Overview Ulefone Gemini - a low-cost smartphone with dual camera
Devices / / December 19, 2019
In China, there are many manufacturers of mobile technology, which only work on the domestic market or operate OEM-orders. They have powerful production bases, a lot of experience, but their names are unknown to people outside China.
Company Gotron, existing since 2006, was one of these manufacturers. But in 2014 it was decided to withdraw to the international level, which was created by the trade mark Ulefone. Thus, we have a smart phone is not a beginner, and almost a veteran of the mobile market.
Ulefone Gemini - the next budget smartphone company, which costs $ 140. Besides low prices, we found in this device more dignity, which we want to tell.
Specifications
According to its characteristics Ulefone Gemini - typical 2017 smartphone. Yes, more recently, a quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM is impressive, but today it is a standard that is necessary for comfortable work.
The same applies to high-quality large screen and metal casing - it's all there, and the competitors. But there Ulefone Gemini few highlights that make it unique - double main camera and a multi-function button on the front panel.
Display | 5.5 inches, HD (1920 × 1080), Sharp, IPS; Glass Corning Gorilla 3 |
Platform | Processor MediaTek MT6737T (4 1.5GHz nucleus); graphics accelerator Mali-T720 |
RAM | 3 GB DDR3 |
Built-in memory | 32 GB |
camera | Summary - 13 Mn 5 + Mn; Front - 5 Mn (Mn interpolation to 8) |
link | Two slots: microSIM and nanoSIM + microSD 2G (GSM): 850/900/1 800/1 900 MHz; 3G (WCDMA): 900/2 100MHz; 4G (FDD-LTE): 800/1 700/1 800/2 100/2 600 |
Cordless interfaces |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n, 2.4G / 5G, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
expansion slots | microSD (up to 32 GB, instead of the second SIM-card), OTG |
sensors | An accelerometer, a gyroscope, a proximity sensor, eCompass |
operating system | Android 6.0 |
Battery | 3 250 mAh (standby time up to 320 hours) |
Dimensions | 154.5 × 76.8 × 9.1 mm |
Weight | 185 g |
Appearance, assembly and integration
Ulefone Gemini comes in a regular cardboard box in white. Packaging is quite modest, but within us a pleasant surprise. In addition to the smartphone, cable and charger, the developers put silicone case for protective glass screen and metal device that is attached to the body of the back of the smartphone. It is used for secure carrying a smartphone or as a stand.
The smartphone has a metal body made of aluminum alloy and magnesium dark color. Although the description says about black device, in fact, he has a blue-violet tint. Ulefone Gemini looks restrained, modern and stylish.
too, no complaints about the build quality. On the front side under the screen is a multifunction button with fingerprint. On the left side of the device - the power button and volume rocker on the right - a separate button to start the camera. Such a layout of the controls is seldom used, so the first time you will constantly run the camera instead of turning off the device.
Touch ID button
Multi-function button on the front of Ulefone Gemini developers called Touch ID, so we will also use this name. It is used to unlock the device using a fingerprint, as well as to enter the user account in some applications. I note that this function button handles brilliantly. Unlike some other devices footprint in Gemini is recognized quickly and almost without mistakes.
The center button is also responsible smartphone management. Touch ID recognizes several actions: a simple touch, press and long press. The smartphone settings can be assigned to each of these steps, their function, such as moving back, return to the desktop and call the Task Manager. Therefore it is possible to abandon the use of standard onscreen buttons and hide the bottom panel of the screen.
Display and Audio
Despite the fact that I used Ulefone Gemini as a major smartphone week, I find it hard to find words to describe the screen of this gadget. Technology of production of displays already so developed, that distinguish one image from another device of the same price category is almost impossible. This fully applies to Gemini.
In it installed Sharp production quality display resolution 1920 × 1080 pixels. Moderately bright, contrast, with good color. Reproducible image they will not disappoint you.
Built-in speaker (his holes are on the bottom) is loud, so you will not miss a call even when the smartphone is in the pocket. But frankly weak vibration is practically not felt. Listening to music with headphones does not cause any discomfort, and the volume reserve allows even drown out the strongest external sounds.
Performance
Manufacturers of hardware and software are in tacit collusion. As soon as the iron becomes powerful enough programmers come up with something that makes brake even the most productive devices.
Recently, however, programmers do not have time for gadgets. Now you can safely buy any more or less modern device and not worry that it will slow down.
In Ulefone Gemini uses the processor MediaTek MT6737T (4 cores, 1.5 GHz), but even his power is enough for any task, including watching videos, surfing and mobile games. 3 GB of RAM is enough for smooth switching between running applications, and comfortable use of the operating system.
Camera
It features a camera Ulefone Gemini hundreds Asian counterparts. Now this smartphone - the cheapest I know of devices with dual camera. On the rear side of two lenses (13 M and 5 M) are arranged, through which are realistic and colorful images. See how they do it.
The developers promise that by the second camera to take pictures with bokeh effect, that is, when the background image is not in focus and blurred. With Ulefone Gemini can make such pictures, but it's not as easy as it seems.
To do this, choose a small object, and clearly fix the position of the camera. Only in this case, the result will not disappoint you. If the conditions are not ideal shooting, the software algorithms start to cheat and just blur everything around the focus point. I hope that this is due to the imperfection of the software (dual cameras - it's still a novelty) and will soon be corrected.
autonomy
Battery Ulefone Gemini disappointing. It is not even in the battery, which has a fair 3 250 mA · h, and in bad software. I have not found a specific cause of the problem (this requires Ruth), but something does not give smartphone sleep normally at rest.
Battery Ulefone Gemini loses 2-3% every hour, even at a time when no one touches it. During the night the phone is discharged by 15-20%. Without this bug could be charged smartphone through the day, and every night have to be recharged. It is hoped the new firmware, which the developers promise to release based on Android Nougat.
Software
Ulefone Gemini Smartphone running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The manufacturer uses the cleanest possible image of the operating system without additional software sponsorship. However, some changes to the operating system still made.
In Ulefone Gemini uses a proprietary launcher that allows you to change themes. Included there are several options. In the embedded store offers a wide selection of skins, so you can pick up to his liking.
In System Preferences, there are two new sections - Fingerprint and "Intelligent Assistant". The first of these is intended to fine-tune the fingerprint scanner functions. Here you can assign to the button function of the camera lens shutter, start playing music and so on.
In the "Intelligent Assistant" contains options that help you comfortably use the device with the help of gestures. It also presents the bottom navigation bar settings.
results
In general, I liked Ulefone Gemini. The smartphone is a pleasure to hold in their hands, he looks good and copes with routine tasks. Moreover, the gadget has some undeniable positive qualities.
Primarily these include dual camera device. Yes, her work is not as perfect as shown in the commercials. But it is a problem of software that will be updated. Amateur photographers Ulefone Gemini will provide new opportunities for creativity.
The second important plus devices - multi-function button, with which you can perform all the necessary actions. The bottom navigation bar becomes unnecessary.
Not without annoying drawbacks. The main - battery discharge at rest, which can be stopped by putting the unit into the airplane mode. If you are not frightened by the prospect of the smartphone charging every night, then you can safely plan purchase this device. Another such for the money you still can not find.
The author expresses his gratitude to the company Ulefone for providing the test sample.