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REVIEW: Asus Zenfone 5 Lite: big-screen smartphone for the budget-conscious

December 21, 2014December 21, 2014 Max Limpag Leave a comment

BUILDING on the success of Zenfone 5, Asus recently released a cheaper version of the handset in time for end-of-the-year upgrading – the Asus Zenfone 5 Lite.

The Zenfone 5 Lite has a dual core Intel Atom 1.2 Ghz processor with 1GB RAM and an 8GB internal memory that is expandable via microSD up to 64GB. The phone comes with a 5-inch qHD display of 960×540. It has an eight-megapixel rear camera with auto focus and LED flash. It comes with a .3-megapixel selfie or front camera.

Budget smartphone. The Asus Zenfone 5 Lite is a good option for those wanting to upgrade to a smartphone on a budget.

The phone has with a non-removable 2,500 mAh Li-Polymer battery that should, in regular use, take you through a working day. The Zenfone 5 Lite is dual SIM and has HSPA+ connectivity.

The Zenfone 5 Lite comes with Android 4.4 or Kitkat with Asus ZenUI, the company’s custom Android skin.

Budget smartphone

I used the phone for a couple of weeks to test the device and found it a good enough device for those looking to upgrade to a smartphone but are on a budget.

The test unit was the white version and it looked really good, even in comparison to other higher end devices. The phone is designed well and looks to have excellent finish. It also feels well-built and tough.

Asus ZenUI. The Zenfone 5 Lite comes with the Asus ZenUI, the company’s custom skin for Android.

The phone was responsive enough to use although it doesn’t stand out compared with other units within and below its price range that I tested at about the same time. Starmobile’s UP Mini and UP Lite, both of which are cheaper, are more responsive and smoother. The Starmobile phones have quad-core processors although Intel, in its previous presentations on their processors, take pains to insist it’s not just about the number of cores but also about their quality.

Sleek Asus ZenUI interface

I used the Zenfone 5 Lite as main work phone for more than a week and found the experience okay. My go-to apps — Mailbox, Google Keep, Evernote, Trello and Slack – worked well enough as to go through a regular workday. Save for one incident of the keyboard freezing, I did not encounter any major hiccup while I was using the device.

Powered by Intel. The Asus Zenfone 5 Lite is powered by an Intel Atom dual-core processor.

Asus ZenUI is also a sleek interface that’s easy on the eyes. My current favorite Android launcher is CM Launcher but ZenUI isn’t too shabby either. It’s actually quite good. My favorite feature is the “What’s Next” component, which helps you keep track of and reminds you of your schedules. I also liked the way it presents the caller screen, with its sleek design.

The phone’s camera is also good enough for its price range. Eight megapixels is pretty standard for most mid-level phone cameras nowadays.

Zenfone 5 Lite promo

The Zenfone 5 Lite retails for P5,595. If you buy it from any of the Thinking Tools branches in Cebu – On Junquera Extension, in Ayala Center Cebu and in the Cyberzone in SM City Cebu – you will get a free 8GB microSD card and OTG cable for free.

For its price and build quality, the Asus Zenfone 5 Lite is a good budget option for those seeking to upgrade to a smartphone with a big enough screen, a good finish, sleek design and the brand backing of a major global company.

Zenfone 5 Lite Promo. If you buy an Asus Zenfone 5 Lite from any of the 3 branches of Thinking Tools in Cebu, you will get a free 8Gb microSD card and an OTG cable.

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REVIEW: Starmobile UP Mini, UP Lite: good phones on a budget

December 14, 2014December 14, 2014 Max Limpag Leave a comment

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Except for their prices, the Starmobile UP Mini and UP Lite don’t come off as cheap. Their build quality is excellent and the phones are very responsive.

Starmobile’s UP Mini and UP Lite.

I passed the UP Mini around and asked friends and colleagues to feel its finish, check out the device’s responsiveness and guess its price: P15,000 said one, P13,000 said another. The lowest guess was P5,000 with most saying it’s price was higher than P8,000.

The UP Mini actually sells for P3,690 and what a device for such a price. It has a 1.3GHz quad core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU with Android 4.4, a 4GB built-in storage expandable via micro SD, 8MP rear camera with Backside Illumination (BSI) and 1080P at 30FPS video capture. The device is dual SIM with dual 3G standby.

UP MINI. The phone retails for P3,690 but its responsiveness and build quality made some colleagues guess it was selling for as high as P15,000. (Photo by Max Limpag)

I used the device for two weeks and found it a perfectly capable smartphone. Although its RAM is only 512MB, it was okay as a device to manage email, browse websites, keep up with news and boost productivity through my go-to apps.

The UP Mini and an iPhone 5.

UP Mini Specifications

Android 4.4 KitKat
1.3GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex-A7
Mali-400MP2
2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G UMTS/WCDMA: 850/2100Mhz, HSPA+: Download up to 21Mbps
4GB ROM
512MB RAM, Micro SD expansion
133.4 x 66.4 x 9.3mm
VGA Front Camera plus 8MP with Backside Illumination (BSI) Rear Camera with 1080p @ 30fps
Wireless Internet and File Transfer, Miracast, FM Radio, GPS + A-GPS, OTA Update
1550mAh Li-ion
Regular + Regular, Dual 3G Standby

The UP Mini (top) and UP Lite.

The UP Lite, on the other hand, is a speedier alternative. It has the same processor but more RAM, at 1GB, than the Mini. The company describes it as “speedy and stylish.” It delivers on the speedy but I found the Mini more stylish. Maybe it’s just me.

As a phone, the UP Lite is more than a capable device. It handled games – even those with heavier graphics demand – very well. I asked our eldest son to play games with it and he said he was very happy with the performance.

UP Lite. The phone comes with a quad core processor and a 1GB RAM, which makes for a very responsive device.

When I used it the UP Lite, I found it responsive enough for my needs. I used it for work for a couple of days – through my regular apps of choice Mailbox, Google Docs, Trello, Slack, Flipboard – and had no complaints. It ran apps well.

The phone comes with an 8MP rear camera with BSI and 1080P at 30FPS capture and a 2MP front camera with BSU and LED flash.

UP Lite Specifications

2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G UMTS/WCDMA: 850/2100MHz, HSPA+: Download up to 21.1Mbps
1.3 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex-A7
Mali-400MP2
1GB RAM, Max 32GB Micro SD expansion
8GB ROM
134 x 65 x 8.2mm
2MP with BSI and LED Flash Front Camera and 8MP AF with Backside Illumination (BSI) Rear Camera with 1080p @ 30fps video capture
Wireless Internet and File Transfer, Mirecast and Chromecast Support, FM Radio, GPS + A-GPS, OTA Update
1650mAh Li-ion
Regular + Micro, Dual 3G Standby

UP LITE UNBOXED. The UP Lite, as with the UP Mini, comes out of the box with a free screen protector, instacase and a smart cover.

Even the phone chargers of the two devices don’t look cheap. They are actually a stylish white. The devices also come out of the box with a free screen protector and smart cover.

Starmobile is turning out an impressive line of devices at such a low price. At such low prices, the UP devices perform way above their price class. If you’re looking to upgrade to a smartphone or to find a device to give for Christmas, make sure you check out these two models from Starmobile.

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The post REVIEW: Starmobile UP Mini, UP Lite: good phones on a budget appeared first on Leon Kilat : The Tech Experiments.

REVIEW: Starmobile UP Mini, UP Lite: good phones on a budget

December 14, 2014December 14, 2014 Max Limpag Leave a comment

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Except for their prices, the Starmobile UP Mini and UP Lite don’t come off as cheap. Their build quality is excellent and the phones are very responsive.

Starmobile’s UP Mini and UP Lite.

UP MINI. The phone retails for P3,690 but its responsiveness and build quality made some colleagues guess it was selling for as high as P15,000. (Photo by Max Limpag)

The UP Mini and an iPhone 5.

UP Mini Specifications

Android 4.4 KitKat
1.3GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex-A7
Mali-400MP2
2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G UMTS/WCDMA: 850/2100Mhz, HSPA+: Download up to 21Mbps
4GB ROM
512MB RAM, Micro SD expansion
133.4 x 66.4 x 9.3mm
VGA Front Camera plus 8MP with Backside Illumination (BSI) Rear Camera with 1080p @ 30fps
Wireless Internet and File Transfer, Miracast, FM Radio, GPS + A-GPS, OTA Update
1550mAh Li-ion
Regular + Regular, Dual 3G Standby

The UP Mini (top) and UP Lite.

UP Lite. The phone comes with a quad core processor and a 1GB RAM, which makes for a very responsive device.

The phone comes with an 8MP rear camera with BSI and 1080P at 30FPS capture and a 2MP front camera with BSU and LED flash.

UP Lite Specifications

2G GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz, 3G UMTS/WCDMA: 850/2100MHz, HSPA+: Download up to 21.1Mbps
1.3 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex-A7
Mali-400MP2
1GB RAM, Max 32GB Micro SD expansion
8GB ROM
134 x 65 x 8.2mm
2MP with BSI and LED Flash Front Camera and 8MP AF with Backside Illumination (BSI) Rear Camera with 1080p @ 30fps video capture
Wireless Internet and File Transfer, Mirecast and Chromecast Support, FM Radio, GPS + A-GPS, OTA Update
1650mAh Li-ion
Regular + Micro, Dual 3G Standby

UP LITE UNBOXED. The UP Lite, as with the UP Mini, comes out of the box with a free screen protector, instacase and a smart cover.

Even the phone chargers of the two devices don’t look cheap. They are actually a stylish white. The devices also come out of the box with a free screen protector and smart cover.

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The post REVIEW: Starmobile UP Mini, UP Lite: good phones on a budget appeared first on Leon Kilat : The Tech Experiments.

Driving the All-new Nissan X-Trail up the City of Pines

October 20, 2014October 20, 2014 Kevin Bruce Francisco Leave a comment

Last week, we were able to drive the all-new 2014 Nissan X-Trail all the way up north to test its capabilities as a vehicle that’s always ready for anything. Nissan Philippines is one of the first to have it in southeast Asia and we were lucky to experience it firsthand. So we packed our bags, fastened our seatbelts, and we were off to hit the highway.

The all-new X-Trail comes in two variants – 2.0- and 2.5-liter models. 4WD only comes in with the 2.5-liter X-Trail.

We stitched up a short video of our trip to Baguio. It shows more of the X-Trail and its features like the 360-degree Around View Monitor. Watch it below:

Physically, the third-generation X-Trail is bigger, taller, and wider than its predecessors and even to others in its category. It has a muscular stance while its front features the V-motion grille that’s also present in other Nissan vehicles. The SUV also comes with a new boomerang-shaped tail lamps that keep it looking sharp, while LED daytime running lights make you stand out in public.

The new X-Trail is ready to take you on an adventure whether it be long, winding roads, or even floods with its 210mm ground clearance. There are no problems fitting people inside since the interior is roomy thanks to its longer wheelbase. The seats can also be set up to turn it into a 7-seater vehicle.

It’s installed with a 5-inch LCD display that shows its Around View Monitor — basically a bird’s eye view of the car used while backing up made possible by four cameras installed on all sides of the vehicle. It’s a pretty neat and useful feature to have especially for those having problems parallel parking or when in tight spaces.

The 4×4 X-Trail that we drove carries a 2.5-liter engine which outputs 171 horses and 233Nm of torque. It’s got an Eco Mode for a more controlled fuel consumption and is partnered with the company’s XTRONIC Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Nissan-XTrail-6

For those with car-sickness, the 2014 X-Trail boasts an Active Ride Control that makes the drive smooth with less bumps. Adding to that, it has an Active Engine Break which ensures better braking control, Hill Start Assist that basically prevents the vehicle from rolling back on inclined roads, and Descent Control that assists the vehicle when going down on steep slopes.

The all-new X-Trail was a joy to bring up the City of Pines. Driving it was like driving a small car as it easily traces the winding roads of Kennon Road. For more power, users can opt to turn off its Eco Mode — doing so unleashes the engine’s full potential and together with its four-wheel drive, going up on steep roads was effortless.

Launched during the 5^th Philippine International Motor Show, the third-generation X-Trail is packed with testosterone to take on whatever challenge it faces. It will be available for purchase starting today, October 20, 2014, and will start at Php1,375,000.

2014 Nissan X-Trail specs (Premium Package):
2.5L twin cam 16-valve DOHC engine
4WD (All Mode 4X4i)
XTRONIC CVT
Descent control
Auto speed control system
Headlamp: auto on/off (Dusk sensor)
Roof rail
Front foglamps
Rain-sensing wiper
Daytime running lights (DRL)
Leather wrap steering
Around View Monitor
Dual zone climate control
5-inch display audio
6x speakers
Bluetooth
17-inch alloy wheels
7-seater
Colors: Fiery Red, Copper Blaze
Price: Php1,580,000

2014 Nissan X-Trail specs (Value Package):
2.0L twin cam 16-valve DOHC engine
2WD
XTRONIC CVT
Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
Electric Power Steering
Halogen with LED clearance lamps
Daytime running lights (DRL)
Variable intermittent wiper
Dual zone climate control
Dual SRS Airbag
ABS
3-point seat belt
Hill start assist
Intelligent key with push button start
4x speakers
17-inch alloy wheels
7-seater
Colors: Pearl White, Diamond Black, Brilliant Silver
Price: Php1,375,000

As an offer for a better deal, Nissan Philippines is accepting reservations for the all-new X-Trail at a special introductory price of Php1,550,000 (4×4) and Php1,350,000 (4×2) until October 31, 2014 only. Visit the nearest Nissan dealership for more inquiries.

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Alteam AH-598 Headphones Quick Review

July 14, 2014July 14, 2014 Bob Freking Leave a comment

We’ve already had a look at one of Alteam’s headphones just recently, and here we have another one – the Alteam AH-598. It’s more affordable than the other one we reviewed, but it doesn’t mean it has nothing to show. Does it have what it takes to grab your attention and convince you to buy? Read on our quick review to find out!

ALTEAM AH 598

Inside the box, you have the headphones, two cables varying in length, earpads and a jack adapter.

Most of the device is made out of plastic, steel and foam – and it turns out to be pretty light despite its bulkiness. The sides of the ear cups feel premium, including the neck, as they’re both made out of steel. The neck feels like it might break sometimes, so you do have to take care of it. On top of everything, the foams will keep you really comfortable, and the rest is plastic.

ALTEAM AH 598

After picking your cable, plug it in and twist it over at the bottom left side, keeping it secure right there. As for the quality of the cables, they’re not flat, but they feel extremely durable and they’re not really prone to tangling all the time. They also plug in to my phone just fine despite my slim armor case.

Now, enter the experience and you’ll find that even with the comfortable and classy design, the sound quality is, well, underwhelming. We played a wide variety of songs to test it, and our judgement is clear – the audio is hollow, and it lacks the bass and treble that we need. You can identify the instruments playing and separate them in your head, the volume is decently loud, it feels entirely comfortable on your ears or around your neck, but listening to music wasn’t as enjoyable as it wasn’t able to make me headbang through the tracks.

ALTEAM AH 598

Here is a list of a few songs that we tried on the Alteam AH-598:

MakeDamnSure – Taking Back Sunday
Wasting Away – Tonight Alive
The Bird and The Worm – The Used
What You Know – Two Door Cinema Club
Problem – Ariana Grande
All of Me – John Legend
Pompeii – Bastille
Bangarang – Skrillex
Do I Wanna Know? – Arctic Monkeys
Smoke on The Water – Deep Purple

Hearing pop music nowadays, you’ll find that a lot of them are bassy. We’re here to tell you that you won’t enjoy that here – as it’s the guitars that pop with the AH-598.

Alteam AH-598 specs:
10Hz – 25KHz frequency range
32 impedance
103db sensitivity
MPO: 300 mW
1.2m / 4m cables

ALTEAM AH 598

For the price of Php3,799, the Alteam AH-598 is hardly worth it, as we’ve seen better sound quality in a lot of other devices. It’s comfortable and stylish with okay mids, but if you want equipment for your audio experience, there are alternatives. You can check Reeco’s listing here, and luckily they have other headphones and audio equipment to offer there too.

What we liked about it:

Really comfortable
Simple yet classy design
Good cables

What we didn’t like about it:

Lacks bass and highs
Hollow sound experience
Neck feels like it might break

The post Alteam AH-598 Headphones Quick Review appeared first on YugaTech | Philippines, Tech News & Reviews.