In the process of working on the external appearance of the future flagship, most smartphone manufacturers are trying to take into account current trends in the field of mobile device design. As a rule, such models receive a price tag corresponding to the premium segment. A clear example of this is Xiaomi Mi Mix, a powerful flagship with narrow bezels around the screen and a futuristic design.
However, there are also more affordable, alternative solutions from other brands on the market. For example, the Bluboo S1 smartphone, produced by the company of the same name, belongs to the mid-budget price category. At the same time, it has minimal frames on three sides of the screen, an impressive appearance and decent characteristics. In addition, the device is equipped with a dual main camera module.
Contents of delivery
The standard package, in addition to the smartphone and user manual, includes the following set of accessories:
- “needle” for removing SIM;
- USB Type-C cable;
- power adapter 5V/2A;
- adapter from USB-C to 3.5 mm.
As part of the global presale, there is a special offer from Gearbest. By placing a pre-order for the purchase of Bluboo S1 during the promotion period, in addition to the listed accessories, the buyer will receive as a gift a protective case for the smartphone case and Anti Blu-ray glass from the Japanese manufacturer. Anti Blu-ray glass provides vision protection from the negative effects of short-wave radiation during prolonged contact with the screen.
Design, design features
The smartphone has an elegant, neat rectangular body with smooth, slightly rounded corners, a mirrored back and a glossy surface on the side edges. Both sides of the case are covered with glass with curved edges using 2.5D technology, and the frame of the device is made of durable plastic.
Bluboo S1 is available in two colors: Piano Black and Pearl White. The black version has a more pronounced mirror effect on the rear panel, while the white version is less noticeable when fingerprints appear during use. However, regardless of the chosen color, the model looks stylish and expensive.
Especially due to the visual effect of the absence of frames on the top and sides of the 5.5-inch screen, which occupies 90% of the front surface of the device. To minimize the width of the top frame, the manufacturer left only a proximity sensor and a narrow slot for the earpiece. And the front camera was moved to the bottom frame.
Control elements and connectors
The Home button has a fast 360-degree fingerprint scanner that responds in 0.1 seconds. Virtual on-screen buttons are provided for navigation in the OS and application interface.
The volume rocker along with the power button are placed on the right side.
The opposite side contains a slot designed for simultaneous installation of two NanoSIM cards, or an external MicroSD drive in combination with one SIM.
The manufacturer compensated for the lack of a 3.5 mm jack using the included adapter, which allows you to connect any standard headphones to the USB Type-C connector located on the bottom edge. It is also possible to connect other USB devices thanks to support for the OTG standard. There are holes on both sides of the universal connector: on the left – for the main speaker, on the right – to maintain symmetry.
Display
Bluboo S1 is equipped with a high-quality 5.5-inch FullHD display manufactured by Sharp. The screen is made using GFF technology, has a high image contrast ratio (14000:1) and 96% coverage of the NTSC color space. Comfortable use of the device is facilitated by the widest viewing angles of the screen, a good reserve of brightness and rich color rendition.
The touch panel demonstrates excellent responsiveness and supports the ability to operate with gloves. Correctly recognizes touches even if there is moisture on the fingers. To protect against scratches, tempered Gorilla Glass 4 with an oleophobic layer is used, which reduces the intensity of fingerprints and ensures easy finger sliding on the glass.
Processor, performance and memory
The hardware platform is SoC Helio P25 from MediaTek (a modified version of Helio P20). Unlike its predecessor, the 8-core Helio P25 is made using a newer 16-nm process technology (FinFET), has a higher core frequency (up to 2.5 GHz) and supports dual cameras. Works in tandem with the integrated graphics accelerator GPU Mali-T880 MP2.
Helio P25 does not belong to the top hardware category. Nevertheless, this is an energy-efficient and at the same time quite powerful solution that provides excellent performance in everyday tasks and performs well in games. Based on the results of synthetic tests, the smartphone receives an average performance rating for its platform.
Depending on the configuration, Bluboo S1 is equipped with 4 or 6 GB of RAM. The capacity of the built-in storage is 64 GB. This is sufficient to store an archive of multimedia files, as well as to install a set of all the necessary applications and favorite games. Using an external MicroSD drive, free space can be expanded up to 256 GB.
Cameras
The main camera is controlled by a dual module, which includes a 13 MP primary sensor from Sony (interpolation up to 16 MP) and a secondary sensor with a resolution of 3 MP. The task of the additional sensor is to track the depth of the frame. Based on the information received, using software algorithms, emphasis is placed on the subject being photographed by blurring the background.
To ensure correct color reproduction in difficult shooting conditions, a bright two-color LED flash is provided. Video recording with FullHD resolution (1920×1080) is supported.
The front camera is represented by a 5 MP sensor (interpolation up to 8 MP), with a fixed focusing system. To quickly prepare selfies for uploading to social networks, there is a Beauty mode. The user may need some time to get used to the position of the anterior camera.
Battery
A non-removable battery with a capacity of 3500 mAh and a voltage of 4.4V is responsible for autonomous operation. A fully charged battery under moderately intense loads is sufficient for a full day in mixed use. In continuous audio playback mode, the smartphone can work for 36 hours, and up to 28 hours in telephone conversation mode. Using the included 5V/2A power supply, you can quickly replenish the charge level (from 0 to 100% in 1.5 hours).
Wireless interfaces
The smartphone is compatible with 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA and 4G FDD-LTE mobile networks. Support for the LTE Cat6 standard ensures high data transfer speeds (up to 300 Mbit/s) in fourth generation networks. Wi-Fi network transmission speed is limited by the 802.11a/b/g/n standard. Support for Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology is declared.
GPS (A-GPS) and GLONASS satellite systems will help you determine your current location, plot a route, and navigate the area. The smartphone is also equipped with a gyroscope and a geomagnetic sensor - auxiliary tools that help improve the accuracy and efficiency of navigation systems.
operating system
Bluboo S1 runs on Android 7.0 OS, without third-party applications and proprietary add-ons from the manufacturer (not counting the embedded themes that can be changed at your discretion). The system includes all major language packages, including Russian, as well as Google services with the Play Market application store.
Pros and cons, summing up
The main advantages of the device, taking into account its cost:
- narrow frames, elegant design;
- relatively compact body, as for a 5.5” screen;
- presence of an additional camera;
- high-quality display from Sharp;
- good performance;
- volumes of RAM and built-in memory;
- convenient placement of the fingerprint scanner;
- Android 7 without third party software.
Disadvantages inherent to this model:
- Fingerprints are clearly visible on the glossy surface of the Piano Black case;
- there is no standard headphone jack (3.5 mm);
- The new Wi-Fi standard (802.11ac) is not supported.
If you highlight the key features of Bluboo S1, you will get a stylish fashion smartphone, with relatively compact body combined with a fairly large 5.5” screen, decent characteristics and attractive price. At the same time, thanks to its spectacular appearance, Bluboo S1 is perceived as a more expensive device.
Bluboo and Gearbest are currently running a joint promotion where a limited number of smartphones are available at a reduced price. During the promotion, until the end of promotional devices, the cost of Bluboo S1 will be $189.99:
Buy black Bluboo S1
Buy white Bluboo S1
