ZOPO recently announced the ZOPO ZP999 Lionheart smartphone for $399, which is a great price for a device with high end specifications. But for those, who are looking for something cheaper but as powerful as the ZP999, the new ZOPO 3X looks like the ideal candidate.

The device comes with the same specifications as the ZOPO ZP999 but with a smaller internal memory, which is something that I am sure, many wouldn’t mind given that it comes with a MicroSD card slot too which can be expanded up to 64GB.

So, it’s basically the same ZP999 that we reviewed earlier but with a smaller storage and a much cheaper price. At present, you can pre-order the ZOPO 3X for only $299, which is an insane price for a device with 3GB RAM and an Octa-Core Processor.

Well, luckily, we have got the device in our hands today and so we take a look to assess whether the ZOPO 3X is as good as its elder brother, the ZP999.

DESIGN

To start with, ZOPO 3X comes with the same design as the ZP999, so you get a large 5 inch display up front with three capacitive buttons at the bottom. The back cover is made up of plastic but you get a shiny metal frame which makes the device look a lot premium.

On the back, there’s the 14MP camera along with the LED flash just below it and around the middle, you have the ZOPO logo. At the bottom, you have the 4G LTE logo (Yes, it support 4G networks as well) and below it you have the speaker grill.

The device is large, but it’s comfortable to operate. Overall, we liked the design on the new ZOPO 3X.

DISPLAY

Once again, ZOPO 3X borrows the same 5.5 inch FHD 1080p screen from its elder brother. So, the display is bright and vibrant even in broad daylight and images and videos on the device looks crisp and clear.

Thanks to its 1080p screen, the pixel density goes way up to 401 pixels per inch even with a screen of this size. Hence, we were impressed with its display and we are sure, even you’ll like it.

HARDWARE & PERFORMANCE

ZOPO has made sure this is one of the best devices in this price range by incorporating top of the line specifications on this $299 device.

You get a 2.2GHz MediaTek MT6595 octa-core processor with GPU: PowerVR G6200 clocked at 600MHz. There’s 3GB RAM onboard with 16GB ROM which should be more than enough to run multiple apps on the phone smoothly. The problem of low internal storage is solved with a MicroSD card slot which supports cards up to 64GB in size.

Unlike other affordable devices which come with a very small battery (less than 2500mAh), the ZOPO 3X comes with a 2,700 mAh battery which should be enough to run the device for at least a day.

With these high end specifications, you can imagine how good the performance will be on this device. The apps opened up pretty fast and we did not experience any lag while operating the device. However, like the ZP999, we were not mind blown with its performance.

So, in short the performance is better than other phones in this price range, but still we feel it could have been a little better given the specifications.

CAMERA

ZOPO 3X comes with a 14 MP f/2.0 sony IMX214 rear camera which takes great pictures in good lighting conditions.

The rear camera managed to capture pictures which were rich in colors. In fact, all the pictures taken outdoors reproduced colors almost as good as in real life. There was very little noise and the images turned out to be detailed.

Even images captured in low light were not bad, but it did have a little noise. Still, for a smartphone camera, it performs really well.

On the front, you have a 5MP shooter, which is pretty good for everyday selfies and video calls.

SOFTWARE & CONNECTIVITY

The ZOPO 3X runs on Android 4.4 Kitkat OS, but it does have some specific features which sets it apart from other smartphones in this price range.

For example, you can double tap to wake up the device, draw the letter C to open up the camera and so on. For taking calls, you just have to put the device near your ear and for muting it, just place it on a desk with the display facing down. You can even change images in a gallery or use apps by moving your hand above the front camera. Like the ZP999, these features work quite well but can be deactivated too, if you do not find it useful.

As for the connectivity, you get two MicroSim card slots which support GSM, WCDMA (HSUPA, HSDPA), & 4G LTE FDD. The above networks support the following bands: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz, WCDMA 900/1900/2100MHz and FDD-LTE 800/1800/2600MHz.

We did a GPS test on the device and we were quite impressed with the results. The device managed to lock in 21 satellites of which 9 were in use at one time. On the other hand, the Meizu MX4 and Xiaomi Mi4 only managed to lock in just 15 and 8 satellites respectively. The GPS was quite accurate too as the location was accurate up to 16 feet which was the same as the MX4.

VERDICT

In short, ZOPO 3X is as good as the ZP999, with the same high end specifications and features that you get in the top end model for a very affordable pricetag.

The ZOPO 3X is available for $299 from Oppomart, which we feel is a great value for money proposition.

So, what do you think about ZOPO 3X? Would you be willing to sacrifice on internal storage for a much cheaper price?

If you want a larger internal storage, you can always opt for its elder brother, the ZOPO ZP999 Lion Heart. We have already reviewed the device in detail a few days back, so check out the post here, if you want more details.

The post ZOPO 3X Review(MT6595m): The affordable ZP999(MT6595m) (Just $299) appeared first on Gizmochina.

The Rainbow Layer Design

If anyone remembers the Lenovo Vibe X, Vibe Z, and this year’s Lenovo Golden Warrio S8, they almost look completely alike. This time, however, Lenovo has decided to break tradition for the X2 by following a multi-level layer design.

The so-called “Layer” design refers to the rarely-applied cellphone design that is used for the Lenovo X2. From the side, you can see that the phone’s phrame is divided into four sections (including the screen), each having a different color, resembling a rainbow. The screen is “hanging” above the second section. From the front, it appears that the screen is surrounded by a “rainbow” frame.

The USB port is at the bottom

The X2 has very clear edges and corners. The display screen’s 5-inch size also made the phone’s overall size more suitable. You can pull down the notification menu with just your right thumb. It also has a thickness of 7.27mm.

Magnesium Alloy unibody

       The Lenovo X2 sports a 5-inch 1920 x 1080 display screen. Considering the body’s size, it is not a big screen although 1080p is within industry standards. Overall, these are fair measurements and there is a balance.

5-inch HD screen

Above the screen, we can see the phone’s 5mp front camera. The front of this phone does not carry Lenovo’s logo. Below the screen are three buttons for background lights.

The power and volume buttons are located at the phone’s right side, and not only is this phone made of metal but follows a laser concentric design. The frame and back are made of magnesium alloy with a fine texture. Because it is a unitary body, the back cannot be taken off. As a result, a dual-SIM dish can be pulled out. It supports micro SIM and nano SIM cards. It also supports TD-LTE, TD-SCDMA, and GSM.

The magnesium rear shell went through a meticulous sandblasting process. It does not have any grainy texture. It provides great protection against leaving fingerprints and skidding. The 13mp camera and LED light are located at the upper let side. The phone is powered by a 2300mAh battery.

Vibe UI 2.0

The Lenovo phone X2 uses the Android 4.4.2 OS and its UI is the Vibe UI 2.0. The following illustrates the special features and highlights of this user interface.

When you swipe your finger upwards at the unlock screen, you can unlock the phone. When you swipe it sideways, you can change the unlock screen’s wallpaper. After unlocking the phone, you can see that the Lenovo X2 cancelled the secondary menu’s design, but still retains the secondary menu’s icons. When you click them, the background picture will not be blurry. When you click the menu button, the theme and wallpaper interface will come out. So many sources can be changed. Some are free, and some are not. The users can choose.

This year, it has been necessary to add smart motion sensors. The Lenovo Phone X2 offers a selection of mobile sensing functions. For example, when you open your phone, you can press the volume button on the right to also brighten up the screen. Furthermore, you can also take photos quickly. When the screen is black, you can quickly double click the Home button to take photos.

       The Le series apps have a long history and now comes with new features. There are now many third-party apps at the Le store that are available for download, and can also notify the user of updates on security software. Le Security provides anti-hacking protection, system improvements, and a software uninstaller. It is very easy to use.

Super Camera 4.1 software offers high-quality photos

       Next, we will take a look at the Lenovo X2’s camera. Its Super Camera software has now been upgraded to 4.1. How is it?

The biggest change in the Super Camera 4.1 is that it is simpler. Earlier versions had 24 types of filters. Although there was a lot to choose, it was still hard to pick one. The Super Camera 4.1 makes this easy but reducing it to half. This increases the number of uses of 12 filters. As the photos show, these filters may add a special charm to them.

       The quality of the photos taken by the X2 is great. They are very clear whether they are taken indoors or outdoors. The colors are also a bit more natural. The closest focal distance is about 8cm, making it impossible to focus if you are too near.

Video and Music

MT6595M amazes

This processor has received more than 45000 points in the Antutu 5.0 benchmark test.

The post Review: The Lenovo Vibe X2 appeared first on Gizmochina.

Winning “Best Flagship Smartphone” at the 2014 IFA, the Lenovo Vibe X2 goes on sale in China today for 2499 RMB.

Because of its 7.72mm height and dazzling frame, it has a very trendy feeling. It comes in many colors like gold, white, and red. There is even a special bamboo version.

As for specs, the Lenovo X2 sports a 5-inch 1080p display screen and 5mp/13mp dual-camera, uses the MTK MT6595M octa-core chipset, and has 2GB RAM and 32GB ROM. It is powered by a 2300mAh battery and runs on the Android 4.4.

The post The Lenovo Vibe X2 goes on sale in China; has 5-inch 1080p screen, MT6595M processor, and costs 2499 RMB (406.95 USD) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Moguphone which, last year, released the 399 RMB (65.06 USD) M6, recently released its follow-up. The Mogu M7, which is now on sale, uses MTK’s newest processor, the MTK6595 LTE octa-core chipset.

The M7’s hardware is pretty standard for cellphones like it. It sports a 5.5-inch FHD screen and a 8mp/16mp dual-camera, and has 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM. It is also powered by a 2600mAh battery and uses the Android 4.4 OS. It also supports common features like a GPS. 

Mogu has stated that the M7’s processor is the 2GHz MT6595. If it is true, then, it should be the MT6595M, which the Lenovo Vibe X2 also uses. What does not make sense is that this phone is aid to use Cotex A-7 and PowerVR SGX544 cores. Everybody knows that the MT6595 uses A17 and A7 cores and that its GPU is the Power VR G6200. This phone also only supports WCDMA/GSM but the MT6595 does not, casting doubt on whether or not this chipset is the M7’s processor.

The Mogu M7 is already on sale in Mogu’s official online store for 1399 RMB.

The post Mogu M7, which is said to use the MTK6595 LTE chipset, goes on sale for 1399 RMB (228.10 USD) appeared first on Gizmochina.

Competition among CPU manufacturers has been fierce in the market with Qualcomm currently on top while MediaTek has taken a hold of half the market, followed by Samsung and Intel…

“In the world of Kung Fu, speed defines the winner.” This is a principle that MediaTek has long followed.

Later this year, MediaTEk will release three new CPUs, the MT6595, MT6752, and MT6732.

The state of MTK is very clear

       The MT6732, which uses four A53 cores, is set to replace the MT6589. It supports up to 13mp for photo taking and 1080p for video recording, and 720p display resolution.

The MT6752, which uses eight A53 cores, will replace the MT6582, supports up to 16mp photo taking, 1080p video taking, and 1080p display resolution.

The MT6595, which uses four A17 cores and four A7 cores, uses the classic big.Little framework, supports up to 20mp photo taking, 4K video recording, and WQXGA display resolution.

It should be noted that all three are LTE-supported.

Two editions of the MT6595 CPU will be released. One will be the original MT6595 and the other will be the MT6595m which has a lower frequency and weaker specs.

Regarding the performance, according to ARM, the A17 and A15 are about the same, but this CPU’s power consumption is not that great. Based on how it is used with the RK3288, the A17 seems to work normally. As for the GPU, it uses the PowerVR G6200 which is not bad but overheats more easily.

According to the table, we can see that both VPU supports, at most, the DDR3 at 933MHz. Like the Qualcomm 808, it supports up to 14.9Gbps.

Regarding its photo specs, according to MediaTek, cameras that use the MT6595m can support up to 16mp while the MT6595 can support up to 20mp. As for its video recording specs, the MT6595 supports recording 4000 pixel videos.

The MT6595 does not have any clear strengths but it does not have any clear weaknesses either. Does it support 2k display resolution? Yes. 4k video? Yes. 4G internet? Yes. 5GHz WiFi? Yes. HD cameras? Yes.

You can get all of this at even under $40. You can just go ahead and take it. So, what are you waiting for? Just grab your phone and dial this hotline (65958888) for a very awesome phone!

What you should take note of, though, is its release date.

There’s a saying, “Speed is the soldier’s greatest weapon.” Not surprisingly, we may see the first device to use the MT6595 at the end of the year. At this point, the MT6595 won’t have any competition. CPUs with better performance will be too expensive while the performance of cheaper ones will not be as good. Given the reasonable price and average performance, this chipset should sell more than the rest.

To compete with the MT6595, Qualcomm will use the Snapdragon 805 which will use Krait cores. Its benchmark test score is about the same as the MT6595 although in practical use, the 805 has better memory and bigger bandwidth.  But the MT6595 could sell with the following slogan: “Eight cores! Beautiful words to the Chinese market’s ears!”

Even though MediaTek hopes to enter the high-end market with the MT6595, the Snapdragon 800 has already sold at under 2000 RMB (321.20 USD). Phones that carry the MT6595 are expected to compete with each other costing between 1000 RMB (160.52 USD). Some phones may even be sold at under 999 RMB (160.36 USD).

Will the MT6595 be a success or a dud?

The post An analysis of next-gen CPUs: MediaTek MT6732 MT6752 and MT6595 appeared first on Gizmochina.