There are two reasons why VKworld Mix Plus occupies a special place among other conventionally “frameless” models. Firstly, this is one of the most affordable smartphones with minimal bezels around the screen and an almost flagship design. Secondly, in the budget segment, VKworld Mix+ became the first owner of an HDR display, which can compete with many top-end mobile devices in terms of image quality.
P.S.: in reality the smartphone looks much better than in the photo (the pictures show an engineering sample).
Characteristics of Vkworld MIX Plus (review):
Materials: metal, tempered glass
Screen: 5.5 inches, 1280×720, 2.5D
CPU: MTK6737 (4 x 1.3GHz)
Operating system: Android 7.0
Memory:3GB RAM + 32GB ROM
Cameras: 5.0MP frontal +8.0MP main
Sensors: fingerprint, proximity, accelerometer
SIM: dual SIM dual standby. Micro + Nano SIM
Navigation: GPS, A-GPS
Bluetooth:4.0
Networks:
2G: GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
3G: WCDMA 850/900/2100MHz
4G: FDD-LTE 800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz
Appearance, body materials and ergonomics
VKworld Mix Plus is housed in a stylish, elegant case, which stands out due to the thin frames on the sides and top of the screen, as well as the mirror reflective surface of the back and front panels. On both sides, the case is covered with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 4, the edges of which are rounded using 2.5D technology and smoothly merge into the metal edges of the frame. The case is available in two color variations – Deep Gray and Purplish Blue.
In terms of ergonomics and convenience for everyday use, there are some nuances. For example, the glossy glass case is quite slippery and quickly becomes covered with fingerprints.
But minimizing the frames actually has practical benefits, besides the obvious advantage in terms of the visual component. The manufacturer managed to fit a 5.5" display into a body with the dimensions of a typical 5-inch smartphone (143 x 74 x 7.9 mm), which generally had a positive effect on the ergonomics of the device and the ease of control of one hand.
Arrangement of interface elements
Due to the features of the “frameless” design, some elements received a non-standard arrangement. For example, only the earpiece grille remains on the top frame. While the proximity and light sensors, along with the front camera module, have been moved to the lower frame, where you can often find the Home button and navigation touch buttons. Mix Plus provides on-screen buttons to control the interface, which automatically hide when you launch full-screen applications.
However, such a solution looks strange, given the size of the bottom frame. The manufacturer did not take into account the fact that to save space on the display, it is enough to move the touch buttons to the free area under the screen, moving the front photo module to the right corner.
The MicroUSB connector also received a less common location - on the top edge, next to the 3.5 mm audio jack. The microphone and main speaker holes remain on the edge at the bottom. The right side edge is occupied by 3 separate buttons responsible for adjusting the sound volume and power management. On the opposite side there is a hybrid design tray for installing a SIM and memory card.
A biometric sensor designed to quickly unlock the screen using a fingerprint can be found on the rear panel under the main camera module.
Display
The device is equipped with a 5.5-inch On-Cell IPS display, which occupies almost 90% of the total front panel area and supports HDR technology. It is noteworthy that previously displays with support for high dynamic range were used only in some flagship models, for example, in the Sony Xperia XZ Premium. HDR technology is used to enhance image sharpness, detail and brightness, as well as to expand the color range and increase the level of maximum contrast.
As a result, the screen installed in VKworld Mix Plus conveys a more expressive, rich and deep image compared to many other smartphones. It also has a good reserve of brightness and maximum viewing angles, and the touch panel demonstrates high response speed and accuracy of response to touch.
Hardware platform
The smartphone has a 64-bit MediaTek MT6737 chipset with four Coretx-A53 cores (1.3 GHz). The integrated Mali-T720 MP2 video chip is responsible for graphics processing. Overall, this is a budget solution that strikes a balance between economical energy consumption and sufficient level of performance for both trivial tasks and 3D games at low graphics settings.
In addition, a solid amount of RAM (3 GB) contributes to good performance and the ability to run several applications simultaneously. For installing software and storing user data, a fairly capacious storage capacity of 32 GB is provided, expandable using an external memory card in MicroSD format.
Based on the results of synthetic performance tests, Vkworld Mix Plus received the following benchmark scores:
- AnTuTu – 29,054 points;
- Geekbench 3 – 579 points in single-core and 1671 points in multi-core test.
Software
The device runs Android 7 Nougat, with updated camera software and the ability to pin a menu on the screen with shortcuts for quick access to some useful functions. Using this menu, you can take “long screenshots” of web pages without installing additional applications, as well as capture video from the screen in real time. An icon for quickly launching the menu is built into the notification bar.
Cameras
The main camera is represented by a CMOS sensor from Sony with a resolution of 8 MP, software increased to 13 MP. Equipped with a dual LED flash, autofocus, and supports shooting in HDR mode. The camera interface is distinguished by the presence of advanced options for setting various shooting parameters, and includes the ability to simulate adjusting the degree of aperture opening by moving the slider.
At a time when other smartphones use dual camera modules to achieve the bokeh effect, the Mix Plus manufacturer decided to go a different route. He demonstrated the ability to take portrait shots with a blurred background using a single sensor paired with a new image processing system. If necessary, you can change the focus point in the resulting images at your own discretion.
The front camera is capable of shooting with a resolution of 5 MP (interpolated to 8 MP). The interface has a Beauty Mode, which reduces the noise level in the photo and makes the skin smoother, reducing the overall detail of the frame.
Battery
The device is powered by a built-in Sony battery with a capacity of 2850 mAh. The smartphone does not break autonomy records, but due to the economical hardware platform, it is capable of working during daylight hours with moderately intense loads on a single charge.
Wireless interfaces
Vkworld Mix Plus is designed to work with two SIM Micro + Nano formats, in 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, and 4G FDD (LTE Cat 4) networks. Equipped with a basic set of wireless modules (Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0), compatible with the GPS navigation system, supporting A-GPS technology.
Advantages and disadvantages of Vkworld Mix Plus
Pros:
- refined appearance;
- very high quality display;
- narrow frames, compact body relative to the size of the display;
- 3 GB RAM + 32 GB ROM;
- presence of a fingerprint scanner;
- current OS version.
Minuses:
- inefficient use of space on the bottom frame;
- a rather slippery body that intensively “collects” fingerprints.
conclusions
Initially, Vkworld Mix+ evokes ambivalent impressions. On the one hand, the smartphone is inferior in hardware platform power to many models in the same price category that do not differ in design refinements. On the other hand, Mix Plus harmoniously combines the advantages of a modern, eye-catching design with a large screen housed in a compact body.
But, most importantly, if you compare the device directly with “frameless” models, it turns out that Vkworld Mix Plus is one of the most affordable options among smartphones with narrow frames. In addition, a significant argument in favor of Mix Plus is a high-quality display with HDR support.
Summarizing the test results, we can consider Vkworld Mix Plus a successful device. Not only for lovers of stylish devices. This is a well-balanced and convenient device with a low price. The cost of the blue and gray options is the same - $139.
