in mind that there’s no autofocus feature and automatic exposure compensation.

o plus convertible sample video

In terms of audio, there is a stereo speaker behind the tablet which fires sound backwards. Even high volume levels doesn’t help to make it loud enough. A headphone is recommended when playing media content, just plug it in through the 3.5mm jack on top.

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Performance and Battery

With a quad-core Intel Atom processor paired with 2GB of RAM plus the latest Windows 8.1, consumers can expect an up to scratch performance but nothing stellar. Everyday work can be done with a little web browsing effortlessly but once multiple tabs are already open, either Chrome or IE, things tend to choke a bit especially during a video playback. Hence, a user can play a 1080p video smoothly as long as nothing else is eating up its resources.

In our standard battery test which involves 1080p playback with 50% brightness and 0% volume using VLC player, the convertible can last up to 4 hours and 21 minutes. The 6,400mAh battery can be charged via the microUSB port on the tablet or with the DC-in on the dock using the included 40watt charger.

Conclusion

With a 500GB storage placed within its keyboard dock, that is the only thing special about the O+ Convertible. Its shortcomings are a bit hard to accept even for a media consumption, but it is still a capable Windows performer for those who wants a tablet and a portable PC. For Php 15,995, it can a hard sell for those who want a bang for their bucks.

O+ Convertible specifications:
11.6-inch TFT display (1366 × 768 pixels)
1.33GHz quad-core Intel Atom Z3735F CPU
Intel HD Graphics
2GB of RAM
32GB internal storage
500GB HDD (keyboard dock)
Supports up to 128GB microSD card
2-megapixel front camera
2-megapixel rear camera
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth
Micro HDMI port
USB 2.0 and Micro USB 2.0 ports
6400mAh battery
Windows 8.1 with Bing

What we liked about it:

  • Generous 500GB HDD storage
  • Responsive touchscreen
  • Strong dock mechanism

What we didn’t:

  • Display has bad vertical viewing angles
  • Touchpad doesn’t support multi-touch
  • Soft speakers

The post O+ Convertible Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

O+ to unveil its 360 HD today for sub-Php6.5K

O+ is set to launch its 360 HD today that carries a 5-inch display with HD resolution, quad-core processor, and 1GB RAM for under Php6.5K.

o+360hd

O+ 360 HD specs:
5-inch IPS HD display @ 1280 x 720 resolution
1.3GHz quad-core processor
1GB RAM
8G internal storage (w/ free 8GB SanDisk microSD)
expandable up to 32GB
8MP rear camera with flash
5MP front camera with flash
Dual-SIM
Bluetooth 3.0
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
2G, 3G
Android 4.4.2 KitKat
2000mAh Li-Ion battery

The O+ 360 HD is looking to be an image-centric handset since it has a front flash on top of the rear so you can take better selfies in low-light situations. It will be priced at Php6,395 once it launches today.

{O+}

The post O+ to unveil its 360 HD today for sub-Php6.5K appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

O+ Fab Elite 2.0 Review

We gave our first impressions with the O+ Fab Elite 2.0 last December. After weeks of using it, some impressions stayed the same and more came in. Will this 6.5” phablet from O+ be a worthy device for your big pockets? Read on to find out.

Design and Construction

At first glance, one might mistake the Fab Elite 2.0 as a gigantic Samsung Galaxy S4. It definitely looks like a bigger twin of the former flagship in terms of design. Once you get a feel of the device, the massive 6.5” display will dominate your palm and the heft is present. Nevertheless, it has a solid build except for the buttons. They feel loose but tactile enough when pressed.

The front is greatly dominated by the display, with the sensors, earpiece, and front-facing camera above it, while the physical home button and a pair of capacitive keys for back and menu is situated below.

The right side is where the power/lock button is with the volume rocker on the opposite side. We can find the 3.5mm jack on top and the micro-USB port at the bottom. The primary camera and speaker is fixed at the back of the device.

Display

As pointed out, this phablet sports a giant 6.5” IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Pixel-wise, it is not lacking. What we didn’t like are the brightness levels. It can get bright enough under the sun, but it doesn’t dim well at night. It can become a pain to use in dark situations. That aside, colors are reproduced well with enough saturation to please the eyes. Viewing angles are good too due to IPS, which is a must since the big and crisp screen would be great for sharing content.

OS, Apps and UI

On board is Android KitKat, version 4.4.2 to be specific. Lollipop 5.0 is still a rare find especially for MediaTek powered smartphones like the Fab Elite 2.0. Android is generally untouched here, aside from the included wallpapers and icons – which are very unsightly. We would definitely change the icon pack and the launcher in the long run.

O+ included a sharing app named O+ Air Share wherein you can share files from your Google Drive with your AirShare Friends from Facebook. We wish to test this feature but it shows us that we don’t have any ‘friends’ using the same app.

Camera and Multimedia

There’s a 13-megapixel shooter at the back and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The primary camera captures decent details with minimal noise given that the setting is well lit, however colors seem dull and life-less. Then, things get really murky at night. Resolved details are really useless to even share to your social media accounts.

Check out these sample photos taken with the Fab Elite 2.0:

It can shoot 1080p videos as well. And just like its stills, the output seems washed out and dull. You can turn on the Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) to compensate for the camera shake but with a narrower field-of-view.

The display size is definitely perfect for viewing photos and watching videos on the go. Just make sure to plug in the included Sennheiser headset because the speaker is not loud enough to hear the audio in an acceptable environment. There’s also FM radio on board if you feel the need to listen to your favorite DJ.

Benchmarks and Performance

What’s powering the device is a capable octa-core processor from MediaTek running at 1.7 GHz with a Mali-450 MP GPU and 1GB of RAM. We question the RAM for being too small to handle such task since the phablet has a lot of pixels to push on its 1080p display.

Hiccups are present since we first used the device. Transitions tend to show lag and multitasking is sluggish. Good thing, performance within apps are constantly fluid given that no other intensive apps are running.

Here are the benchmark numbers for comparison:
AnTuTu v5.5 – 31,325
Nenamark 2 – 49.5fps
Geekbench 3 – 440 (Single-Core), 2,307 (Multi-Core)

Battery and Connectivity

To make the smartphone a complete package, the phablet has 3G connectivity, WiFi and Bluetooth. Sadly, there’s no LTE on-board.

We tested its battery life with a continuous 1080p video playback at 50% brightness and zero volume. We were able to get 8 hours and 19 minutes.

Conclusion

As we wrap-up our review, the Fab Elite 2.0 from O+ is decent phablet with a 1GB RAM bottleneck that limits its multitasking capabilities since it has a 6.5″ display, perfect for watching and editing files on the go.

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O+ Fab Elite 2.0 specifications:
6.5” IPS Full HD (1080 x 1920) display, 339ppi
1.7 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6592
Mali-450 MP GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
13-megapixel primary camera w/ LED flash
5-megapixel front camera
3G
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
FM Radio
Dual SIM, Dual Stand-by
Li-Ion 3000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat

What we liked about it:

  • Solid build
  • Full HD display
  • Smart flip-cover
  • Good battery life
  • Included Sennheiser headset

What we didn’t like:

  • Quiet speakers
  • Limited brightness levels
  • Average camera color reproduction
  • Mediocre low-light performance
  • 1GB of RAM

The device retails for Php 15,995 with Sennheiser stereo headset straight out of the box.

The post O+ Fab Elite 2.0 Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

O+ Fab Elite 2.0 Review

We gave our first impressions with the O+ Fab Elite 2.0 last December. After weeks of using it, some impressions stayed the same and more came in. Will this 6.5” phablet from O+ be a worthy device for your big pockets? Read on to find out.

Design and Construction

At first glance, one might mistake the Fab Elite 2.0 as a gigantic Samsung Galaxy S4. It definitely looks like a bigger twin of the former flagship in terms of design. Once you get a feel of the device, the massive 6.5” display will dominate your palm and the heft is present. Nevertheless, it has a solid build except for the buttons. They feel loose but tactile enough when pressed.

The front is greatly dominated by the display, with the sensors, earpiece, and front-facing camera above it, while the physical home button and a pair of capacitive keys for back and menu is situated below.

The right side is where the power/lock button is with the volume rocker on the opposite side. We can find the 3.5mm jack on top and the micro-USB port at the bottom. The primary camera and speaker is fixed at the back of the device.

Display

As pointed out, this phablet sports a giant 6.5” IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Pixel-wise, it is not lacking. What we didn’t like are the brightness levels. It can get bright enough under the sun, but it doesn’t dim well at night. It can become a pain to use in dark situations. That aside, colors are reproduced well with enough saturation to please the eyes. Viewing angles are good too due to IPS, which is a must since the big and crisp screen would be great for sharing content.

OS, Apps and UI

On board is Android KitKat, version 4.4.2 to be specific. Lollipop 5.0 is still a rare find especially for MediaTek powered smartphones like the Fab Elite 2.0. Android is generally untouched here, aside from the included wallpapers and icons – which are very unsightly. We would definitely change the icon pack and the launcher in the long run.

O+ included a sharing app named O+ Air Share wherein you can share files from your Google Drive with your AirShare Friends from Facebook. We wish to test this feature but it shows us that we don’t have any ‘friends’ using the same app.

Camera and Multimedia

There’s a 13-megapixel shooter at the back and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The primary camera captures decent details with minimal noise given that the setting is well lit, however colors seem dull and life-less. Then, things get really murky at night. Resolved details are really useless to even share to your social media accounts.

Check out these sample photos taken with the Fab Elite 2.0:

It can shoot 1080p videos as well. And just like its stills, the output seems washed out and dull. You can turn on the Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) to compensate for the camera shake but with a narrower field-of-view.

The display size is definitely perfect for viewing photos and watching videos on the go. Just make sure to plug in the included Sennheiser headset because the speaker is not loud enough to hear the audio in an acceptable environment. There’s also FM radio on board if you feel the need to listen to your favorite DJ.

Benchmarks and Performance

What’s powering the device is a capable octa-core processor from MediaTek running at 1.7 GHz with a Mali-450 MP GPU and 1GB of RAM. We question the RAM for being too small to handle such task since the phablet has a lot of pixels to push on its 1080p display.

Hiccups are present since we first used the device. Transitions tend to show lag and multitasking is sluggish. Good thing, performance within apps are constantly fluid given that no other intensive apps are running.

Here are the benchmark numbers for comparison:
AnTuTu v5.5 – 31,325
Nenamark 2 – 49.5fps
Geekbench 3 – 440 (Single-Core), 2,307 (Multi-Core)

Battery and Connectivity

To make the smartphone a complete package, the phablet has 3G connectivity, WiFi and Bluetooth. Sadly, there’s no LTE on-board.

We tested its battery life with a continuous 1080p video playback at 50% brightness and zero volume. We were able to get 8 hours and 19 minutes.

Conclusion

As we wrap-up our review, the Fab Elite 2.0 from O+ is decent phablet with a 1GB RAM bottleneck that limits its multitasking capabilities since it has a 6.5″ display, perfect for watching and editing files on the go.

null

O+ Fab Elite 2.0 specifications:
6.5” IPS Full HD (1080 x 1920) display, 339ppi
1.7 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6592
Mali-450 MP GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
13-megapixel primary camera w/ LED flash
5-megapixel front camera
3G
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
FM Radio
Dual SIM, Dual Stand-by
Li-Ion 3000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat

What we liked about it:

  • Solid build
  • Full HD display
  • Smart flip-cover
  • Good battery life
  • Included Sennheiser headset

What we didn’t like:

  • Quiet speakers
  • Limited brightness levels
  • Average camera color reproduction
  • Mediocre low-light performance
  • 1GB of RAM

The device retails for Php 15,995 with Sennheiser stereo headset straight out of the box.

The post O+ Fab Elite 2.0 Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.

O+ Fab Elite 2.0 Review

We gave our first impressions with the O+ Fab Elite 2.0 last December. After weeks of using it, some impressions stayed the same and more came in. Will this 6.5” phablet from O+ be a worthy device for your big pockets? Read on to find out.

Design and Construction

At first glance, one might mistake the Fab Elite 2.0 as a gigantic Samsung Galaxy S4. It definitely looks like a bigger twin of the former flagship in terms of design. Once you get a feel of the device, the massive 6.5” display will dominate your palm and the heft is present. Nevertheless, it has a solid build except for the buttons. They feel loose but tactile enough when pressed.

The front is greatly dominated by the display, with the sensors, earpiece, and front-facing camera above it, while the physical home button and a pair of capacitive keys for back and menu is situated below.

The right side is where the power/lock button is with the volume rocker on the opposite side. We can find the 3.5mm jack on top and the micro-USB port at the bottom. The primary camera and speaker is fixed at the back of the device.

Display

As pointed out, this phablet sports a giant 6.5” IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Pixel-wise, it is not lacking. What we didn’t like are the brightness levels. It can get bright enough under the sun, but it doesn’t dim well at night. It can become a pain to use in dark situations. That aside, colors are reproduced well with enough saturation to please the eyes. Viewing angles are good too due to IPS, which is a must since the big and crisp screen would be great for sharing content.

OS, Apps and UI

On board is Android KitKat, version 4.4.2 to be specific. Lollipop 5.0 is still a rare find especially for MediaTek powered smartphones like the Fab Elite 2.0. Android is generally untouched here, aside from the included wallpapers and icons – which are very unsightly. We would definitely change the icon pack and the launcher in the long run.

O+ included a sharing app named O+ Air Share wherein you can share files from your Google Drive with your AirShare Friends from Facebook. We wish to test this feature but it shows us that we don’t have any ‘friends’ using the same app.

Camera and Multimedia

There’s a 13-megapixel shooter at the back and a 5-megapixel selfie camera. The primary camera captures decent details with minimal noise given that the setting is well lit, however colors seem dull and life-less. Then, things get really murky at night. Resolved details are really useless to even share to your social media accounts.

Check out these sample photos taken with the Fab Elite 2.0:

It can shoot 1080p videos as well. And just like its stills, the output seems washed out and dull. You can turn on the Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS) to compensate for the camera shake but with a narrower field-of-view.

The display size is definitely perfect for viewing photos and watching videos on the go. Just make sure to plug in the included Sennheiser headset because the speaker is not loud enough to hear the audio in an acceptable environment. There’s also FM radio on board if you feel the need to listen to your favorite DJ.

Benchmarks and Performance

What’s powering the device is a capable octa-core processor from MediaTek running at 1.7 GHz with a Mali-450 MP GPU and 1GB of RAM. We question the RAM for being too small to handle such task since the phablet has a lot of pixels to push on its 1080p display.

Hiccups are present since we first used the device. Transitions tend to show lag and multitasking is sluggish. Good thing, performance within apps are constantly fluid given that no other intensive apps are running.

Here are the benchmark numbers for comparison:
AnTuTu v5.5 – 31,325
Nenamark 2 – 49.5fps
Geekbench 3 – 440 (Single-Core), 2,307 (Multi-Core)

Battery and Connectivity

To make the smartphone a complete package, the phablet has 3G connectivity, WiFi and Bluetooth. Sadly, there’s no LTE on-board.

We tested its battery life with a continuous 1080p video playback at 50% brightness and zero volume. We were able to get 8 hours and 19 minutes.

Conclusion

As we wrap-up our review, the Fab Elite 2.0 from O+ is decent phablet with a 1GB RAM bottleneck that limits its multitasking capabilities since it has a 6.5″ display, perfect for watching and editing files on the go.

null

O+ Fab Elite 2.0 specifications:
6.5” IPS Full HD (1080 x 1920) display, 339ppi
1.7 GHz Octa-core MediaTek MT6592
Mali-450 MP GPU
1GB RAM
16GB internal storage, expandable via microSD up to 64GB
13-megapixel primary camera w/ LED flash
5-megapixel front camera
3G
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
FM Radio
Dual SIM, Dual Stand-by
Li-Ion 3000mAh battery
Android 4.4.2 KitKat

What we liked about it:

  • Solid build
  • Full HD display
  • Smart flip-cover
  • Good battery life
  • Included Sennheiser headset

What we didn’t like:

  • Quiet speakers
  • Limited brightness levels
  • Average camera color reproduction
  • Mediocre low-light performance
  • 1GB of RAM

The device retails for Php 15,995 with Sennheiser stereo headset straight out of the box.

The post O+ Fab Elite 2.0 Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.