Since May of 2014 at the MyPhone BlogCon and even to my fellow tech blogger Anjie of Teknogadyet, I'm been really curious on a 1.4 Ghz octa-cofre Android specially that a known international phablet has that one. Although this is not a phablet (size doesn't matter), good thing that MyPhone brought the first one in the country through the MyPhone Infinity Lite. Here is my review.
Update as of August 10, 2014: As requested by some of the readers, I added more day and night shots for the rear camera, front camera and the GPS test in GPS section.
WHAT'S LEFT IN THE PACKAGE?
As I already posted the physical appearances of the Infinity Lite, here are on what’s inside the box (sim tray pin not included in the picture)
MICRO AND NANO SIM/MICRO SD SLOT:
I told you in my first impressions that the nano sim and the micro sim are sharing at the 2nd slot at the upper right portion while you can put in the micro sim. Here is the unique set-up for the clarification
I told you in my first impressions that the nano sim and the micro sim are sharing at the 2nd slot at the upper right portion while you can put in the micro sim. Here is the unique set-up for the clarification
MAIN MENU AND APP DRAWER:
Good thing that MyPhone brought in the stock Android Kitkat into this device. That wallpaper is the first that you’ll gonna see in the first boot
PHONE AND MESSAGING:
Coz of the new Kitkat OS, I already expected to have a different take on the phone app. The messaging with the black background is the same as to the Rio Fun. Calls are clear and crisp for both sims and got no problems on typing when I’m creating a message.
GAMING:
You might already have an idea on this portion as I already posted the Antutu score and the refresh rate. I played Minion Rush and NBA 2K14 and it is smooth and no lag just like a typical 1.7 Ghz octa-core processor. Bonus that it got HD display. Only minimal to almost no heat when I played these games
MUSIC AND VIDEO:
This smartphone is one of the loudest in default volume for music as I am already satisfied at 50% volume. The equalizer is also doing wonders. The Music UI is also as same as the Rio Fun (which I had a review weeks ago) On video using MX Player, the IPS solution is complimenting to the HD screen. As expected, it is CTIA compliant
3G AND WIFI:
I got instant HSPA+ connections for both Globe and Smart for this one. WiFi has no issues as I checked a free WiFi from a mall and a centralized one at an office.
FM RADIO:
The best FM radio for an Android phone for me so far, why? Sometimes, I love to record FM radio shows and when you already had a recorded file, it will produce an .ogg file which is a lot better in terms in sound quality than some of Android phones that will have a finished product as .3gpp file (no this is not a typo as related to .3gp video file) and it is very difficult to find an mp3 converter for it. OGG to MP3 freewares are everywhere online. An hour worth of recording eats about 75 MB. No RDS on this feature but no problem.
PHOTOS:
The 8 MP main camera produces average photos when you have that zoom range from 1.0 to 2.5x as farther than that will already give you some struggles. The flash beside it is very bright which is a welcome thing for dark shots. There are times that it is not that accurate in terms of color compare to the real thing. The 5 MP front camera has one nice feature esp. for selfies as you can change your color and smoothness from 1 to 20 unlike others who will gonna give you max. of 3 choices. Here are my camera samples
8 MP rear camera with flash
VIDEOS:
I recorded 2 15 sec. videos in Full HD by downloading this link. I chose not to upload it on Youtube so that you can be the judge on giving the verdict of the produced video even offline. No problems on recording but average sound quality. Kindly unzip it to uncover the files
QUICK LAUNCH:
The double tap to wake option and gesture shortcuts for dialpad, music and messaging really is a big help if you wanna open your phone as quickly as possible like for an emergency text or call or to save that power/unlock physical button. One thing missing on the phone that I already encountered by an international phone brand is when you draw letter “O” , the camera app will appear which I hope MyPhone will do an OTA update for that.
GPS:
Lock-on is nice and fast at around 10-15 seconds using Google Maps in high accuracy mode. I strolled around Filinvest City, Alabang and got even my most accurate position. I added GPS Test (it was my first time to do this) as requested by Mr. Bravo, one of the readers of this blog post. I took 2 tests a few days ago.
BATTERY:
Some might be in doubt for the 2,000 maH non-removable battery for an octa-core phone. Yes, the 1.4 Ghz might have a slight underclock advantage for power consumption but the quality of the battery inside is screaming out loud based on my real life usage as I got past 24 hours in 5 out of 6 sessions mostly with more than 6 hours of screen time with mixed activities of blogging, photo editing, texting, mobile surfing thru 3G & some videos. This is one of my sample logs.
In a separate battery video rundown test from 100% to 2% with CPU power saving on, 1 sim on 2G/3G mode, 10% phone brightness, using MX Player with 6 at brightness, 11 at volume using the stock headset, No 3G, WiFi and Bluetooth – I got a respectable 8 hours and 30 minutes in looping some 720p mp4 videos.
EXTRAS:
The stock headset is also great as the one on Cherry Mobile Ultra. Two things that I’m not a big fan in this device are the file manager (which is quite difficult compare to the stock file manager in Android Jellybean. I’m not sure if it is the stock version for Kitkat) and the screen protector which has the same poor quality in Rio Fun. In Rio Fun, it is acceptable for the price but I hope the local mobile phone brand will improve on this aspect specially for the midrange section with no scratch resistant protection plus the device is already at P7,999. The screen protector feels like one that used when you chose to put your softdrinks in plastic in your fave store. In my picture with the micro and nano sim/micro SD slot, the screen protector was already customized to the unit when I dropped by at a cellphone shop. The back portion is finger print magnet so better to have a micro fiber cloth ready in your wallet or bag. There is a LED notification at the upper left corner portion. Yellow green for normal notifications and red if your battery is 14% and below.
VERDICT:
The P7,999 is right for the 1.4 Ghz octa-core and the IPS HD display plus the thumbs up features and discoveries that I got in my first impressions and this one in the Infinity Lite. Because of that, those phones with MT6582 quad-core chipset with the same price or below at P6,999 with the same size (or those with 5-inch and 4.5 inch displays) might have some trouble when they face this newest release from MyPhone. My rating is 4.5 out of 5
15 reactions
reactionsnice job, sir! more front cam pics pa!
ReplyI will update for more front cam pics, thank you for the compliment :) Spread the word about my blog as well as my podcast :)
ReplyNice review sir, ito pa lang iyong detailed review sa net. thumbs up! :)
ReplySuggestions:
1. More daylight and night shots.
2. Remove 'RNTD First' in the title of the article for SEO (Search Engine Optimization), para mas madali ma-search, matagal kasi mahanap sa google. Sa FB page ko lang nakita iyong link.
Questions lang po:
1. Camera - May "NO shutter delay" po ba? para maiwasan iyong blurred images sa moving subject.
2. GPS performance - May screenshot po kayo ng "First Fix Time"? suggest ko po na ganito ang gawin, para ma-test iyong real GPS performance: (1) download and install GPS Test; (2) Turn on Airplane mode (para no influence sa network signals at internet); (3) Open the app, choose satellite icon in the bottom left; and (4) wait for the "First Fix Time".
3. Back clear cover - glass or plastic? Di po ba madali mabasag?
4. Pwede ma-root? Para mapaganda pa iyong features, lalo na iyong GPS gamit ang FasterGPS app at MT GPS EPO Fix
5. May available accessories na po ba ito sa market?
Hoping for feedback. Maraming salamat! :)
Pinag-iisipan ko kasi kung Brandnew Myphone Infinity Lite o Asus Zenfone 5 o second hand Starmobile Navi o Cherrmobile Omega Spectrum para sa faster and reliable GPS.
Iyong sa zenfone 5, iba-iba iyong details sa net may parehas na GPS at GLONASS, iyong iba GPS lang. At may nababasa akong feedback na matagal mag-lock.
Iyong sa SM at CM naman, sure na mabilis mag-lock ang GPS, sacrifice nga lang ng specs.
P.S. Heavy GPS user ko, madalas ko gamitin sa hiking.
Will update on more day and night shots and that GPS issue in the next few days. I had a trial sa GPS Test with your requested setting (airplane mode with GPS on) but can't check the GPS satellites unlike pag naka-on na ang 3G. There is zero shuttle delay sa Infinity Lite. Sorry, it's my first time to use GPS test. Di po removable ang back cover. Di ko sure kung madali mabasag as I don't want a drop test on it pero finger print magnet sya. Wala pang available accessories. Not yet a big fan sa rooting, you can check the MyPhone Infinity Lite Facebook Group, for sure dami devs dun :) Yung sa Zenfone 5, will check it as that's one of my upcoming phones on review. No comment yet sa Starmobile Navi and Omega Spectrum as I never have a chance na mahands-on ko yun. Maraming salamat sa mensahe at suhestiyon :)
ReplyMaraming salamat sir sa feedback! :)
ReplyRe: GPS
Try mo kahit naka-on iyong signals, basta naka-off iyong data. Standalone kasi dapat ang GPS eh, hindi umaasa sa network signals at internet connection.
Looking forward sa more reviews mo. :)
Sir, added na po yung camera samples at GPS Test. f/2.0 nga pala yung rear camera ng Infinity Lite
ReplyBago ka gumawa ng blog kuya, ayusin mo muna grammars mo. Ang gulo eh. ./.
Replythanks for the detailed review. very helpful. :)
ReplyThank you very much, Sir/Ma'am :)
Replybig deal ba yung grammar te? hehe as far as i know we are fro the phillipines, kahit yung native speaker nga sa ibang bansa nagkakamali yung grammar. haha btw, nice review.
ReplyCheck daw yung "GRAMMARS" oh.
ReplyYung phone ang pansinin mo wag ung grammar. May di ka ba naintindihan sa review? Kung meron walang problema...pero kung wala kang naintindihan sa review mukhang may problema ka.
ReplyThanks for the review boss... it helped me a lot.
ReplyHi ! ask ko lang po kung alam nyo din po ba ayusin or kung ano po ang dapat gawin, kase yung myphone infinity lite ko , nag oopen lang sya hanggang sa LOGO ng MYPHONE tas on off na po , Sana po mtulungan nyo ko. Salamat
Reply