Lenovo A1000 smartphone was launched in October 2015. The phone comes with a 4.00-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 480 pixels by 800 pixels
The Lenovo A1000 is powered by 1.3GHz quad-core Spreadtrum SC7731 processor and it comes with 1GB of RAM. The phone packs 8GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 32GB via a microSD card. As far as the cameras are concerned, the Lenovo A1000 packs a 5-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 0.3-megapixel front shooter for selfies.
The Lenovo A1000 runs Android 5.0 and is powered by a 2000mAh removable battery. It measures 124.50 x 64.00 x 10.60 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 132.00 grams.
The Lenovo A1000 is a dual SIM (GSM and GSM) smartphone that accepts two Regular SIMs. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM, 3G. Sensors on the phone include Accelerometer.
About Lenovo
Founded in Beijing in 1984, Lenovo acquired IBM's PC business in 2005, and first became the world's top PC maker in 2013. It entered the Android and Windows tablet market in 2011, began selling Android smartphones in 2012, and acquired Motorola Mobility from Google in 2014. The company has also launched an online-only sub-brand for smartphones called Zuk in China.
huawei wants to play with the big boys. The Chinese company wants to be taken seriously as a competitor to Apple and Samsung, but right now it's rooted firmly among the second tier of Android manufacturers, competing with the likes of Sony, LG and Motorola in western markets.
A reputation for pairing high-end specs with lower prices than some of its competitors, backed up with some solid marketing, has enabled Huawei to start standing out a little from the crowd. And now the company hopes the P9, plugged with an ad campaign starring none other than Superman (Henry Cavill) can take it to the next level.
But Huawei still needs to impress people. No one buys a phone from a manufacturer they barely know without doing a little research first. Huawei knows it, and the P9 has the specs on paper, and a focus on camera technology, that will catch the eye of even the most discerning prospective purchaser.
The promotional campaign and launch event for the Huawei P9 focus mostly on the camera, but the real question on most lips is whether it holds up as a smartphone in 2016.
The price is certainly a highlight of the Huawei P9. While it's not as cheap as flagships from competitors like OnePlus or Oppo, then handset is still cheaper than an iPhone, the Samsung Galaxy S7 or anything from Sony.
It comes in at £449.99 (about US$690, AU$900), which is roughly what a Huawei P8 would have cost you when it launched in May last year.
Design
The Huawei P9 has taken the design of the P8 and refined it into a much better-looking device that feels comfortable to hold. It's compact compared to other Huawei devices (like the Mate 8), and that works in its favor.
The P9 is a similar size to the iPhone 6S, but Huawei makes better use of the real estate by packing in a larger screen. The Huawei P9 has dimensions of 145 x 71 x 7mm while the iPhone 6S is 138 x 67 x 7.1mm. So there's just a few millimeters in it, yet Huawei manages to include a 5.2-inch screen while the iPhone 6S only has a 4.7-inch display.
The P9 is a little taller than the iPhone, but that's not a problem. The bezels along the top and bottom of the display are still slim, but allow Huawei to pack a lot of tech inside without compromising the look of the handset.
Before starting this review I was using a Nexus 6P, which is a larger phone made by Huawei, and the P9 is noticeably smaller. Personally I prefer larger phones, but if you're one for a smaller handset with a large screen this is one of the best-designed phones you'll find today.
The back of the handset is made with an aluminium unibody and the metal does feel premium, although sometimes I would tap the back of the phone and it echoed a little, which didn't make it feel as high-end as, say, the Nexus 6P.
The overall look of the phone is great though, and I particularly like the rounded corners and edges, with the latter making the P9 look even slimmer than its 6.95mm.
On the right hand edge of the phone is the volume rocker with the power button just below it.
I found myself rarely using the power button as the fingerprint scanner turns the phone's screen on anyway. The slight grated effect on the button made it easy to identify when in the pocket though. I regularly find myself reaching into my pocket to adjust volume controls and on some phones you can hit the wrong button, but there's no excuse for that here.
On the back of the phone at the top sits the dual-camera sensor, which I found made some onlookers perk up when they spot it, as right next to it is the Leica logo.
I personally wasn't a fan of this at first, but I've come to terms with it, and it does highlight the fact that Huawei has tapped into Leica's 100 years of photography expertise to develop the camera setup on the P9. Huawei has been pushing this feature at every turn – and with some justification, as we'll see later in this review.
It's also worth noting that Leica and Huawei have managed to make the back of the camera sit flush with the rest of the phone. Camera bumps have been a trend on a lot of flagship phones in recent years and it's good to see a company fighting against it without sacrificing camera technology.
Color choices for the Huawei P9 are aplenty with three types of gold available as well as silver and grey. Sadly, in the UK you can only buy the silver and grey versions and it isn't quite clear which will be on sale in Australia or the US yet.
There's also a ceramic white version of the phone knocking around somewhere, but no-where seems to be stocking that model yet.
We haven't managed to see it in the flesh either, but Huawei assures us it has a metal body with a ceramic coating on the back to give it a different feel.
Ulefone has been the busy as of late, most of their phones are geared towards the current trend. Their last Smartphone, the Ulefone Power was made because of the need of more Battery Power and thus, at it’s innards holds a massive 6000mAh battery. Their latest creation, the Ulefone Vienna is apparently adopted for the “Hip, Young or Youth”. Actually, bare bones, the phone isn’t really that different from other Mid-tier Smartphones in the market. But Ulefone added an Ace, it comes with a built in NPA Smart Audio Amplifier, further boosting it’s Audio capabilities. And thus, the phone will probably appeal to the Audio Enthusiast.
Speaking of specs, the phone is powered by a Mediatek MT6753 Octa core processor with 3 GB RAM and 32 GB Storage, and also supports expandable memory. In my opinion, a Helio X10 processor would have been a better choice, as it provides a much needed boost especially in gaming, where 1080p Display and MT6753 doesn’t do gaming that well. The phone also comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop with a Android 6.0 Marshmallow Launcher, although no word still if it will have support for Android 6.0 upgrade in the future.
In terms of display, the phone uses a Sharp 5.5 inch IPS, LTPS Screen, 2.5D Arc Screen with Oleophobic Coating and Corning Gorilla Glass3 Protection, making it more resistant to abrasions and drops.
The phone will still feature Touch ID support (0.1s Fingerprint Scanner), and also comes with built in Infrared Remote Control Support. Also at the rear is a 13 MP Panasonic MN34172 Sensor, a clear departure to the usual Sony Sensor we commonly see, and it would be interesting to see how good it is and how it compares to the Sony Counterpart in terms of overall quality. Also at the front is a 5.0 MP OV5648 (Omnivision Sensor).
The phone overall will have a Unibody design and is thinner than the Ulefone Power, the battery pack will also be a modest 3250mAh with Quick Charge Support.
A Smartphone design for Audio Enthusiast
The Ulefone Vienna is the latest trend that the company has adopted, Ulefone is trying to grab the attention of the Young, Youth or the Hip. And what better way is the Vienna,probably named after the city where some of the great music composers lived. Except for the HiFi Audio Amplifier, the phone is similar to the Ulefone Power and the Ulefone Be Touch 3 in terms of specs. And thus, it doesn’t really offer more to the table in terms of performance and features. A USB Type C could have also given it a boost, but sadly that’s not true. The phone basically is a Mid-ranger with very good Audio chipset, which i think you can enjoy more if you are using a headphone instead of the built-in loudspeaker.
You can also compare this phone with other phones here:Smartphone Guide
The Asus Zenfone Max (Z010DA version) is pretty much the younger brother of the Zenfone 2, it isn’t that powerful but it does offer a much longer battery. The phone is equipped with only a Snapdragon 410 Quad Core Processor with 2 GB RAM, which isn’t really a powerhouse, in fact, it is slower than other similar phones in the market, such as the Ulefone Power or the Umi Touch. But it is cheaper compared to those phones.
Uninspired Design and nothing unique
It is true that all Zenfone phones look alike, and basing on my first hand experience, the Zenfone Max is not particularly unique. Designwise, it looks pretty much like any Zenfone series handset available. It also doesn’t look that good, it is also big, a Phablet size which might not be suited for all users.
12 hours battery life
On typical usage, the Asus Zenfone Max can breach 13 hours on mixed usage on a single charge. It is equipped with a 5000mAh Battery built-in and also supports Powerbank Mode. However, there is no mention of Quick Charging support.
Low End Android and Bloatware
The Asus Zenfone Max with only a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 at it’s innards, isn’t powerful, in fact, it lags especially in multitasking, the 2 GB RAM isn’t enough to handle. Gaming, also is a mixed bag, it can handle low end games fine but games like Modern Combat 5 and Asphalt 8 struggles badly. Also worth mentioning is Asus’s patented Bloatware issue, although the ZenUI gives you more preferences and customizability than the native Android, it is loaded with unnecessary apps which can ultimately bog down the system.
Surprisingly Good Camera
Another bright spot of the Asus Zenfone Max is it’s camera, it is equipped with a 13 MP sensor with PixelMaster 2.0, low light performance is actually very good and focus time is quick. I can attest that it can quickly focus on a subject with one touch. The Interface is also the same with the Zenfone 2, all the shooting modes are available including beautification, HDR, Miniature mode, Panorama etc… It also has a Manual mode, that grants you access to multiple settings such as Exposure levels, shooting modes, lighting mode etc…
In addition, low light mode is also great, it houses a Dual LED Real Tone Flash that is bright enough to take shots even at night.
Good Connectivity
Connectivity wise, the handset supports Dual Micro SIM and 4G LTE Support. In my region, i did not have any issue in terms of signal reception, and the frequency is supported by my carrier. But before you buy this, you should also check the frequency supported of the phone. Web surfing is also great, i did get close to the expected battery life while using WiFi. Call Quality is also satisfactory.
Good Display and Corning Gorilla Glass 4
The Zenfone Max features a 5.5 inch Phablet size IPS display with only a 720p HD resolution but is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Color reproduction is good, no tinting but is clearly not as sharp compared to other phones in the market.
Basically a Low End Android but offers Ultra Long Battery Life
Asus advertises the Zenfone Max to offer 38 days of Standby power, and about 12 hours and 45 minutes of real time usage (Typical Usage). I know not everyone will be eager to get this phone. One of the reasons is the mediocre performance, even lower than other Mid-tier Phones with Mediatek MT6753 chipsets in the market. But for those who isn’t particularly into performance but wants more battery life, then the Zenfone Max is a good fit. The handset also supports Powerbank mode and is capable multiple devices.
Also worthy to mention, there are also other phones you might consider if you are after Performance and Big Battery life. On top of this lists is the Oukitel K6000 Pro and theUlefone Power.
Highlights of the Asus Zenfone Max:
Good 13 MP Camera, Fast Focus Sensor and Manual Mode
Powered by Snapdragon 410 and 2 GB RAM
ZenUI (Android 5.0 Lollipop)
12 hours and 45 minutes typical usage time
Dual SIM Support
5.5 inch, IPS, 720p, Corning Gorilla Glass 4
Great Connectivity
Powerbank Mode (Supports charging of multiple devices)
Samsung Galaxy S7 has been tested in London and Berlin, while colleagues also took it for a spin in San Francisco and Sydney. And you know what? It did great. Better than great. In fact, the S7 was an awesome phone that never cracked under the pressure of being the only way I take pictures and navigate completely unfamiliar terrain, all while keeping battery life going during long days out.
Straight up: the Galaxy S7 is the best all-around phone out today. It's superior to the excellent Google Nexus 6P, Apple iPhone 6S, LG G5 and HTC 10. In fact, the only phone that surpasses it is its own fraternal twin, the larger, curvy-screen S7 Edge, which is technically my top pick -- but only if you're willing to splurge. Sure, there are some potentially worthy rivals out beyond the horizon -- the iPhone 7, the next Nexus model, and the Galaxy Note 6. But none of them will likely be on the market for months to come. So, for now, the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge remain the best phones money can buy.
Here's what we found (along with fellow S7-testers) while using the S7 around Europe. You can also scroll to the end for a specs comparison chart.
Perfect for pockets, but smudgy as hell
I began my testing on London's crowded, bagpipe-festooned bridges and streets. Since I constantly mashed the S7 into my jeans and jacket pockets only to retrieve it again for a weather check, photo, digital payment or to navigate around, its approachable size was a much better fit for me than a larger phone. "Medium" by today's bonkers standards, it has a 5.1-inch screen.
Throughout all this nonstop handling, the S7's curved back and sides made it comfortable to hold, and the one time I dropped it it didn't dent or break. That was only a few feet off the floor inside a pub, mind you -- I'm sure it'd sustain more damage if it had clattered onto pavement.
I spent a good, long time staring at the S7. That curve-back design I mentioned and some very slight rounding on the edges around the display are damn nice, giving the phone a far more luxe and contoured appearance than most, including last year's ramrod-straight Galaxy S6. In fact, look closely at the details and you can see that this S7 is built better than previous Galaxy phones.
One downside to the S7's shiny metal-and-glass backing is that smudges pile up on smudges, leaving a semi-permanent sheen of finger grease all over your expensive property. It's gross, and a pain to constantly clean, which always fails anyway. But like all beautiful phones, you're bound to slap a case on it anyway, so it's almost a moot point -- just not an excuse.
Camera
I took a boatload of photos in London while testing the phone, but when my sister and I went to Berlin for the weekend, all hell broke loose. Every pastry and pretzel, imposing museum, graceful river crossing; every glorious kebab and lip-smacking beer became an opportunity for dutiful documentation.
What was confirmed again and again is that crisp photos from the 12-megapixel camera countered low-light interference in every darkened cocktail bar, moodily lit restaurant and dusk-dimmed park. Although this camera has fewer megapixels than last year's S6, it takes better photos.Scenes are brighter, which makes the action easier to see.
Even in low-light scenes, such as a Berlin speakeasy, the S7 trumps the iPhone 6S, yielding brighter, more usable photos. Digital noise was still there, just diminished; those small speckles of color that infiltrate the picture are an inevitability in low-light digital camera shots.
The seriously fast autofocus and optical image stabilization helped capture flowers in strong winds.
I also really liked using the new, optional preview mode that lets you delete or share photos immediately after taking them. Oh yes, the S7 has optical image stabilization (OIS), which helped keep my photos from blurring after all those jetlag-fighting coffees.
I'm still less sure of the 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which now has even more "beautification" filters than before. I never liked these, even though I'm vain enough that I don't want to see every line and wrinkle. To me, they make skin appear plastic and dull; maybe the uncanny valley of too-perfect skin, but I know plenty of people who love the youthening effect. At any rate, I turned all of these filters to zero, but still found that selfies either looked fake or overly harsh. Something in the processing seems off, but this isn't a dealbreaker by any means.
Selfies looked a little off: either too smooth or too sharp, even with beauty modes off.
I did use the S7's front-facing screen "flash" to light dark selfie scenes, which basically means the phone screen whites-out before the camera fires. This came in handy, since my sister basically selfie-documented every move we made for her husband and kids, especially at dinner and the bar. The flash...it's blinding. Toning down the brightness would make it more useful, especially if I could pick a warmer color temperature or lower brightness setting to make it all less intense. The iPhone 6S' similar selfie-flash did better in the same scenes.
Less bloatware is a very, very good thing
Back in London, my appreciation for Samsung's more restrained customizations to the Android 6.0 software settled in. The S7 slims down the bloatware considerably, while leaving plenty of advanced settings for customizing everything from the lock screen to phone themes -- you just have to dig a little deeper now to find everything. Samsung also added a few nice-but-subtle optional touches, like a new "tray" to help you easily move app icons from one screen to another.
Dedicated gaming tools help you record and screenshot your sessions.
Speaking of extra touches, I really like the idea of the Game Launcher, a set of tools you can turn on to trigger some quick actions, like recording the screen or minimizing your game so you can do something else. I'm not the kind of active gamer who would immediately benefit from these features, so trying it out on the subway threw off my movements when playing more precision-based games, like the Riptide 2 racer.
My colleague Jason Parker in San Francisco liked being able to turn off all alerts (with the exception of actual incoming phone calls), but pointed out that the notification for an incoming call still covers most of the screen -- so this particular feature doesn't go far enough.
You always know the time and where you stand with battery life.
During my week away from San Francisco (aka home), I fell in love with the S7's new always-on display, which shows you either the clock, a calendar or an image. It was immediately useful for checking the time and the phone's battery levels, a constant worry, without actually having to take the phone out of standby. I also set up a clock for the local timezone and the one at home, so I knew when it was too early to call or text.
Battery life is long, performance swift
Other than the camera quality, battery life was my No. 1 concern when using the S7 while Euro-tripping. I was often out from 9 a.m. until midnight, and didn't always carry a bulky charger or heavy external battery pack, because that gets annoying. Luckily, I didn't need to. The battery lasted through a full day of heavy use.
