Lenovo has announced on its official forum that Google’s Marshmallow update for its Vibe P1 smartphone is rolling out.
Lenovo Vibe P1 specs:
5.5-inch Full HD IPS display, 401ppi
Corning Gorilla Glass 3
1.5GHz 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 Octa-core CPU
Adreno 405 GPU
2GB RAM
32GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSD
13MP rear camera w/ dual-tone flash
5MP front camera
Dual-SIM
4G LTE, 3G HSPA+
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 4.1
GPS, A-GPS
NFC
FM Radio
Fingerprint scanner
Android 5.1 Lollipop w/ Vibe UI (upgradeable to Marshmallow)
5,000mAh battery
152.9 x 75.6 x 9.9mm
187g
Their post stated that the new OS version for the Vibe P1 is to be expected and true enough, reports from India have surfaced saying that they already got the prompt to update their units.
For others who have the Vibe P1 you may start waiting for a notification advising you to update or you could also manually check by going to the Setting menu of your phone.
First launched a few weeks ago through online e-commerce website Lazada, Elephone’s P8000 smartphone boasts 3GB RAM, a fingerprint scanner, and a 4,150mAh battery for a price less than Php8,000. Is it a bang for the buck device in the making? Here’s our full review.
Design and Construction
Donning a silver finish all over, Elephone’s P8000 has a look reminiscent of other smartphones we’ve seen. On the front lays the 5.5-inch screen, its sensors, and three illuminating keys: the two dots on the left and right signal as the option and back buttons, respectively, while the middle halo serves as the LED notification while toggling for home and the recent app list.
On the sides are convex aluminum frames with chamfered edges for a better grip. Located on the right side are the power/lock button and the volume rockers. The 3.5mm audio port sits at the top, while the microUSB slot and the microphone are all laid down at the bottom of the device.
As expected from a metal frame, several antennae were present on both the top and bottom sides of the device for better signal reception. Elephone didn’t bother to hide them away, as they are very noticeable in a standout white color against the silver speckled alloy.
At the back of the device lay the 13MP rear camera, its accompanying LED Flash below it, a fingerprint sensor, the Elephone logo embossed in chrome, and an array of speaker holes beneath. All of these are featured in a quite reflective, yet smooth carbon fiber back plate with a unique pattern, which would be loved or loathed depending on who uses it. The pattern, however, does possess some good traits as it is able to resist most smudges and fingerprints.
Prying open the back plate and you will see the microSD and two micro SIM card slots, and a non-removable 4150mAh battery. The cards can be inserted into the device by pushing the covers upward to open them, and seal by closing down the hinged cover and pushing down.
The device construction and the battery capacity may give the device more heft, but the additional weight is hardly noticeable when you’ve become accustomed to using it. It’s a joy to use when operating, as the controls are reachable by one hand.
Display and Multimedia
As for the display, Elephone opted for a Full HD display that has really great, vivid colors and crisp images as it has a 401 pixel density. There’s already a pre-applied screen protector, which is a good thing if you like to move around a lot with the phone in your bag or pocket. Viewing is great when faced front, and on some of the angles as you’d notice a whiter appearance on some instances. The screen is well-responsive to touch gestures.
As for multimedia, there’s no other audio setting except for those inside the music player app, which could be a bummer for those who want to listen all day long. Speaker may be a bit loud as it easily fills up a medium-sized room with ease, but output may be baffled and distorted at times especially when turned into the highest volume, while those who listen to multimedia content via headphones can enjoy decent sound quality.
Camera
Elephone has a 13-megapixel Samsung shooter built right into the device. The camera takes decent photos even in low light, but exposure problems hinder the production of decently-looking images as seen from reality. Colors may be off at times even when HDR mode is used, and its focus cannot be your friend especially when taking macro shots. Here are a few samples:
Video, on the other hand, takes decent clips at Full HD resolution with 30 frames per second. Stabilization is not present, so you may want to use a sturdy pod when you shoot a few clips. Here’s a sample:
OS, UI, and Apps
Elephone bakes the P8000 with a stock version of Android’s 5.1 Lollipop operating system. It’s bare to its core, as there are minimal apps added except for Elephone’s own Service app and the OTA update service app. Some icons are still reminiscent of the Gingerbread or KitKat era, so it’d be nice to update these icons somehow. The overall installation of the OS leaves the user 11.3GB of space to fill up with applications of their choosing.
We’re thankful that most bloatware apps are nowhere to be found. If you’re one who opts to use apps right out of the box, however, you might want to install a few ones of your liking before you can get to use the device to its fullest. We didn’t receive any updates as we used the device, but it is said that a Marshmallow upgrade is in the works.
Performance and Benchmarks
Performance isn’t a problem with the 3GB RAM, as it was able to handle multitasking between apps and light, casual games smoothly and without any problems. Using it with graphic-intensive games, though, tend to result in small frame drops and minimal lags. We ran benchmarks on the device and here’s what we got:
AnTuTu – 38,811 Vellamo – 2,725 (Browser) 1,543 (Multicore), 1,161 (Metal) 3DMark – 182 (Slingshot using OpenGL ES 3.1) Quadrant Standard – 21,754
We feel that the benchmark results of the device are good, but could have been improved with the use of a better or more powerful system chip.
Connectivity and Battery Life
While most of the smartphone’s connectivity options such as GSM capabilities in calls and texts, mobile data, Bluetooth, and GPS, seem to work well, we ran into a bit of problems with Elephone’s own connectivity features: The mobile hotspot seems to have connection problems as it doesn’t want to connect with my phone (LG G3 Beat) properly. As checked, no USB-OTG function is found. As for the fingerprint scanner, it can hold up to 5 unique fingerprints and can be used to unlock the phone.
Needless to say, the device is a beast with its equipped 4,165mAh battery as it can last for up to three days on light to moderate use of calls, text, games, social media apps, and multimedia all while connected to the WiFi or mobile data all the time. We ran it with PCMark, and it touts one of the longest-running devices off the charts with an 11 hours and 29 minutes rating. Recharging the P8000 with its dedicated quick charge plug can give you a full battery in between 2-3 hours.
Conclusion
In a country where local smartphones thrive with affordable offerings, Elephone enters with a premise of bringing in a slew of devices that also promise the same bang-for-the-buck experience. In retrospect, the P8000 is a beast when it can deliver a long-lasting device performance with a stock Android UI experience meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
However, these merits are bound to be debunked by a few mishaps which we hope could be improved in future versions: there’s that noticeable lag as you wake up the device, the slightly distorted audio speakers and a few connectivity problems we’ve encountered as we used it.
Nevertheless, at Php7,799. the Elephone P8000 could be a potential bang-for-the-buck device along with the decent smartphone experience it can deliver.
Elephone P8000 specs:
5.5-inch Full HD display @ 1920 x 1080 px, 401ppi
1.3GHz MediaTek MT6753 octa-core CPU
Mali-T720 GPU
3G RAM
16GB internal storage
up to 128GB via microSD
13M Samsung 3L2 rear camera w/ LED flash
5MP front camera
Dual-SIM (micro)
4G LTE, 3G
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS, A-GPS
Fingerprint scanner
4,165mAh battery
Android 5.1 Lollipop
155.2 x 76.6 x 9.2mm
What we liked about it:
* Great battery life
* Decent performance
* Stock Android with minimal bloatware
* Unique back pattern repels fingerprints, smudges
What we didn’t like about it:
* Distorted speakers
* Mobile Hotspot isn’t connecting devices well
Designed to focus on the user’s overall fitness and wellness, ASUS launched its VivoWatch that promises round the clock heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and exercise recording — all in your wrist.
Design and Construction
The VivoWatch still has the same curved Gorilla Glass 3 display seen on the ASUS ZenWatch and ZenWatch 2. What’s different is that the VivoWatch has a smaller screen size at 1.28 inches compared to ZenWatch’s 1.63-inch display. Screen resolution is also brought down a notch at 128 x 128.
Another major implementation on the VivoWatch is the use of a black and white memory LCD which is known for its high contrast but low power consumption so the watch could last longer on a single charge.
The company went for the familiar curved edges that give the device a touch of elegance — meaning it could also be worn during formal events and not only when exercising.
Initial startup would require you to pair the VivoWatch with a smartphone through ASUS’ HiVivo app (available for free on both iOS and Android).
The display’s edges are protected using a stainless steel frame with a glossy finish. It gives the device a nice accent although we noticed that it’s a bit prone to smudges and hairline scratches.
Also seen here is the one and only shortcut button that unlocks the screen among its many other functions.
The VivoWatch has a standard-sized 28mm strap which is interchangeable as long as they have the same size. Due to the intended active use of the device, its strap is made from plastic so it’s easier to clean compared to cloth or leather bands.
Turning it over and you’ll be greeted by the heart rate sensor which is something that not all fitness bands have. This built-in optical sensor dismisses the need for chest straps which basically deliver the same results. Having one embedded the watch simply means that your heart rate is comfortably monitored 24/7.
Just like its cousins, the VivoWatch charges using a cradle that snaps to its body. It then has a microUSB port where you can plug in and connect to a power source.
Other specs that make up the VivoWatch are its 3-axis accelerometer, Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless pairing and connectivity, and IP67 certification that makes it able to go underwater at 1 meter for 30 minutes straight. This simply means that you can still use the device when you’re running under the rain or taking a shower.
Navigation is pretty simple and the HiVivo app is where we could see all the data recorded — this includes steps made, calories burned, hours of quality sleep experienced, a score that rates your overall lifestyle, and more.
Happy Mobile recently announced a new device called the Neo Lite, and here’s your first look at the 4.5-inch smartphone with modest entry-level internals — a quad core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a uniquely-patterned back cover all at under Php4K.
Design and Construction
Closely inspecting the device, it presents itself with sharp edges and corners, unlike its contemporaries on the same price range where most settle for arched, curved designs. At the top of the device is the 3.5mm audio jack. On the front is the display, with three non-lit capacitive keys laid down at the bottom. The bottom-left side has the microUSB port.
On the left side is the power/lock button. The other side has the volume rockers, which you might do a double take at first glance because of the chrome embellishment chipped in. At the back is a unibody polycarbonate shell with a signature design consisting of geometric patterns.
These are not only just for design, as it certainly gives off a subtle texture based on what you can see. It also has the rear camera that’s slightly protruding at the top, an LED Flash, and a uniquely shaped speaker grill with the Happy Mobile logo placed beside it. Prying open leads you to a dedicated microSD card slot, and SIM slots that have to pass through removing the 2000mAh battery first.
The Neo Lite is a great device to hold despite bearing sharp, boxy edges. It’s very comfortable for one-hand navigation due to its size, and its aesthetics would make you ditch that phone case to flaunt those nice polygons in public.
Display and Multimedia
Display isn’t bad, as it got a 4.5-inch IPS display with the usual FWVGA resolution that’s just quite okay for a device as small as this. Colors are vibrant and accurate, viewing on any angle looks good, and the brightness is just enough for it to be seen outdoors.
Multimedia isn’t a problem as well, as the sounds coming from the loudspeaker can easily fill up a small room with its loud amps, and listening via headphones ain’t that bad.
Camera
Camera photos taken with the 8MP rear camera were a bit hazy, produces off colors at times, and details aren’t as sharp as they are supposed to be. Check out these sample shots:
Videos take a hit, as it captures environments with darker exposures. Here’s a sample video taken on a bright afternoon:
OS, UI, and Apps
Android KitKat runs this device, and is home to 4GB of storage with 2.1GB usable for apps and other content. There are also options for gestures a la O+ USA’s air shuffle, and nifty tricks such as double-tapping the home capacitive key to lock the device. Several pre-loaded apps are present which consist of social media ones such as Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp, which are uninstallable should you not want them at all. We had a problem installing a handful of applications while we were using the device solely relying on its internal storage, and it is a must that you equip a microSD card the moment you buy this phone to install more applications.
Performance and Benchmarks
Performance is on the average side, with few to minimal lags in frames when we play graphic intensive games like Zombie Tsunami. Multitasking isn’t a problem, too. Here are the benchmark scores:
Connectivity isn’t an issue, as we got to call and send messages in a breeze. Other options such as WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS work fine, too. As for the battery life, it has managed to keep the device awake for almost a day of moderate use that includes calls, texts, browsing and app usage over WiFi. Our PCMark battery test showed the device clocking in at 5 hours and 11 minutes, which is really surprising given the 2000mAh battery it has.
Conclusion
To conclude, this entry-level device from Happy Mobile presents itself with a good performance tucked beneath a well-crafted polycarbonate body. The Neo Lite is a compact smartphone packed with a surprisingly good battery performance, coupled with occasional wireless updates and loud speaker sound.
In contrast, the absence of an LED notification light, a rather underwhelming camera, and the need for a microSD card to install more apps when there is enough free space left can be deal-breakers for some. The price, too, at Php3,299 could be a letdown as there are other affordable smartphones that are priced much cheaper than this.
Nevertheless, the Neo Lite is a beauty with performance, and could be a hit among those who want to stand out among the crowd.
Happy Mobile Neo Lite specs:
4.5 inch FWVGA IPS display @ 854 x 480 pixels, 218ppi
1.4GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT6582
Mali 400 GPU
1GB RAM
4GB internal storage
expandable via microSD
8MP rear camera with LED Flash
2MP front camera
3G
Dual-SIM, Dual Standby
WiFi
Bluetooth
FM Radio
USB-OTG
Android 4.4.2 KitKat with OTA updates
2000mAh battery (removable)
Colors: Ocean Blue, Rose Fuchsia, White & Black
What we liked about it:
* Great design and build
* Good performance
* Good Battery life
What we didn’t like:
* The need for a microSD card to install more apps
* NO LED Notification light
* Sub-par rear camera
Happy Mobile recently announced a new device called the Neo Lite, and here’s your first look at the 4.5-inch smartphone with modest entry-level internals — a quad core processor, 1GB of RAM, and a uniquely-patterned back cover all at under Php4K.
Design and Construction
Closely inspecting the device, it presents itself with sharp edges and corners, unlike its contemporaries on the same price range where most settle for arched, curved designs. At the top of the device is the 3.5mm audio jack. On the front is the display, with three non-lit capacitive keys laid down at the bottom. The bottom-left side has the microUSB port.
On the left side is the power/lock button. The other side has the volume rockers, which you might do a double take at first glance because of the chrome embellishment chipped in. At the back is a unibody polycarbonate shell with a signature design consisting of geometric patterns.
These are not only just for design, as it certainly gives off a subtle texture based on what you can see. It also has the rear camera that’s slightly protruding at the top, an LED Flash, and a uniquely shaped speaker grill with the Happy Mobile logo placed beside it. Prying open leads you to a dedicated microSD card slot, and SIM slots that have to pass through removing the 2000mAh battery first.
The Neo Lite is a great device to hold despite bearing sharp, boxy edges. It’s very comfortable for one-hand navigation due to its size, and its aesthetics would make you ditch that phone case to flaunt those nice polygons in public.
Display and Multimedia
Display isn’t bad, as it got a 4.5-inch IPS display with the usual FWVGA resolution that’s just quite okay for a device as small as this. Colors are vibrant and accurate, viewing on any angle looks good, and the brightness is just enough for it to be seen outdoors.
Multimedia isn’t a problem as well, as the sounds coming from the loudspeaker can easily fill up a small room with its loud amps, and listening via headphones ain’t that bad.
Camera
Camera photos taken with the 8MP rear camera were a bit hazy, produces off colors at times, and details aren’t as sharp as they are supposed to be. Check out these sample shots:
Videos take a hit, as it captures environments with darker exposures. Here’s a sample video taken on a bright afternoon:
OS, UI, and Apps
Android KitKat runs this device, and is home to 4GB of storage with 2.1GB usable for apps and other content. There are also options for gestures a la O+ USA’s air shuffle, and nifty tricks such as double-tapping the home capacitive key to lock the device. Several pre-loaded apps are present which consist of social media ones such as Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp, which are uninstallable should you not want them at all. We had a problem installing a handful of applications while we were using the device solely relying on its internal storage, and it is a must that you equip a microSD card the moment you buy this phone to install more applications.
Performance and Benchmarks
Performance is on the average side, with few to minimal lags in frames when we play graphic intensive games like Zombie Tsunami. Multitasking isn’t a problem, too. Here are the benchmark scores:
Connectivity isn’t an issue, as we got to call and send messages in a breeze. Other options such as WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS work fine, too. As for the battery life, it has managed to keep the device awake for almost a day of moderate use that includes calls, texts, browsing and app usage over WiFi. Our PCMark battery test showed the device clocking in at 5 hours and 11 minutes, which is really surprising given the 2000mAh battery it has.
Conclusion
To conclude, this entry-level device from Happy Mobile presents itself with a good performance tucked beneath a well-crafted polycarbonate body. The Neo Lite is a compact smartphone packed with a surprisingly good battery performance, coupled with occasional wireless updates and loud speaker sound.
In contrast, the absence of an LED notification light, a rather underwhelming camera, and the need for a microSD card to install more apps when there is enough free space left can be deal-breakers for some. The price, too, at Php3,299 could be a letdown as there are other affordable smartphones that are priced much cheaper than this.
Nevertheless, the Neo Lite is a beauty with performance, and could be a hit among those who want to stand out among the crowd.
Happy Mobile Neo Lite specs:
4.5 inch FWVGA IPS display @ 854 x 480 pixels, 218ppi
1.4GHz Quad-core MediaTek MT6582
Mali 400 GPU
1GB RAM
4GB internal storage
expandable via microSD
8MP rear camera with LED Flash
2MP front camera
3G
Dual-SIM, Dual Standby
WiFi
Bluetooth
FM Radio
USB-OTG
Android 4.4.2 KitKat with OTA updates
2000mAh battery (removable)
Colors: Ocean Blue, Rose Fuchsia, White & Black
What we liked about it:
* Great design and build
* Good performance
* Good Battery life
What we didn’t like:
* The need for a microSD card to install more apps
* NO LED Notification light
* Sub-par rear camera
