Dubai: Hisense’s X1 is the world’s biggest smartphone with its gigantic 6.8-inch screen. Samsung’s Note 3 looks very small in comparison.
The Full HD LCD device is powered by 2.3GHz Qualcomm 800 Snapdragon processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage capacity. It also has a microSD slot for expanding the storage capacity by 32GB. It runs on the latest Android 4.4 KitKat version.
Hisense is pushing the smartphone limits to give it a tablet experience. It is better to be called a tablet than a phablet (tablet-smartphone combo).
Despite its size, X1 is sleek, lightweight and stylish, and users get attention when used in public.
By spending on X1, you don’t need to buy a tablet and smartphone separately. The only issue I find is putting it in the pant pocket. The size does not matter to me as I find it easy to hold but it is difficult to operate with one hand.
The best part of the device is media viewing. Watching movies or YouTube videos are a pleasure due to its size and the screen quality. The X1’s display has excellent colour saturation with details and with good viewing angles.
The slightly tweaked user interface is clutter-free and simple to operate. Surfing the internet is smooth and brisk with no lags. I found no lag in playing graphic-intensive games.
Colour saturation
The X1 does not have a premium finish and is mostly polycarbonate in bid to position it as a mid-range device. The front features brushed aluminium accents at the top and bottom of the screen.
The 13MP rear auto focus camera with LED flash takes decent snaps but nothing extraordinary. It can record 1080p video recording in H.264, H.263 and MPEG4 formats. The photos are decent in decent light conditions and are not very good in very bright and very dark conditions. Colour saturation needs improvement.
The 5MP front-facing takes high-quality photos suited for Skype calls and selfies.
The front stereo speakers with 5.1 Dolby virtual surround technology aid in watching videos or listening to music. The speakers produce rich sound with no disturbances.
The device comes with bundled software like Kingsoft Office to open documents, Firewall protection, battery saver and Nevo Lite for using the device as a remote controller.
The X1 is able to act as a smart TV box, allowing android apps to be displayed on your non-smart TV, and using the device as a remote.
Recording connectivity, it has 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, MHL, Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi Direct and DLAN.
Hisense has made a clever decision by launching an additional accessory — mini Bluetooth phone — weighing just 20 grams. It is also thin, stylish and simple to operate. With this device in hand, users don’t need to pick up the giant phone from the pocket or from the bag to make calls or send SMS.
The mini device with a 1.5-inch screen, which looks like an old Nokia phone, can receive/reject calls, send /receive SMS, play music from the phone’s music gallery. It has an FM radio and can also be used as a remote to capture photos.
The non-removable 3,900mAh battery is decent enough to last one full day of moderate use, which is pretty good compared to the power hungry screen size. It has different modes for power saving features. It can be changed depending on users’ requirements. The standalone X1 and the remote control is priced at Dh1,899.
