Elephone C1 Max is an intermediate link between a smartphone and a tablet, due to its 6-inch display.
Typically, such devices are of interest to users for whom a 5” screen seems not large enough, and a 7” screen is too big. The phablet runs Android 7.0 with support for multitasking mode, the potential of which is best revealed on devices with a large diagonal.
In addition, the C1 Max is equipped with a dual photo module and has a nice price - only $109.99 with coupon C1Max1.
Appearance, body materials and dimensions
This review presents a variant with an unusual color called Red Wine, i.e. "red wine". The smartphone looks attractive, so it will definitely be appreciated by the female part of users. The model is also available in gold and black. The latter option will appeal to those who prefer a more classic design, especially since the Elephone C1 Max looks quite solid in black.
The case is metal (including the back panel, side edges and buttons). The assembly itself is of very high quality, without any creaks or gaps. Due to the impressive diagonal of the display, the case turned out to be quite large (164.2 mm in height, 82.8 mm in width), as well as weighty (227 grams). Nevertheless, the smartphone fits well in the hand and fits into a regular-sized pocket without any problems. The case thickness is only 8.5 mm.
The front panel is covered with rounded 2.5D glass from Dragontrail, which indicates its resistance to external influences. Above the screen there is a speaker, sensors and a front photo module. There is no LED to notify about new events. On the bottom panel there are touch-sensitive navigation buttons with a reflective coating, but not backlit.
On the back of the case there is a dual photo module, a flash LED and a fingerprint scanner. The scanner works even when the screen is off; there are no complaints about the speed and accuracy of fingerprint recognition.
Buttons, connectors
On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power button (double-pressing it launches the shooting application).
On the opposite side there is a hybrid tray for Micro + Nano SIM, which also accommodates a memory card instead of one of the SIMs.
The 3.5 mm jack for connecting headphones is placed on the top edge.
The bottom edge is occupied by a MicroUSB connector (supporting the connection of flash drives and other USB devices using OTG technology), a microphone and slots for the speaker.
Since there is only one here, additional slots on the other side are intended to maintain symmetry.
Equipment
The manufacturer equipped the smartphone with a “needle” for removing the tray, as well as a silicone transparent bumper to protect the back panel and side edges. As additional protection for the front part, there is a film pasted from the factory (in addition to the transport film). Also in the box you can find a power adapter (5V 1A), and a red USB cable that matches the color of the smartphone case.
Display
The device is equipped with a 6-inch display with a high-quality IPS matrix and HD (1280 x 720) resolution. The pixel density is far from the highest, however, the image looks quite decent, and pixelation is not noticeable during everyday use. Moreover, the display module uses GFF Full Lamination technology, i.e. The touchscreen and glass are a single structure, without an air gap. Thanks to this, the display conveys a rich image, with good contrast and color rendition. The screen is bright, the picture does not fade when viewed from angles. The touchscreen recognizes up to 5 simultaneous touches.
Performance
The SoC is a 64-bit MediaTek MT6737, coupled with a 4-core processor (Cortex-A53, 1.3 GHz) and a Mali-T720 graphics accelerator. In the AnTuTu synthetic performance test, this combination gives about 33 thousand. points. In 3DMark, the smartphone scores 130 points in Sling Shot mode and 5187 points in Ice Storm Unlimited mode.
If the manufacturer installed a FullHD matrix, this would create an additional load on the video chip, which already has rather modest power. But in combination with HD resolution, the hardware component of the device demonstrates a decent level of performance in any everyday tasks. The Elephone C1 Max is not considered a gaming smartphone, but it can run any resource-intensive 3D games without any problems. The main thing is to correctly adjust the settings that are responsible for the quality of visual effects.
Memory
The smartphone is equipped with enough RAM (2 GB) to work with several applications at the same time, and the smooth operation of the interface as a whole. Of the 32 GB of internal memory, 26 GB is available, which is quite enough for the personal needs of most users. If necessary, the internal storage capacity can be expanded by installing microSD. Drives up to 128 GB are supported.
Camera
The photo module consists of two sensors: an 8 MP color OmniVision OV8858, with software interpolation up to 13 MP, and an additional 5 MP monochrome sensor. There is autofocus and flash. Video recording is carried out in FullHD resolution, at 30 FPS, refocusing is carried out by tap.
In this model, an additional sensor is used to measure depth of field and create frames with a blurred background. The focus point can be changed on the finished frame, since software post-processing is used. We are talking about a budget device, so you shouldn’t count on a high-quality bokeh effect: the background is blurred in a circle, which doesn’t look very natural. You can achieve much better results in a graphics editor.
For amateur photography, the capabilities of the main camera are quite sufficient. Daytime photos without applying the blur effect look quite satisfactory, despite some blurring of the details at the edges of the frame. Overall, you can get a bright photo with good color reproduction without any effort.
Indoors in daylight, the quality of photographs remains at an acceptable level, but an abundance of digital noise catches the eye. What the camera really cannot do is create high-quality evening and night shots, but this situation is the norm for most budget models.
The front module is represented by a 2-megapixel sensor with interpolation up to 5 MP. Judging by the quality of the photo, this is far from the best option for selfies. However, it is quite suitable for video communication in instant messengers.
Battery and autonomy
Elephone C1 Max is equipped with a 2800 mAh battery, which is not so much, considering the diagonal of the display. Testing has shown that with moderate use, a full charge will last for a full day.
Watching a video at maximum brightness drains the battery in 8 hours; in game mode this time will be reduced to 3-4 hours. Accordingly, with a lower brightness level, these indicators will be higher.
Wireless interfaces, navigation
One SIM card can work in a 2G network, the second - in 3G or 4G. A wide range of fourth generation networks is supported: FDD-LTE (B1/B3/B7/B8/B20) and TDD-LTE (B38/B40). That is, Elephone C1 Max will be compatible with almost any 4G operators. The list of wireless interfaces includes single-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
The smartphone is compatible with GPS/a-GPS and GLONASS navigation systems.
Finds satellites quickly enough and connects to them within 20 seconds. The device copes well with the role of a navigator for a bicycle or car. But walking outside the city and away from roads can be difficult due to the lack of an electronic compass.
Sound
There are no complaints about the sound component of the smartphone. The main speaker is loud and sounds without interference. The audibility in the conversational speaker is excellent, as is the sensitivity of the microphone. Using good headphones, you can count on excellent sound of any musical composition. FM radio is also supported.
Operating system and additional software
The manufacturer chose Android 7.0 Nougat with a classic interface as the OS. The system has built-in software add-ons that expand and complement standard capabilities. For example, support for design themes has been added, as well as the ability to change the interface scale and font size for user convenience. The On-body detection feature will lock the screen every time the device is placed on a flat surface (in case the user forgets it on a table in a cafe).
A separate Burner application is responsible for the operation of the flashlight. And the Power Manager allows you to manage the “super-saving” energy mode. When activated, to increase battery life, almost everything is turned off except calls, SMS, current time display and alarm clock. In the settings section there is a Notification Manager item, with which you can block or allow certain applications to display notifications on the screen.
The DuraSpeed feature allows you to mark applications whose background operation will be limited when running games or other selected programs. As a result, more system resources are freed up for the game by offloading background processes. The AutoManager section is designed to manage the list of applications launched simultaneously with the OS. There is also a section responsible for wireless firmware updates.
Pros and cons Elephone C1 Max review
Pros:
- large and high-quality display;
- nice design;
- presence of unusual colors;
- case materials and build quality;
- latest OS version;
- an integrated set of useful utilities and add-ons;
- Excellent performance of the fingerprint scanner.
Minuses:
- there is no event indicator light;
- navigation touch buttons – without backlight;
- There is no provision for an electronic compass.
Conclusion
First of all, the Elephone C1 Max is notable for its huge screen, which makes the device convenient to use for reading, navigation, web surfing, games and watching videos. Suitable as a compact alternative to a tablet, while having all the capabilities of a regular smartphone.
In addition, not every tablet is capable of providing a similar level of shooting with the main camera. And finally, no less important feature of this device is its affordable price: at the moment the cost of the device is Total $109.99 (with coupon C1Max1).
