Reviewed by Chris Noel Hidalgo
Mobile photography has always been a “meh, good enough” area for midrange phones, with flagships always getting the imaging crown. Starmobile is looking to change that trend with the Knight Spectra, a wallet-friendly smartphone that promises compute power and snapping prowess that’s far beyond its weight class. Does it deliver? Find out after the jump.
Specifications:
Operating System: Android 5.1 Lollipop
Processor: 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 64-bit octa-core processor
GPU: Adreno 405
Internal Memory: 3 GB RAM, 32 GB expandable storage
Display: 5.5 inch FHD AMOLED display with scratch resistant glass
Cameras: 13 MP and 2 MP rear cameras with flash; 8 MP front camera with flash
Connectivity: Dual microSIM, LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, ISDB-T, OTG, DVB Digital TV
Battery: 3500 mAh Li-Po
Dimensions: 154 x 76.6 x 7.25 mm (L x W x D)
Weight: 161g
Design: 4.5/5
If you’re looking for a gorgeous smartphone, then the Starmobile Knight Spectra won’t disappoint. Its glass-covered body and polycarbonate trim makes it look like a luxurious affair. The minimalist design is kept mostly pristine, only disturbed by the subtle Starmobile marque at the back.
Interfaces include a 3.5 mm jack and microphone pinhole at the top; volume rocker and LED-backed power button at the right edge; speaker grille and microUSB port at the bottom; and microSIM and microSD combo tray at the left. The front has the call speaker and the selfie cam with flash on top of the 5.5 inch AMOLED display. Lastly, the back houses the dual rear cameras which sandwich the flash module, as well as the aforementioned branding.
Did I already say that it looks really good? I did? Well, it really does!
Hardware: 4/5
The Knight Spectra boasts respectable innards to complement its smexy appeal. It struts a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 64-bit octa-core processor clocked at 1.7 GHz, 3 GB of RAM, Adreno 405 GPU, 32GB of microSD expandable storage, and a 3500 mAh battery pack, all running under the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. The phone isn’t lacking muscle on paper, and if history is anything to go by, its spec combination should equate to a decent daily driver.
For imaging, the Knight Spectra takes selfies with an 8 MP front snapper, while the dual 13 and 2 MP rear camera array takes care of main snapper duties. All your shots and activities are displayed on the 5.5 inch FHD AMOLED screen with scratch resistant glass.
Build-wise, I may or may not have accidentally sat on it, but one thing’s for sure: it’s still alive and kicking with no scratches. It holds up well considering it’s not built from metal or aluminum.
User Experience: 4/5
“Wow” was the first word out of my mouth after seeing this phone. For a sub-PHP 15,000 device, it doesn’t look nor feel shabby. Looks can only get you so far though, so once it booted up, I downloaded my usual smartphone benchmark tools and got the phone to pay its dues.
It scored 34631 in Antutu Benchmark and xxxxxx in PCMark’s standard run. It also managed to notch a run time of XX hours in PCMark’s looping battery test at 50 percent brightness.
In real world use, performance reflected the synthetic results. Intensive games such as Marvel Future Fight ran with quite a few hiccups, especially when there’s a lot going on on-screen. On the other hand, non-gaming use was smooth for the most part, though there’s still the occasional hitch that pulls you away from the experience.
On a positive note, battery life was long enough that it was able to go almost a full day with constant LTE connection, occasional social media refresh, and here-and-there photography with just enough juice to make it to the wall before dying.
Speaking of photography, the dual rear cameras are no joke. Shots were noticeably brighter and more vivid, and depth-of-field control allowed me to easily create macro shots. The camera does sometimes suffer from oversaturation, but it’s something you can remedy (to some extent) in the built-in picture editor.
Value: 3/5
While the Knight Spectra offers respectable innards and a quality build, its PHP 14,990 SRP might turn off potential buyers. However, it does prove that locally branded smartphones can produce innovative products if they aren’t killing each other in the price wars.
What’s Hot:
- Built like a rock
- Dual rear cameras are no gimmick
- Looks amazing
What’s Not:
- Occasional performance hiccups
Bottomline:
- Dual rear shooters—every phone should have them.
Final Score: 15.5/20
