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Huawei is chinese brand well known for almost anyone thanks to network components like routers, modems, switches...presents in our homes since the ADSL started to be something common.
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However, in the last years they have go into newer markets to avoid stay behind their competitors, and that’s how they went into the mobile market with some smartphones and tablets... Although not attracting too much attention.
In order to change that trend, they have introduced a new business line under the commercial name “Honor” which flagship is the new Honor 6. It has been presented as an independent brand from Huawei, but with the backup of having such a big brand behind, something like what we can see with Toyota and Lexus on the cars world.
The most peculiar of this new brand is that they promise high specifications but at a quite reduced prices, basing their strategy on online sales. Same technique used by low cost Asiatic manufacturers or, even first brands like Google with their Nexus.
Specifications
These are the characteristics showed on their web...
*the internal storage and memory card capacity have been improved in this new version.
There are no doubts we are facing a very powerful terminal, last generation and equipped with octa-core processor and 3GB of RAM!… Now let’s see how it performs
We see each time more and more devices with amazing HW on the paper BUT, with always or almost always the same weak points on the real using experience: screen quality and low camera definition on low light situations, even having a lot of megapixels. So go on with the review step by step.
Design
Frontal and rear part come with the 3rd generation of Gorilla Glass , connected by a plastic surface on the sides... Willing to look like metal (but not giving high quality feeling). Clean and round lines not highlighting for anything in special... Unless we mention the unavoidable similarity with the iPhone 5: same round edges, power adaptor situation or the frontal speaker.
I must say here that the finish is so smooth that I found the same issue the Nokia C7 had... It slides from the hands almost automatically.
On the front, first thing we see is that amazing 5.0” IPS (with 441ppp) with the forementioned speaker on the top together with the 5Mpx secondary camera. The tactile controls are located just below the screen. With this distribution, they have reached a quite impressive 76% ratio of screen within the total surface.
Once turned back, the 13Mpx main camera (with a Sony IMX214 sensor, 1/3.06”, f/2.0, 28mm including Total Focus and software stabilizer, HDR) and dual LED flash. Looking down, only the hands free speaker is visible. Near the center of the cover only the Honor logo to get more value.
Regarding this part of the design, I must pull the engineer’s ears for putting that rear speaker compeltely flat, in a way that when we recline the device, the sound is completely absorbed...losing quality and volume.
Interior
A Kirin 920 octa-core processor with four Cortex A15 cores running at 1,7Ghz and other four cores Cortex A7 at 1,3Ghz is beating inside this Honor 6, accompanied by a Mali T628 MP4 GPU (at 600Mhz) and as mentioned above, 3GB of RAM!
The internal memory brings us the very decent amount of 32GB, and again with the option to expand them with a microSD card, up to 64GB. Bravo for Huawei/Honor guys being able to answer a bigger storage demand.
Running, performance and autonomy
This Honor 6 presents us Android 4.4 Kitkat, customized with Emui 2.3. Sincerely it’s not enough to take advantage of the great hardware on this device, however it is already possible to update to the version 3.0 of Emui bringing interesting things to users, and specially using better the phone capabilities.
We have already seen the Sony IMX214 sensor of the main camera in many different high-end smartphones like OnePlus One, Nexus 6 or Xiaomi Mi4. Nevertheless, using the same components doesn’t mean achieving the same results...
A little subsection here to talk about the number of megapisels and the quality of the pictures taken. We all know that the iPhones (even the latest ones) still mount an 8Mpx camera, while their direct competitors have already jumped to the13Mpx or even 20Mpx. This could be translated into worse pictures or customers complaining, however the company from Cupertino has shown to followers and retractors that the software behind the camera is almost as important as the sensor used, receiving in addition a lot of praises for the quality of night pictures and the incredibly speed they are taken.
That said, it’s obvious I have found some faults to Honor 6’s camera. In the same way other (most of) low-cost smartphones in the market, we can take outstanding pictures in very good light conditions but, when the light is poor (or in the night) and we must use the flash, we find a lot of nois in the pictures due to the increase on the ISO sensibility.
Recording 1080p video at 30fps shows a good quality, and the optic stabilizer helps a lot for that purpose, in exchange to limit the camera capabilities, since we know this sensor is capable of recording at [email protected] Summarizing, the video recording is very good, although we have the impression we have been cut on the hardware benefits :-/
The stock application for the camera offer basic controls, sincerely more than enough for most of users and, if someone needs more control voer some elements...there are lots of third-party applications on Google Play.
It is not a secret that the recent selfie fever makes the secondary camera become a main character. About this one, I can only say that having 5Mps work in a similar way than the rear camera, so great results with good light, and noisy ones with low-light. Remark the included “beauty effect” filter will be quite useful when taking those selfies.
When talking about the performance on this Honor 6, the only I can say is fluid and fast on every task we charge him with: browsing (wifi, 3G or 4G), productivity (email, WPS Office,...), multimedia (HD movies without lags) or games (once more Asphalt 8 comes included and runs perfectly).
About the battery, brings 3100 mAh, more than enough for standing more than one full day with standard/intensive use.
It includes also an energy saving tool, proven quite useful with a lot of tweaks available.
And again I must give a shout to the engineers, premium range and not including the fast charge system? Please! It would be great to charge 90% of this battery in 15 minutes.
I am not following the trend of pasting screen-shots of amazing benchmarks results, like AnTuTu and others, since every smartphone today will bring very high scores and this not always mean a great user experience.
Conclusions
A very balanced terminal on every field, some initial complaints that are solved with Emui update, and surely with Lollipop.
The price of this smartphone with the new configuration (32GB ROM and up to 64GB by adding a microSD) is not even 330€, in online shops like Etotalk, including the VIP shipping via DHL (door to door). What makes of it a very interesting option
Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi (one of main players currently) has just presented an update for his Redmi Note model, with a few novelties and the goal of being one of most popular smartphones for the season.
Packaging and design
The box is “iPhone-like” in paperboard color, something I've liked since it looks a little bit more Eco-friendly, and at the same time it's simple and elegant.
In the box we find the terminal properly wrapped, a charger (with US plug, not the European one), a good quality USB cable, the warranty and instructions both in Chinese.
As usual lately, no signs of the earphones, we'll have to get used :-/
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The design of this Redmi Note 2 is very simple and clean, on the front we have the secondary camera on the top, then the 5,5” FullHD screen with just the 3 touch buttons typical from Android.
On the right side we have the volume and lock buttons, both seem made in good quality
Looking at the bottom, the micro-USB plug and the microphone. We have the jack 3.5 plug for the (non included) earphones and the secondary microphone for noise cancellation on the top.
So we have a completely free left side, something very common nowadays, due to the big size of the devices, the buttons are grouped in just one of the sides.
Once we flip it, the main 13Mpx camera (we have no information about who is manufacturing it), the LED (not dual) flash and the speaker on the bottom with the XIAOMI logo.
When we remove the back cover, we found the removable battery, the slots for the 2 micro-SIM and another one for the microSD expansion card.
This model is available in 5 colors: white, blue, yellow, pink and mint green.
Hardware
The technical specifications are quite good. Just to start, it's equipped with the new X10 octa core from Mediatek, so 64-bits and 2.0Ghz speed. The 2GB of RAM memory put it on the middle of the table, since most of new phones already come with 3GB or 4GB if we talk about flagship devices.
To complete the game, we find a GPU Power VR G6200 that will put all the sauce for videos and games to play smoothly.
Model* Xiaomi Redmi Note 2
SO*MIUI 7 (Android 5.0)
Processor*X10 64bits, octa core @ 2,0Ghz
GPU Power VR G6200
RAM*2GB
Screen*5,5” IPS LCD FullHD 1920x1080,*with*403ppi and 16M colors
Storage*16GB + microSD
Cameras*Main 13Mpx with flash LED; front 5Mpx; video 1080p @ 30 fps
Connectivity*Wi-Fi 2.4GHz b/g/n with Wi-Fi Direct support // BT 4.0*// MicroUSB (High Speed USB)
Dual SIM*GSM: 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 Mhz ; 3G WCDMA: 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 Mhz; 4G FDD-LTE: B1(2100MHz) / B3(1800MHz) / B7(2600MHz)
Other*G-sensor, P-Sensor, L-Sensor, Wifi, GPS, OTG< Multi-touch, Dual SIM, Schedule Power on/off, E-compass, Hall IC, Gravity Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Light Sensor, Magnetic Sensor, Gyroscope Sensor
Battery*3060mAh removable
Dimensions*152 x 76 x 8.25 mm
Weight*160gr with the battery
Colors White, blue, yellow, pink, mint green
Price*From $169.99 with current promos
Software and Multimedia
The Redmi Note 2 comes with the almost last version of Android 5.0 (Lollipop), however we won't appreciate it since the customization layer is very “intrusive”. We are talking about the very well known MIUI, which brings a iOS flavor that either you love or you hate normally.
MIUI is probably one of most known Android ROMs and doubtless one of the strengths that helped Xiaomi growth as much and sell their handhelds outside of China.
In this case, the Redmi Note has the v7 of MIUI and as expected it runs very well, fluid and smooth even when playing 2K videos. However, in my opinion is a little bit silly to play 2K videos in a 5,5” screen, even a very good one like this case. It will be very interesting if we are using a remote screen, and we are broadcasting to a big screen, but (and again is just my opinion) with a smartphone, I guess FullHD is already a great resolution.
On the same way, games (like Asphalt 8) run perfectly thanks to both the powerful chip X10 and the GPU Power VR G6200.
Camera
Nowadays it's very common to find 13 Mpx cameras on almost every smartphone. If we compare this one to other Chinese phones, we can say the results are very good.
It's not the main point in this phone, although as said before it achieves quite good results, specially with daylight (very good pictures!). But when the light is reduced, for example taking night pictures there is a lot of noise on the images.
When we move to video recording, FullHD at 30fps offer very good quality.
Battery
The trend is now to go around 3000mAh, and Xiaomi hits that mark in this case.
Of course the duration will depend on how much we use the smartphone and for what. Taking into consideration that on the first days we will be trying everything and the use will be much more exhaustive that the normal one.
However we will reach the end of the day without any difficulty, using data, camera,...
Conclusions
We have on our hands a very good terminal. We can notice it on the finishing and the overall user experience, thanks also to the good integration and performance of MIUI 7.
I don't like to open the box and don't find the earphones, but it becomes the rule now, so I will finally have to get used to that. I know manufacturers try to cut cost wherever they can, and they guess we all have good earphones already... but if you're presenting a device with an impressive screen and powerful enough to play and enjoy the multimedia part, why don't you complete it with a good earphones?
I'm sure this is a problem that we don't have when buying an iPhone or last Galaxy S or LG or any other first brand smartphone, since they have margin enough to pay quality extras.
This model (Redmi Note 2) is on the medium range so we have to consider it like that. If we are looking for a top class (Chinese) device we will have to choose the Xiaomi Mi5 (when available) or Xiaomi Note Pro and there the price will be already above 500€.
Are you looking a good smartphone for less than 200€? don't think more, you have to look and consider this one. It's not only because of the specifications on the paper, it's also (or mainly) because step by step the Chinese manufacturers are differentiating among them.
Xiaomi and Meizu have proved (or are proving yet) to be above the other Chinese companies... so if you have similar prices, ask for quality!
PS: if you like this review, just click on "Thanks"
Thx for the review
has or has not Gorilla Glass
has or has not Gorilla Glass
Phych said:
has or has not Gorilla Glass
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The glass is so called "Dragontail" which is actually very scratch resistance.
My problem so far with RN2 is the network location service, they return simplified chinese text to apps, also the international ROM is very buggy.
I got one question: Is a screenprotector already applied from the manufacture?
Btw I noticed you saying there are the 5 colours you mentioned but actualy there is also the colour gray (dark) (the one picture in your review has also a gray backcover)
Yes, screen protector is already applied but it covers front camera... So you have to change it
My device did not have a screen protector pre-applied.
Very strage
Introduction
This is the LeEco Le 2 X527 (Russia/International).
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Hardware
This device is powered by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 MSM8976 (Quad 1.8GHz Cortex A72 +
Quad 1.4GHz Cortex A53 CPU and Adreno 510 GPU), together with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of ROM. Unlike previous LeEco devices, this is the Russian/International variant ready-to-use in Russia and all European Countries thanks to the preinstalled Google Services and the support to many LTE Bands (1/2/3/4/5/7/8/20/38/40/41). Everything else is exactly the same as the X520 (Chinese) and X526 (Indian) variants.
Unboxing
Packaging comes with some accessories: 1x Type-C Full Reversible USB Cable, 1x Quick Charge 3.0 (5V up to 12V) USB Charger, 1x Quick Start Guide, 1x Warranty Certificate, 1x Type-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack (yeah, no built-in jack is here), 1x SIM Card Tray Tool, 1x TPU Cover and the Smartphone (of course).
The package itself feels, and looks, premium. Considering the price target of this device, it is pretty interesting to find such a good amount of accessories included, especially the QC 3.0 charger.
Just like all LeTV/LeEco devices, also this one features a Metal Chassis with Plastic Antenna Bands on the upper/lower sides of the rear. The device itself feels solid, pretty compact and well-made.
It is 15.12x7.43x0.79cm, probably one of the most compact 5.5" devices you can find, with huge bezels though. As regards its weight, it is super lightweight, only 156g.
On the front side there is the Standard (no 2.5D Curved) Display and the upper front side of the device features a Front-Facing Camera (with an interesting sensor size), an Earpiece, and the Sensors hole that includes Light and Proximity Sensors.
An RGB Notification LED is here, on the left.
On the lower front side there is the Touch Keys area, with Multitasking, Home and Back touch buttons. All buttons are backlit. (pretty bright too)
On the back side there is the unibody metal chassis, as mentioned before.
The upper rear side of the device features the Camera Sensor (OmniVision OV16880) supported by a single rounded Flashlight (Dual-Tone), and the huge Fingerprint Scanner with a mirror-like surface.
On the lower rear side there is just the LeEco logo with other minor things because the Speaker is placed near the USB port.
Device
Screen
LeEco choose to use a BOE screen (with NT35596s display controller) and the quality seems to be pretty good. I have not noticed any kind of issue, it is bright, with customizable color presets and excellent viewing angles.
Light Sensor supports ultra-smooth light changes, this is its maximum brightness.
Viewing Angles are as good as you would expect from an high-quality IPS panel.
Also the Touchscreen Panel is excellent, 10 points supported.
Camera
Something interesting about this device is the Rear Camera Sensor, an OmniVision OV16880 (16MP) with Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), PDAF and F2.0. Personally i found it to be great for photos in high and medium light conditions, but pretty average in low light conditions.
Photos taken using the default Photo mode are just fine, with an high amount of details and almost no image noise. Thanks to the image stabilization it is rare to not get a decent shot.
"HDR off" on the left and "HDR on" on the right.
Here you can see some photos taken without HDR and in different light conditions.
The Flashlight is super powerful, but it isn't real Dual-Tone. It is just a standard LED covered with a Dual-Color Plastic. Basically it looks pretty warm everytime, in any condition. A real Dual-Tone Flashlight has an indipendent LED for each color, with the software that chooses which one to use.
Macro Photos look decent, a bit out of focus if you don't play a lot with the tap-to-focus feature.
As regards Video Recording, the camera is able to record 4K and Full-HD videos at maximum 30FPS (no 1080p60 is here), and the quality is good even though the Optical Image Stabilization doesn't seem to be super-efficient compared to other devices. I might post a Camcorder Sample soon.
The Front Camera is probably not as good as you would expect from an high-quality 8MP camera sensor, seems to have some focus issues. Just like the Rear Camera, also this one suffers a bit in low-light conditions.
Audio
This is where LeEco shows its capabilities. Everything, starting from the Speaker ending with the Microphone, is perfect here. At least on my device, the speaker sounds great, with and without Dolby Atmos.
As you might have already noticed, this is a device that doesn't feature a 3.5mm Headphone Jack. It uses CDLA (Continual Digital Lossless Audio) instead, that provides the best audio quality using the USB Type-C port.
Even using the 3.5mm adapter you will get higher audio quality compared to standard 3.5mm devices. Ok, this is not a feature that everyone would appreciate, because you can't charge the device in the same time while using your Headphones, but for audiophiles this is definitely an appreciated feature.
The Microphone works perfect, the same applies for the Earpiece. I have tested it with Normal 3G Calls (no VoLTE is available here) and VOIP, everyone was able to hear my voice perfectly and i had no issues in hearing the third-party too.
GPS
When it comes to GPS Quality all Qualcomm Devices work great, Mediatek and others still have to learn a lot in this area, and as you might notice here the GPS is working perfect. More than 24 satellites in view outdoors, and indoors it is able to get some signal enough to get a more or less precise location.
Indoors on the left, outdoors on the right.
Telephony, Mobile Network & WiFi
Thanks to the 4G Band 20 support (some other Chinese Smartphones don’t have it, including some other LeEco devices), i was able to get some 4G signal almost everywhere.
4G Network Speed is higher than average, other devices tested in the same room, same position, were not able to get such high speed (photo on the left). I have also tested other bands speed (well, others supported by my Mobile Operator), result on the right.
WiFi 5GHz is supported here, and its speed is great. It supports only 1x1 Stream (Snap 652 WiFi Hardware limit), enough to get almost full-speed from my Broadband Internet Connection. (VDSL 100/20)
Battery Life
I have measured the real battery capacity using my USB Tester, and it seems that the real battery capacity matches the declared one. (declared 3000mAh, real ~3010mAh).
I lost my PCMark Battery Test (software bug), but i managed to find its duration in the Battery Stats. Not a great battery life unfortunately, lower than average, barely reaching 4 hours of screen-on time.
As regards battery charging times, thanks to the Quick Charge 3.0 support, together with the already included QC 3.0 charger, i managed to full-charge the device in almost no time. I will not say how many minutes because it highly depends on the device's temperature and other factors.
Software
Being an Android Developer this LeEco UI (or EUI) is not something i appreciate so much, but, good news, my idol @codeworkx has already developed a great LineageOS (ex CyanogenMod) ROM for this device.
Anyway, talking about the pre-installed software, the device runs on Android 6.0 (customized as mentioned before) with Security Patches updated to August 2016 (because this X527 software release doesn't support OTA Updates, neither new updates are available online). Thankfully all LeEco Chinese Stuff has been removed, and all Google Apps/Services are working great out-of-box.
Somehow they choose to pre-install 4 useless apps: UC Browser, 9Apps, Yahoo Weather and UC News. As you can see here, UC Apps can be disabled, everything else can be uninstalled.
Similar to MiraVision (for Mediatek), there are some customized screen profiles. Also, there are some interesting features such as Pocket Dial Protection, etc...
Almost all sensors are available here, high-quality hardware has been used.
As regards the Fingerprint Scanner management, it is easy to configure, easier than AOSP (in my opinion), with a maximum of 5 fingers that can be saved. It is fast, accurate, but the scanner itself is a bit over-sized.
Even if the Notification LED supports multiple colors, the software doesn't allow you to customize anything.
Benchmarks
I have used 3DMark, AndroBench, Antutu Benchmark, Epic Citadel, GeekBench 3, GFXBench, PCMark (Work 2.0, Computer Vision, Storage & Work 1.0) and Vellamo to stress the device to the limit. I won’t test Games or Video Playback because there are already some related tests included in these Benchmark suites.
3DMark – GPU Performance is high, OpenGL 2 games manages to get smooth 60FPS while OpenGL 3 require some more power.
AndroBench – Average eMMC Performance, unlike Snap 820 this isn't using UFS so you can't expect something better, at least not on EXT4 FS.
Antutu Benchmark – I won’t say a lot about this benchmark, this isn’t as reliable as others (well benchmarks are not reliable at all, imagine how bad this is). I’m providing this just for Antutu lovers.
Epic Citadel – 3D Performance is good enough to get almost 60FPS with heavy games.
GeekBench – CPU Performance matches the Snapdragon 820 in single-core tests, and beats the Snapdragon 810 in multi-core tests.
CPU
Compute
GFXBench – GPU Performance here seems to be a bit capped, i think some thermal throttling got triggered during this benchmark.
PCMark – Nothing to say about these scores.
Work 2.0
Computer Vision
Storage
Work 1.0
Vellamo – Well, top-ranked in all tests, beating Snapdragon 810 devices. Impressive.
This Snapdragon 652 is a real beast, the best compromise between the Snapdragon 810 and 820, providing low battery usage with great daily performance.
Conclusions
Being the first LeEco device i ever try i have to say that i am impressed, and i have also to admit that every previous device i have reviewed in the past is not able to match the quality of this one. (except the Doogee F7 Pro, interesting competitor)
It is nice to see that, somehow, LeEco choose to enter the Russian Market (and indirectly International, thanks to its LTE bands support and built-in Google Services) providing one the best cheapest device you can find. Ok, for the same price there are also some other devices, but this is unique. Slim, lightweight and with great overall quality. Also, LeEco is now Developer-Friendly, providing source code for all devices.
Be careful though, i am not saying that this is a perfect device, its battery life is not great and the pre-installed software doesn't support OTA updates, but everything else is just great for the price.
So, do I recommend it? Definitely Yes!
Pros:
Lightweight
Bright Screen
Backlit Touch-Keys
Great Rear Camera Quality with OIS
Outstanding Performance
QC 3.0 Charger and TPU Cover included
Cons:
Barely Sufficient Battery Life
No OTA Updates supported (16s software release)
Over-Sized Fingerprint Scanner
Average Camera (both) Quality in low light conditions
No Type-C Earphones included
Rating: 9.1
Packaging and Accessories: 9.5
Design and Materials: 9.5
Performance and Heat Dissipation: 10
Screen: 9
Camera: 9
Sound: 9
Battery Life: 7
Software: 8
OEM Support: 10
Price: 10
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/emuqv
Official Website: http://le.ru/catalog/phones/le2
Check my Social Networks to know more about reliable places where to get the device and much more, i will be posting some updates too.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alberto.GearLabs
Twitter: https://twitter.com/XDA_Alberto96
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gearlabs_official
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+AlbertoGuanti
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ95vBRBhAmYU7z1DNMDgXw[/B]
Awesome Review Bro!!!! Very well explained. Each areas clearly covered..:fingers-crossed:
Hope to see some development in future for this little beast from your side
mdfarazb2 said:
Awesome Review Bro!!!! Very well explained. Each areas clearly covered..:fingers-crossed:
Hope to see some development in future for this little beast from your side
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'll start to contribute @codeworkx work as soon as I finish my university exams. In the meanwhile, I'm studying this device
Alberto96 said:
Well I'll start to contribute @codeworkx work as soon as I finish my university exams. In the meanwhile, I'm studying this device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's Great!!!! We would be happy to have you with us!!!
Alberto96 said:
Well I'll start to contribute @codeworkx work as soon as I finish my university exams. In the meanwhile, I'm studying this device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am currently using lineage os build by @codeworkx . Its a great feeling that we have got another recognized developer. Looking forward to your developments for our little beast. Thank you bro.
For those who need to update their X527 device to the latest eUI 5.8.019s release (X527-only), this is the link: https://cloud.mail.ru/public/MCGu/ym1X18Cfi
I found it today, updated using Local OTA (via recovery, without any wipe), and it is working just great. Smoother, some minor bugs have been fixed and, finally, there is an OTA Update app pre-installed.
Hi Alberto you can also try all the BB72 roms, they work on the x527 also.
you can improve a lot the battery with greenify and amplify... i get 6h of sot easily. on my x520
Best result was with the Cm13, 7-7,5h of sot! amazing.
Look at the cpu frequecies with kernel auditor... a72 minimun freq is 800mhz, not 400mhz. A53 is fixed at 600mhz not 400. Try to set the governor of the a72 cluster to "powersafe", you can't notice a single lag.
By the way i returned to the EUI 19s now, becuse on the cm13 when i turn off the mobile data and switch on again the signal goes zero and it's unable to connect again
(scusa il mio pessimo inglese)
alessiogentile said:
Hi Alberto you can also try all the BB72 roms, they work on the x527 also.
you can improve a lot the battery with greenify and amplify... i get 6h of sot easily. on my x520
Best result was with the Cm13, 7-7,5h of sot! amazing.
Look at the cpu frequecies with kernel auditor... a72 minimun freq is 800mhz, not 400mhz. A53 is fixed at 600mhz not 400. Try to set the governor of the a72 cluster to "powersafe", you can't notice a single lag.
By the way i returned to the EUI 19s now, becuse on the cm13 when i turn off the mobile data and switch on again the signal goes zero and it's unable to connect again
(scusa il mio pessimo inglese)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock EUI made by LeEco for the X527 works better than any Custom ROM. BB72 or other cookers ROMs are only good on devices that didn't came with Google Services pre-installed. (e.g. X520 and other Chinese Variants).
Thanks mate. I will get this little beauty by next week. I will retire my HTC M8 then. Hope this device can live up to the M8.
the 16s, the phone was shipped with had german language, i updated to 19s for the x527 and now german is gone? how can that be?
biggerbigboy said:
the 16s, the phone was shipped with had german language, i updated to 19s for the x527 and now german is gone? how can that be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normal, latest Official 19s (X527) doesn't support many languages.
@Alberto96 the 19s provided the Italian language?
Inviato dal mio ZP999 utilizzando Tapatalk
command0 said:
@Alberto96 the 19s provided the Italian language?
Inviato dal mio ZP999 utilizzando Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope.
Have you tried it?
Alberto96 said:
For those who need to update their X527 device to the latest eUI 5.8.019s release (X527-only), this is the link: https://cloud.mail.ru/public/MCGu/ym1X18Cfi
I found it today, updated using Local OTA (via recovery, without any wipe), and it is working just great. Smoother, some minor bugs have been fixed and, finally, there is an OTA Update app pre-installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone tried this ROM?
I have installed this ROM and i don't have 4G connection on my phone. It finds the 4G network (Vodafone 4G) manually but when i click it says network unavailable.
Automatically the phone runs only with H/H+
san.medius said:
Has anyone tried this ROM?
I have installed this ROM and i don't have 4G connection on my phone. It finds the 4G network (Vodafone 4G) manually but when i click it says network unavailable.
Automatically the phone runs only with H/H+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still using the device with this 19s ROM, 4G working perfect with my Mobile Operator. (TIM Italy)
There is something else that is causing this issue at your end, such as a non-4G SIM Card (replacement is the only way to fix it) or the unavailability of the 4G Service in your Mobile Plan. (you need to enable this option, that might be free or not based on your plan)
Alberto96 said:
I'm still using the device with this 19s ROM, 4G working perfect with my Mobile Operator. (TIM Italy)
There is something else that is causing this issue at your end, such as a non-4G SIM Card (replacement is the only way to fix it) or the unavailability of the 4G Service in your Mobile Plan. (you need to enable this option, that might be free or not based on your plan)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your reply!
My SIM Card does have 4G Service. I have used it with my old LETV 1s. Even with the limited 4G bands of the phone it got 4G connection in the available areas.
Can such an issue come from using the same SIM Card on two phones?
I have noticed that the second SIM Card shows me just 2G networks although it should be able to run on H or H+. A friend told me that this could be normal when both cards are used at the same time. So the one gets the "full power" and the other one just the minimum. Is this true or can both slots get 4G connection (if both cards are 4G).
I use the one SIM just for data and the other for calls and messages.
Thanks!
san.medius said:
Thanks for your reply!
My SIM Card does have 4G Service. I have used it with my old LETV 1s. Even with the limited 4G bands of the phone it got 4G connection in the available areas.
Can such an issue come from using the same SIM Card on two phones?
I have noticed that the second SIM Card shows me just 2G networks although it should be able to run on H or H+. A friend told me that this could be normal when both cards are used at the same time. So the one gets the "full power" and the other one just the minimum. Is this true or can both slots get 4G connection (if both cards are 4G).
I use the one SIM just for data and the other for calls and messages.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is weird. I don't know then.
This device should support 4G on the first SIM and 3G on the second SIM. Both cards can't use 4G in the same time.
Sound levels too high on the X527
Does anyone know how to modify the sound levels?
The lowest level is still too loud for an office environment.
With the Mediatek chip you could enter the Engineering menue and modify a lot.
Can anyone tell me if this is possible on the Sapdragon as well?
DOOGEE MIX - Information & Reviews - 5.5" HD | Helio P25 | 4/6GB | 64/128GB | AMOLED
DOOGEE MIX
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Specs:
Dimensions: 76.2 x 144 x 7.95 mm
Weight: 193 g
Chassis: Metal with Back Glass
SoC: MediaTek MT6757CD (Helio P25)
CPU: ARM Cortex-A53, 4x2390 MHz, Cores: 8
GPU: ARM Mali-T880 MP2 900MHz, Cores: 2
Network: 4G Cat.6 (300MBps) with VoLTE Support
RAM: 4 GB/6 GB
Storage: 64GB/128 GB
Memory cards: microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC
Display: 5.5 in, 720p, AMOLED
Protection: Gorilla Glass 5
Battery: 3380mAh, Li-Polymer
OS: Android 7.0 Nougat, FreemeOS skinned.
Back Camera: 4920 × 3264 pixels (16MP), Samsung ISOCELL Sensor, with 3264 x 2448 pixels (8MP) 2nd Camera
Front Camera: 3264 x 2448 pixels (8MP)
SIM card: Dual-SIM, Dual-Standby
Wi-Fi: a, b, g, n 2.4GHz/5.0GHz, dual-band, Wi-Fi Hotspot
USB: Micro-USB, 2.0
Bluetooth: 4.1
Positioning: GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
Other Features: Front Fingerprint Scanner, High screen-to-body ratio
Colors: Dazzle Black, Blue (two variants)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Official Website:
http://www.doogee.cc/detail/mix-series-bezel-less-smartphone/106
Development & Support:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/doogee-mix-development-support-t3632785
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reviews:
My own review: Post #6 & #7
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Click to collapse
DISCLAIMER (spammers, be aware): all spam (e.g. adverts, news and similar) posts that might be published here will be immediately reported and removed.
WiredLeaks said:
Will this phone have a led notification light?
Do you know when it will be released?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both info are unknown for now, what i can tell you is that i may receive it in June.
Does anybody know when the 128GB version will be available again?
joda77 said:
Does anybody know when the 128GB version will be available again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will start to distribute the 4/64 variant first, then (i guess after a while), also higher capacity ones.
Review (part 1)
Introduction
This is the DOOGEE MIX.
Hardware
Being one of the first Xiaomi Mi Mix clone released in 2017, this MIX tries to be as similar as possible (of course not equal), providing a 5.5" screen in a smaller body. Also as regards the RAM/ROM capacity, it tries to be as similar as possible, with a maximum of 6GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM. Unfortunately though it uses a Mediatek CPU, precisely the Helio P25, that isn't bad at all, but not as powerful as a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820.
Unboxing
Packaging, with a really nice look, comes with some accessories: 1x Micro-USB Cable, 1x 5V/2A USB Charger, 1x Quick Start Guide, 1x Warranty Certificate, 1x Hard Plastic Case, 1x Phone Holder (Ring), 1x SIM Card Tray Remover and the Smartphone (of course). A plastic screen protector is already applied, and an extra protector is included.
As already introduced before, the design has been copied almost entirely from the Mi Mix, but with a Metal Chassis (instead of Ceramic), a smaller overall size (being smaller the screen) and less glossy colors. The device feels solid, and the Gorilla Glass panel placed on the back makes it looking really premium.
When it comes to the size, well...this is able to beat all 5.5" inches devices released in the last few years. It is only 14.44x7.67x0.80cm, unbelieably compact, but with a weight of 198g, unfortunately feels heavy due to the small size and high weight. I guess the amount of glass increased its weight.
On the front side there almost bezel-less AMOLED Display with an overall clean look (2.5D curved) and the upper front side of the device features an Earpiece (a real one), and the Sensors hole that includes Light, Proximity and Gesture Sensors. Somehow they choose to not include a Notifcation LED, in 2017 i think this is a must have feature.
As regards the lower front side, there is the Fingerprint Scanner in the center (doesn't work as a physical button, can't be pressed), and a Front-Facing Camera that due to space issues couldn't have been placed on the upper side. There is some wasted space though.
On the back side there is the Glass Back Cover i mentioned before.
The upper rear side of the device features the Dual Camera Sensor supported by a Single-LED - Single-Tone Flashlight, and nothing else. On the lower rear side, excluding the DOOGEE logo, there isn't anything at all because the Speaker is positioned on the lower side of the device.
Device
Screen
This is the most interesting part of the device, its almost bezel-less AMOLED screen looks gorgeous, even though i don't like AMOLEDs too much (due to unreal colors). Talking about color accuracy on a AMOLED is like talking about speed for a city car. Colors look really saturated and un-real, and the white balance is a bit messed up. Someone can like it, someone might not. This is really personal.
Unfortunately due to its 720p Resolution, pixels are noticeable on camera, and sometimes also while using it. I don't understand why DOOGEE choose to include a 720p screen instead of 1080p, the Helio P25 is fast enough to handle 1080p Apps/Games.
Its light sensor supports smooth light changes with a maximum brightness of ~500lux. Great Brightness for best usage under direct-sunlight.
Viewing Angles are awesome, as we all know, AMOLEDs are the best when it comes to this.
Camera
Luckily DOOGEE choose to include a pretty good camera sensor for this device, a Samsung ISOCELL 16MP sensor with fast focus-time and good overall quality. It also supports Camera API 2 for Manual Controls such as Manual Focus, RAW Recording and so on. This is the first Mediatek Device i review with Camera2 Compatibility.
I guess the software isn't 100% ready though because the amount of noise is slighlty too high even while shooting outdoors, and sometimes the Flashlight is out-of-sync.
Here you can see an HDR-on/off comparision, plus some random extra photos.
The Blur Effect using the "Blur" option seems to work. (aka Bokeh)
Macros are probably the most detailed ones.
Indoors shoots are decent, nothing to complain about.
The flashlight isn't super powerful, being a Single-LED only, but it is still able to support the camera sensor properly, when it isn't out-of-sync of course.
As regards Video Recording, the quality and frame-rate of 1080p30 videos is OK, and it can shoot also in 2160p25 with a decent stable frame-rate.
The Front-Camera is placed on the lower front side of the device, so you need to shoot photos with the device upside-down for selfies and so on. The Quality isn't too bad, but colors look a bit washed-out.
Audio
Surprisingly, considering the small size of the device, its Speaker is powerful, with a little amount of low-frequencies and excessive distortion at maximum volume. The Earpiece though is a whole different story, due to its limited size, there is a complete lack of low-frequencies, and the volume is a bit limited.
As regards the Microphone, it is as good as the speaker, with high sensitivity and clarity. Everyone was able to hear me perfectly while in-call.
GPS
GPS Quality is perfect, with no issues at all with signal stability and accuracy. Finally Mediatek fixed the GPS on the Helio P25 considering the amount of issues present on the Helio P10.
Indoors on the left, outdoors on the right.
Telephony, Mobile Network & WiFi
Providing full european bands support (with 4G Band 20), the device was able to keep a stable connection to my 4G Network, with decent speeds (considering other devices tested in the same place) and mid-high signal.
WiFi 5GHz is supported, and connected at 121Mbps, i was able to reach almost ~60Mbps. Probably not as high as expected from the Link Speed, but still better than using the 2.4GHz connection.
Battery Life
As my usual reviewing routine, i measured the real battery capacity using an USB Tester, and it seems to be way lower than declared, ~300mAh less. (declared 3380mAh, real ~3080mAh)
Luckily, PCMark run just fine on this device even though it is running Android Nougat. Other Mediatek Devices with Nougat (and also some with Marshmallow) caused the Benchmark to stop by itself after some hours. The result is not so good unfortunately for a 3380mAh battery, but for a 3080mAh it is acceptable.
Thanks to the 2.0A charger, and the small battery, it is possible to recharge the device completely in more or less 2 hours. Maybe a Pump Express Charger would have been appreciated for even faster charging, but it is fast enough already.
Software
Unlike previous DOOGEE devices, this is the first one released with DoogeeOS (based on FreemeOS), with an ad-hoc launcher and some extra customizations. It is based on Android 7.0 Nougat (hopefully will be updated to 7.1.1 soon), with June 2017 security patches and, unfortunately, some pre-installed bloatware that can be uninstalled and/or disabled.
The UI feels smooth, i must admit not as smooth as i would have expected, but this is an early release so i can't blame DOOGEE for that. OTA Updates will gradually improve the device, just like other brands do.
Following the Mediatek line-up, also this one features MiraVision, Gestures (such as tap-to-wake) and so on...
Yes, it includes a Magnetometer/Compass and Gyroscope! Finally a device with a complete set of sensors.
No malwares detected with Malware-Bytes Anti-Malware using latest definitions.
As regards the Fingerprint Scanner management, it is as easy to manage as on all Android Nougat devices, and it is fast to unlock the device. I have to report that sometimes, after keeping the screen off for a long time, it sleeps a bit too much, requiring to turn on the screen in order to get the finger recognized.
Review (part 2)
Benchmarks
I have used 3DMark, AndroBench, Antutu Benchmark, Epic Citadel, GeekBench 4, GFXBench, PCMark (Work 2.0, Computer Vision, Storage & Work 1.0) and Vellamo to stress the device to the limit. I won’t test Games or Video Playback because there are already some related tests included in these Benchmark suites.
3DMark – Thankfully the Mali-T880MP2 is able to handle almost everything.
AndroBench – I don't know yet the eMMC brand and model, but its performance is really good.
Antutu Benchmark – I won’t say a lot about this benchmark, this isn’t as reliable as others. I’m providing this just for benchmarks lovers.
Epic Citadel – 720p Gaming on a Mali-T880MP2 = Buttery Smooth experience.
GeekBench – CPU Performance is confusing. The CPU is recognized as MT6757CH instead of MT6757T, and its performance isn't higher than a Helio P20. Software Issue? I hope so.
CPU
Compute
GFXBench – Just like on most GPUs, this benchmark struggles to run smooth. This is normal, only super high-end devices could handle this properly.
PCMark – Interesting results, being the first time i benchmark an Helio P25 i do not have any point of referral that i can use to compare these scores.
Work 2.0
Computer Vision
Storage
Work 1.0
Vellamo – Luckily Vellamo is kind enough to provide a list of devices in order to compare all scores, and the result is as good as i would have expected, excluding for the Single-Core benchmark, a bit low.
Conclusions
DOOGEE MIX, the first innovative device i have reviewed in the 2017. Clone of the Mi Mix? Not really. I would call it the little brother.
The device itself beats all previous DOOGEE devices when it comes to the design and overall price-performance ratio, and excluding the software that isn't ready yet in my opinion, i find it to be unique and balanced.
Of course it isn't perfect, due to missing the Notification LED and 720p screen, but being the first try from DOOGEE to release something 100% new and hard to engineer, i am definitely happy with the result.
Do i recommend it? It is all up to you, this is a device that has some features that some users may like and some users may not. Personally, i like everything except the AMOLED over-saturated colors, but i know lots of friends that love this kind of screens so...think on every single feature and choose if it can satisfy your requirements or not. ^^
Pros:
Outstading Design
Ergonomically Perfect
Android 7.0 Nougat with latest security patches
Camera2 API Supported for Manual Focus and RAW Capture
AMOLED screen for real blacks
Magnetometer/Compass & Gyroscope are here
Cons:
Sleepy Fingerprint Scanner
HD-only screen = Low Pixel Density
Over-Saturated screen colors (PERSONAL)
No Notification LED
Battery Capacity doesn't match the declared value (at least on my review unit)
Rating: 8.6
Packaging and Accessories: 9
Design and Materials: 10
Performance and Heat Dissipation: 9.5
Screen: 8
Camera: 9
Sound: 7.5
Battery Life: 7.5
Software: 7
OEM Support: 9
Price: 9.5
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/a3OcI
Official Website: http://www.doogee.cc/detail/mix-series-bezel-less-smartphone/106
You can buy it on many online shops. Official, and authorized, Retailers are listed in the DOOGEE website.
Awesome review. Bought one... waiting for it to arrive. I'll hope to have custom roms for it.
looks like at the end there are some benchmarks there that are not suppose to be there, namely for the xiaomi mi mix instead of doogee mix
jeffreydeleeuw said:
looks like at the end there are some benchmarks there that are not suppose to be there, namely for the xiaomi mi mix instead of doogee mix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some benchmarks recognize the device incorrectly unfortunately
Alberto96 said:
Some benchmarks recognize the device incorrectly unfortunately
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok no problem
Thank you for the good review. do you think that cistom roms will be released for this device?
Excellent job on the review Alberto. A lot of work you put into it. We're working on a TWRP now.
Our review will be coming soon.
fagin said:
Thank you for the good review. do you think that cistom roms will be released for this device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chinaphonearena said:
Excellent job on the review Alberto. A lot of work you put into it. We're working on a TWRP now.
Our review will be coming soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dev. & Support thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/doogee-mix-development-support-t3632785
And the speaker sound is real stereo?
There will be a software that ix the recording video sound or is a hardware bug?
Thanks
Botandroid said:
And the speaker sound is real stereo?
There will be a software that ix the recording video sound or is a hardware bug?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) No, single speaker on the bottom.
2) I don't have the same issue :/
While having the Mix (6GB version) for 3 days now, I wanted to share my thoughts with you:
Pro:
- Display is almost as sharp to my eyes as a 1080p (thought this would be a minus)
- Looks nice and has premium feeling
- Works OK
- Is quite speedy
- Excellent mic (people hear me very well)
- fingerprint sensor works very fine on my sample
Cons:
- Very Heavy!!!
- Camera indoors is total crap, cannot even take any photos which are sharp, it seems this one cannot even properly focus in mid to low light.
- Earpiece speaker max. loudness is less than Oneplus X, Vernee Mars or Asus, or Nexus 4 (which is the best)
- Loudspeaker is waay to silent, compared to other ones, barely usable with speakerphone setup.
- battery drains faster then my OPX (which has low reputation)
- IT's not a bezel-less design, since it's wider than my old ASUS Zenfone 2 Z00AD.
And I'm afraid no SW update will come soon (or even ever) to this one.
But - Value for money is OK.
my 2 cents.
Bluboo S1 or Maze Alpha? I'm considering cancelling my order for Maze Alpha and grab the S1 instead.
Alberto96 said:
1) No, single speaker on the bottom.
2) I don't have the same issue :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was Cheated. I got a response from Doogee's support that the Doogee mix had stereo speakers and that there would be an update to correct the camera's sound and other errors. Mine is already on the way and should be almost to come ... if I could I cancel the purchase and buy the bluboo s1 or another of the same range. thank you
Great Review my friend
Hello Everyone,
The last part with my final thoughts.
The first one is here.
The second here
The third one is this thread.
Camera
For the camera review. First, 2 weeks of snow, rain, wind, cold weather. Not the best for going outside, taking pictures without gloves, or having incredible scenery to shoot.
So, I will go further later.
But so far, I am still trying to understand why the primary camera is only 6P when the UW is 7P. And why only 110° for UW. And why only 5P for Telephoto. And why no x4 optical zoom. And why only 2 axis stabilization? And where is the microscope lens from the X3.
And why an additional imaging NPU when nobody uses all the functionalities of the triple Snapdragon ISP?
Okay, it's a lot of why? But if you come from the X3 series, you will definitely ask yourself these questions and see if the X5 is worth the update.
Spoiler alert: I won't be able to answer that.
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First, the MariSilicon AKA Imaging NPU:
4K Ultra (AI) Night Video
Ultra HDR
Hasselblad science
18 TOPS for AI Computing (11.6Tops/W)
20Bits Dynamic Range
Realtime RAW
The MariSilicon is made of a NPU, an ISP and a Memory Subsystem (8.5GB/S DDR).
It should be 20x faster than the ISP From the X3 Pro (meaning the ISP from SD 888). But Denoise (Noise Reduction Algorithm). They compare the 20Bits vs the 18Bits from SD888 bringing more contrast and brightness + a RGBW Pro Mode.
Okay, SD888 has three 18Bits ISP, got a Scalar, Tensor, and Vector Units, can process 0.1 lux video, capture 4K HDR videos, got AI-Based AF and Auto Exposure, got 26 TOPS of power processing.
So, on the paper, I'm pretty confuse. Okay, it's the trend, Google with its Tensor, Xiaomi with its C1 and soon C2, OPPO with MariSilicon, and VIVO with its V1…
Okay, it might help OEMs dev bring the same libraries and computational algorithms to whatever the SOC you use from Qualcomm to Unisoc via Mediatek and don't care about their ISP capacity, from mid-range to premium flagship.
But you need to feed them, with data, scenarios, and for now, it's only on the X5 and X5 Pro under Qualcomm and even the Mediatek variant doesn't have it.
So, so far, is MariSilicon working at 100% of its efficiency?
I don't know the same, but I don't think so. New technology always needs at least half a year in the wild to be better. It should be interesting to redo all the tests in September or before the end of the year with all the updates done in between.
Concerning the app, you will find the usual modes like Night, Video, Pro, Photo (AI, HDR, and 50Mp), Portrait, and the extra ones like Pano, Movie, Slo-Mo, Time Lapse, Long Exposure, Dual Video, Sticker (kill me), Text Scanner and the Hasselblad XPAN Mode.
For the XPAN mode, you have a color or black and white option, even if you don't have any B&W dedicated sensor. So, you will only have the 42/45mm mode and not the 30mm (for now, who knows).
For the color's restitution, we are close to the one in the OP9 Pro under Oxygen OS 11, meaning good even perfect for many users of this device. However, as usual, different lens construction, different aperture… meaning different color restitution between UW, Wide, and Tele…
And guess what, because the UW got a better construction lens, the photos taken with it are better than many flagships. And that's something that drives me crazy. If the UW would have a f/1.8 7P and the primary camera also the same thing (or even better a f/1.7), the Sony IMX 766 potential might have been exploited. But let's remember, we just received one and only update so far. And usually, there is always a gap, for the best or the worst, after a few OTAs.
Now, if I had to compare… Xiaomi is offering way more options, including for Vloggers and Bloggers, different long exposure modes or even videos modes (movies effects such as magic zoom, time freeze, // worlds, etc.), 8K, and Google a better computational AI and tech for skin restitution, portrait, night shots (plus an x4 optical zoom).
If OPPO can include functionalities from them or compete with them, Bingo.
Here are some pictures taken below. No fancy photography, no artistic one, at first, I try the phone as 90% of us, you take out of your pocket, you point and shoot, that's it, ready to go in your IG, WhatsApp group, or to your mom.
The folder with untouched pictures (and more shots) is here.
And don't get me wrong, I am one of those who think before having a cutting edge DLSR or Camera, know first how to shoot, compose your scene, and have a vision. It's not because you have a fancy camera you will take fantastic shots.
So far, excluding what the NPU is marketed for (Ultra Night Video, Photos, and so on, I will continue to shoot at night when the weather and the conditions are available), it's a good camera… for early 2021. So far, I will say my OP9 Pro or P6 Pro or Mi 10 Pro or Smartphone for Snapdragon Insiders are doing the job precisely the same or even better.
So, what are the plans here?
Take pictures at night, people, colors, landscape, city
Use the Movie Mode and do the same also at night
Having a clear sky at night to see the moon and shoot it.
Post some samples.
Play with long exposure for light painting or even taillights.
Battery
I talked earlier about the battery life or the super power saving mode and not having an issue for the day for it.
If I have to go further in this part, the X5 comes with the SUPERVOOC DVT 80W, it is compatible with 80W/65W, etc fast charging, 30W AIRVOOC, and 10W Reverse Wireless Charging. Too.
So you will have from 0 to 50% under 15mn.
It means it's fast for charging and has no heat issue as the 80W is 40Wx2 at peak times. You only have a 2/3mn difference between 80W or 65W fast charging anyway.
Wireless charging is compatible with current norms, and I am flawlessly using my 55W wireless charger. You can even choose what kind of charging you want, like slow/optimized for bedtime, the same for wireless.
There are 2 Cells 2340/2400 mAh.
No heat issue while charging; as I said, it's 2x40W, and it's now a while OEMs developed fast charging. 100W on one cell is reachable, so less than the half in 2022… easy peasy.
As usual, you can choose between different profiles to save more power in case of or depending on your usage. Why run full powerhouse if you're just watching videos on a social network.
My thoughts
So, at the end of the day, I need to dig up more ColorOS, and dig more for the photography part, especially at night.
So far, I see the OPPO Find X5 as a 2021 flagship under Android 12 with an NPU I am still trying to figure out the utility. No offense here; it's just how I use the smartphone for the past 2 weeks, I didn't have the opportunity to shoot vibrant HDR at night videos. I got rain, snow, cold, no parties or trips to the city past two weeks. It is on the checklist. But I'm thinking, in that case, I am using the smartphone as everyone else here, depending on the occasion and the opportunity.
For the rest, it's a nice rounded, balanced device. ColorOS is a surprise, mixed with nice and why questions, but as I said, hard to jump into a new customized OS you never used before (even on OP, as I stayed under O2OS 11).
However, despite the OPPO/OP framework on top of the Android One, the addition of many OPPO Apps (that need to be separate from the OS and moved on the Play Store BTW and allowed to uninstall), the system is responsive, have a great battery life, some nice customizations and still looks like, sometimes, as a clean OS (looks like, not is). There are still some glitches here and there and some UX details that I'm not used to (and don't know if it is intended this way or bugs).
For the camera part, UW is good, Main can be better, and Tele is under competition. I need more options in the camera and gallery app. It's a solid day-to-day photography phone, but there are better 2021 devices in front of it for now. That's why I'm curious about the following updates for the firmware and the NPU.
The build quality is present. The X5 is too light for me. I feel back I was sent a few years ago. It's a 6.55", meaning it's not tiny, but I can feel and see the difference with the 6.7/6.78" inches smartphones I've been using for the past year. However, it is pleasant to get this size, as it is well balanced, under 200g (7.41oz). Flat-screen, thinner would have perfect for me.
Okay, people will say no SD Card, No Jack port… Well, I don't care personally. Yeah, I prefer a 512GB variant, but I can deal with 256GB, and I am using Snapdragon Sound for wireless Audio.
For the price, in Europe, the product is around 999€ VAT included (meaning $999 taxes excluded in the US if we should imagine a retail price). For this price, 12GB instead of 8GB, a better construction lens for the primary camera with better stabilization. The same for the Tele camera, better camera and construction lens, and add a B&W sensor for the XPAN Mode. And maybe I will consider buying it.
So far, as a European living in the US, I see the X5 as an OP9 refresh, a little brother of the OP9 Pro. In Europe, the prices are between 619 and 919€ currently, with the addition of the 80W, the MariSilicon and switching one IMX 689 to IMX766, 749 or 799€/$ seems more the sweet spot for this model.
So, keep it posted; fav the threads; I don't know yet if I will update this one or go for another thread with the new information about this OPPO Find X5.
And here we are, at the end of this review. Again, thank you OPPO and @OPPO Ambassador Team for this opportunity.