Doogee S90 - China's first modular smartphone

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Packaging and appearance
• Display and Audio
• Protection
• Performance
• autonomy
• Camera
• modules
• Software
• results

Produce modular smartphones have tried at different times of a few large companies with huge budgets. However, the problem was not so simple, so they gradually turned to developments in this area. The Motorola is the most advanced, modular smartphones which not only reached the shelves, but even popular.

Nobody expected that China's second-tier firm dare to repeat this experience. But Doogee risked and released the model S90, which looks like the illegitimate offspring of the legendary family Moto Z.

The main highlight of Doogee S90 is the possibility of connecting plug-in modules, which confer additional features smartphone. In addition, the device boasts of a good e-filling, the existence of protection against external influences and interesting appearance. All this will be discussed in this review.

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1. Specifications

• housing: metal, plastic, IP68.
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• Display: 6.18 inch, 1080 × 2246 pixels, IPS.
• Platform: Processor MTK6771 (Helio P60), a video processor ARM Mali G72 MP3.
• RAM: 6 GB.
• Built-in memory: 128GB, possibility of installing a memory card of up to 256 GB.
• camera: General - 16 M + 8 M; front - 8 megapixels.
• Communication: combined slot for two nanoSIM and microSD memory card.
  • 2G: GSM 1900/1800/850/900 (B2 / B3 / B5 / B8); CDMA 850/900 (BC0 / BC1).
  • 3G: WCDMA 2100/1900/1700/850/900 (B1 / B2 / B4 / B5 / B8); TDSCDMA 2015/1900 (B34 / B39).
  • 4G: FDD-LTE 2 100/1 900/1 800/1 700/850/2600/900/700/700/850/800/700 (B1 / B2 / B3 / B4 / B5 / B7 / B8 / B12 / B17 / B19 / B20 / B28A / B28B); TDD-LTE 2015/2500/1900/2300/2500 (B34 / B38 / B39 / B40 / B41).
• Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n 2,4 / 5 GHz, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, GLONASS, BDS, A-GPS, NFC.
• Expansion Slots: USB Type-C, microSD (up to 256GB).
• sensors: accelerometer, fingerprint, geomagnetic sensor, gyro, proximity sensors, light, pressure.
• Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo.
• Battery: 5050 mAh (not removable).
• Dimensions: 80.7 × 168.5 × 14.1 millimeters.
• Weight: 300 grams.

In Doogee S90 based on Helio P60 - relatively fresh chip MediaTek, which was introduced in early 2018. It includes eight cores clocked at up to 2 GHz, made on modern 12-nanometer technology.

Performance and energy efficiency of the chipset is not inferior to Qualcomm solutions such as price level, which in itself is an achievement. In addition, Helio P60 among the first chipsets from MediaTek has received a dedicated hardware unit for neural networks.

The smartphone has a 6 GB RAM and 128 GB of non-volatile memory, which until recently could only be found in the flagship device.

It is also worth noting the presence of a powerful battery at 5050 mAh, wireless charging, a complete set of all necessary sensors and NFC module, allowing to carry out contactless payments. In general, e-filling Doogee S90 includes almost everything about what you can dream of in 2019.

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2. Packaging and appearance

The smartphone has arrived to us in the form of a heavy parcels, which were hidden inside several boxes. In one of them he was Doogee S90, in other - additional game module and wireless charging.

smartphone wheel stands solid thick, since it is more specific and back cover used as an auxiliary battery. In addition, there is a charger, cable, adapter for headphones, OTG adapter clip to eject the tray and accompanying documentation.

Front side Doogee S90 is not much different from the majority of modern smartphones. The main space is occupied by the screen with rounded corners and trendy cut at the top.

Frame around the display is quite thick, but it's forgivable for a secure device. It is good that the lateral edge slightly above the surface of the glass: it protects it from damage if dropped from a height.

The back cover is made of a soft-touch resistant plastic. It has a ribbed and longitudinal strips, through which the gadget can surely hold even with wet or dirty hands.

In the upper portion of the rear surface is a block of two cameras and fingerprinting, framed by a metal frame. Bottom attracts pad serving for connection of additional modules.

Thickness Doogee S90 is 14 millimeters, the lateral faces are reinforced by metal inserts. On the right side there is a volume rocker, power button and the shutter camera shutter. The latter is useful to you in the event that you decide to go underwater shooting.

Placed on the opposite face button to call for help and the tray to install a SIM card, an indoor waterproof plug. The bottom of the same plug is hidden connector for the power cable and data exchange.

The smartphone has a large size and weight, however, as most of the other protected devices. With the addition of extra modules Doogee S90 more the thickness increases more than what you should definitely pay attention before buying.

The modular design of the device though and gives unique opportunities, but it also adds some inconvenience during the operation.

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3. Display and Audio

Chinese manufacturers have long understood that it is not necessary to save the displays. After all, its user will be evaluated first.

smartphone display has a resolution of 1080 × 2246 pixels and a diagonal equal to 6.18 inches. The screen has a high pixel density, so look at the fonts, icons and other design elements - a pleasure.

Color rendition, contrast and sharpness is also not raise any problems, but if you have special preferences, the image can be adjusted using MiraVision component.

Doogee S90 is equipped with a system of automatic adjustment of screen brightness depending on the ambient light. It works quite correctly and quickly.

Reading lovers will appreciate a special night mode, which can be activated manually via a button in the quick settings panel or automatically on schedule.

Sound different external speaker such high volume, it is possible that under the dance. And the quality of this has. Interestingly, the installation of an additional module does not affect the sound, as it has two holes for the free propagation of sound waves.

Connect wired headphones is only possible with a special adapter, which is available in the kit. Doing this is not very convenient, especially since the slot is hidden behind the tightly fitting cap.

Therefore, we recommend that you get a good wireless headset that can be used not only for music but also for telephone conversations.

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4. Protection

Doogee S90 meets all the requirements that are put forward to the protected smartphone. It is certified not only by the already familiar to us the standard IP68, but also passed the test of military standard MIL-STD-810.

The latter is used to determine the technology that is suitable for use in the US armed force, where there are very high demands on reliability.

During testing, we bathed the device several times in sea water and then washed with salt has a powerful jet of water. No water treatment, nor the numerous smartphone fall onto the sand and the earth did not have any effect on him.

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5. Performance

Chipset Helio P60 is today one of the most successful solutions in the middle price range. He has a fairly good performance and energy efficiency, but is not too expensive, that allows you to create on its basis a relatively inexpensive device.

The popular test AnTuTu smartphone gaining 133,860 points. This means that it can easily cope with all the common tasks. Doogee S90 application launches quickly, does not slow down its interface, switching between tasks is fast even when multiple programs are running.

The gadget feels fine in the games. processing power sufficient to run virtually all of which have high graphics settings. If, however, you will gain more and an additional module in the form of a wireless joystick, then Doogee S90 become a real console. Play World of Tanks Blitz, or PUBG Mobile at such a smartphone simply a pleasure.

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6. autonomy

Capacitance Doogee S90 battery is 5,050 mAh. This, according to the manufacturer, provides up to 30 hours of telephone conversations 10 hours of video games, or 675 hours of standby time.

The battery test Geekbench smartphone scored 6136 points, which roughly corresponds to the stated capacity of the battery. As an additional test we have included endless playback online videos from YouTube. With an average level of brightness and volume battery Doogee S90 gets 10% for 55 minutes.

We would like to remind you that the bundled with the smartphone comes an additional module with a spare battery. If attach it to the rear side, a smartphone immediately begins to be recharged, which increases the autonomy of the device is almost doubled.

As such, the S90, though it becomes much thicker, it is still much more convenient than fumbling with a separate pauerbankom and connecting cables.

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7. Camera

The smartphone installed main camera Samsung c two sensors 16 8 Mn and Mn. The front facing camera uses Sony IMX134 unit.

camera application looks quite standard for Chinese smartphones second tier. It allows you to use HDR mode can shoot panoramas and portraits, has several built-in filters for processing images in real time.

Photo quality in normal daylight we liked. The resulting images can boast of the correct color, good clarity and wide dynamic range.

A second sensor in the main chamber Doogee S90 - is not just to follow fashion trends. Its presence does help to make beautiful photo with a blurred background. Software algorithms are able to determine the boundaries of even complex objects than can not boast of some of the more well-known manufacturers of phones.

front camera work did not cause us any complaints. To create quality selfie and conduct its video conferencing may well be used. Protected from the smartphone, which is intended primarily for use in harsh environments, it is hardly possible to demand something more.

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8. modules

Plug-in modules - this is the main difference from competitors Doogee S90. Complete with cover-smartphone comes pauerbank, but on the manufacturer's website you can buy other options: a gaming joystick, a lens with night vision function, radio.

The modules are attached to the back cover by magnets, which hold them firmly in place. Data exchange takes place through the back pad. Changing modules without requiring a reboot of the device.

In our view, the idea of ​​a modular smartphone looks very attractive. User gets some basic functionality and then pumps it into the right direction, it needs additional purchasing details. There is no doubt the usefulness of extra batteries, because it increases the autonomy Doogee S90 almost doubled. It is very good that the manufacturer has included it as standard.

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9. Software

The operating system in the smartphone uses Android 8.1 Oreo, which programmers Doogee subjected to many changes. They affected both the operating system interface and its functionality.

As of default operating environment we use some third-party launcher with icons gloomy and dark wallpaper. It looks very mediocre, so we recommend you to install nova Launcher or any other shell, to which you are accustomed.

The operating system settings are often found foreign language, particularly at locations that were added by the developer. The software package includes all the popular Google programs, as well as several proprietary utilities that are necessary for the full operation of additional modules.

Doogee S90 is equipped with a module NFC, through which you can use wireless payments. Google Pay application is installed and works without any problems. Please note that the use of NFC is only possible when your smartphone is not connected additional modules.

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10. results

Chinese second-tier manufacturers are not too fond of bold experiments. Doogee S90 - bright exception. This smartphone was able to stand out from the monotonous series of protected devices, which let competitors.

Pros Doogee S90

• Durable flexible housing, protection from external influences.
• Modern chipset that provides good performance in all tasks.
• A large amount of RAM and ROM.
• Quality display.
• Excellent work of the navigation system.
• Good photos of the main chamber, a true portrait mode.
• Long battery life and cover-pauerbank complete.
• Ability to connect additional modules.
• NFC, wireless charging.

Cons Doogee S90

• The lack of a 3.5 mm jack for headphones.
• Raw software.
• High price.

At the time of this writing, the cost Doogee S90 in the official store on AliExpress is 22 397 rubles.

AliExpress

The author expresses his gratitude to the company Doogee for providing the test device.