Coolpad, a key handset-maker based in Shenzen, has finally entered the Indian market. It launched two devices – the Dazen X7 and Dazen 1 – priced at Rs.17,999 and Rs.6,999, respectively, via online marketplace Snapdeal.
Here is an analysis of the devices:
Dazen X7: The flagship product
Design: The Dazen X7 fulfills the criteria of a mid-segment phone looking like a flagship product. The device’s design draws inspiration from two of the most successful smartphone brands. While the back and front panel sports glass, the side of the phone is metallic. The SIM, SD card slots have to be opened with the help of a small needle like we see in many flagship products. The volume speaker mesh is at the bottom edge of the phone and the front camera is towards the left which is a deviation from most phones.The phone will be available in Gold and Titanium white colours.
Display and Sound: The Chinese smartphone ships with a 5.2 inches full HD display with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels that make viewing movies and playing games enjoyable. Viewing angles are also good. The sound in X7 is better than the Dazen 1 and also the output is louder.
Camera: The camera in the Dazen X7 is impressive. The X7 sports a 13MP f/1.8 rear camera that uses a Sony’s EXMOR sensor along with a dual LED flash unit. The app has a PRO mode too and supports lots of effects that make photography fun. There is also a refocus mode that allows the user to change the focus area of a photograph, after the shot has been taken. The front shooter with 8 MP is capable of taking sharp and detailed selfies. As soon as the front camera is opened up, a small round window opens on top showing the viewing area of the front camera. This helps the user to take better selfies.
Hardware and Performance: The phone runs on a Mediatek true Octa-core 1.7 Ghz processor which is fast coupled with 2GB of RAM. It comes with 16GB of internal storage (11.01 GB) usable and can be expanded up to 32GB with the aid of a microSD slot. Coming to games, the phone showed good performance as it handled heavy games well but sometimes the device got heated up.The phone is powered by a 2,700mAh battery.
Operating system and User interface: The device comes with Android 4.4 with a CoolLife UI version 6. Interestingly, there is no separate menu for apps. Every element on the phone is toggled via home screens. The UI sports an app called coolshow which lets the user change themes, wallpapers, incoming call ringtones and lockscreen style. The device also sports an app called coolstore for apps specially made for coolpad phones. A small app called rock wallpaper is available which, when pressed, changes wallpapers immediately.
Connectivity: On this front, the device supports dual SIM mode. While the first sim supports 4G, the second SIM is 3G. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi but no NFC.
Verdict: This phone is definitely worth a buy but the only disappointment is the Android KitKat version and the RAM. It will face stiff competition from the Xiaomi Mi4i and the Asus Zenfone 2.
Dazen 1: The budget option
Design: The entry-level smartphone looks compact but the back panel when opened appears really weak as it is made of plastic. Otherwise, the phone has simple design aesthetics. The phone will be available in moon dust grey and snow-white colours.
Display and Sound: The Dazen 1 ships with a 5-inch display which supports a resolution of 1280*720 pixels that has good viewing angles. Images looked sharp and bright. The sound of the device has a lot of treble but no bass as expected from a budget phone. The output via headphones is better than expected.
Camera: The device ships with an 8-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.2 lens and LED flash. The phone has same camera modes as in the X7. It also features a 5-megapixel front camera.
Hardware and performance: The Dazen 1 is powered by a 1.2GHz Qualcomm 410 processor which is built for multi-tasking and is more energy efficient. Expect a better battery life even from the onboard 2500mAH battery. To add to its arsenal, the Dazen 1 comes with 2GB of RAM which will aid smooth experience on the phone. The graphics support is also ok. Heavy games were not enjoyable, but the other causal ones ran without any problem. It has a compass and a proximity sensor. The Dazen 1 comes with 8GB of internal storage (4.02 GB usable) and sports a 32GB microSD slot for expandable storage. The device supports dual SIM mode. While the first sim supports 4G, the second SIM is 3G. It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi but no NFC.
Verdict:The Dazen 1 is the entry-level smartphone from Coolpad’s stable and is expected to compete with most other budget phones in the category especially the Yu’s latest device Yuphoria. The phone, though, would have been better off with a 16GB internal storage and a more solid body.