SPECIFICATIONS:
- Dimensions: 144x69x7.7mm
- Weight128g
- Processor: 15GHz quad core Cortex A7 MediaTek MT6589T processor
- Memory: 2GB RAM, 32GB internal memory
- Display: 5.0-inches Full HD LTPS LCD display (OGS)
- Cameras: 13-megapixels rear-facing camera with autofocus, BSI and LED flash And 5-megapixels front-facing camera
- Speaker. Dual Mic Noise Canceling Technology
- Battery: 2,020 mAh non-removable battery
- OS: Android 42 Jellybean (Amigo OS)
WHAT’S HOT:
- Brilliant full-HD display
- Dual-cameras produce dear and detailed images
- Good battery life
- Unibody design looks and feels good
WHAT’S NOT:
- Tums hot when continuously used
- Sleek design makes it a bit slippery
- A bit pricey
BOTTOMLINE:
- The Gionee E life E6 is a stellar phone packed with awesome features that convinced me to go and get one for myself.
With Korean, Japanese, and Western brands populating the smartphone market, Gionee, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, squeezes itself into the handset race and is doing a good job at it. Packed with top features and eye-catching design, Gionee recently launched its flagship, the Elife E6, backed with an impressive spec sheet.
Tipping the scales at 128g, it feels very light and is fairly slim belying its large, bordering on phablet territory build. The Elife E6’s features are crafted into a plastic unibody design that is clean and elegant. Gionee has thoughtfully added a screen protector and flip case to the package-which is a good thing since finding accessories for this new brand may require patience.
In front, at the lower part of the screen, are three capacitive buttons-Menu, Home, and Back. Up on top are proximity and light sensors, a 5.0-megapixel front-facing camera, and LED indicator light. On the sides are the volume rocker and SIM slot; on top are the power/lock button and an audio jack; on the bottom edge are the speaker grill and microUSB charging port. Turning the phone on its back, you will find the 13-megapixel camera and LED flash along with the discreetly etched brand name.
Upon starting up the device, the 5-inch IPS Full HD display of the E6 will impress you, showing off lifelike and vibrant colors. Another highlight is the integration of White OGS technology-a first in the world-that gives the flagship better sensitivity. The operating system is a modified Android Jelly Bean, Gionee’s Amigo ROM, with a user interface that still has stock Android qualities, but with better features that animate the Ul experience. A color utility allows users to change the wallpaper, theme, and effect, making customization easier. It takes time to get used to the Android mixed- with-iDS 7 Ul, but I found it quite pretty.
This thin and light smartphone is supercharged with a 1.5GHz quad core processor, which powers the E6 to run smoothly. It has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal memory onboard with no expansion slots.
Pre-installed in the E6 is a suite of Gionee apps like Game Zone, UC browser themes, and other native productivity apps. Moving to the entertainment part, the music player has a minimalist yet colorful interface that resembles the live tiles of another OS. The player will allow you to browse through your music collection in albums, genres, and artists’ category. The DTS 3D stereo surround is good. I watched an HD copy of The 8/ing Ring on it, and sounds came out clear, complementing the sharp and finely detailed video.
Surfing the Internet on the E6’s generous screen is a breeze. A fully-charged battery lasted a day of continuous use over a Wi-Fi connection. Texting using the phone was easy, since keyboard spaces are just about the right size for typing. Call quality was also good, with built-in noise reduction. I activated the motion sensors, but eventually turned it off because it made the phone a bit laggy. I also tried to view pictures with a sweeping motion gesture, but it didn’t work for me.
On the plus side, the 13-megapixel camera does a pretty good job, although pictures lack a bit of depth. The camera technology has a second generation BSI that’s a lifesaver in poor lighting conditions. There’s also a wide array of camera modes to choose from namely such as Hands Free, Smile and V Gesture, Best Shot, HDR Shooting, Macro Shooting, Panorama, Night Shooting, and Picture Clear. I especially suggest using the HDR mode as it produces sharp and vivid pictures.
The 5-megapixel front-facing camera equally did an amazing job, but be careful not to set the Beauty Effect to 12 as your face may appear cartoon-ish. I particularly loved both cameras since I’m a self-proclaimed ‘phonographer’ who overuses hash tags on lnstagram.
Video recording produces 1 080p HD videos. I tested it during the public run for the SEM Asia launch and the recording came out well, minus my shaky hands. If you want to see the recording just hit the Gadgets Magazine TV You Tube channel.
At PHP 18,999, Gionee’s flagship, the Elife E6 is a bit on the pricey side for starters, but considering its admirable performance and design, it’s sure to satisfy.
First published in Gadgets Magazine, November 2013
Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos