In 2017, Snopow introduced another update to its line of rugged smartphones equipped with a powerful battery, represented by the M10 model. The manufacturer positions M series smartphones as devices that are intended for use in areas where it is problematic or even impossible to use conventional models.
The Snopow M10 differs from its predecessor in its case design features, significantly increased memory capacity, increased performance, improved display, fresh OS, better camera and longer battery containers. The text of the review provides more detailed information regarding all the main changes and features of this model.
Contents, additional accessories
The entire set is supplied in eco-friendly cardboard packaging. In addition to the smartphone, in the box you can find:
- power unit;
- USB cable;
- docking station;
- strap for fixing the device in the hand;
- belt clip;
- tool for gaining access to SIM/MicroSD slots;
- protective film with cloth for cleaning the display;
- connector for connecting additional accessories;
- User manual in English.
It is worth noting that when unpacking, a protective film was already applied to the display. Snopow M10 supports connection of separately purchased accessories such as an external antenna and Special interchangeable lenses: telephoto, macro, fisheye, wide-angle and super wide angle
Design Features
As a rule, when developing secure devices, the main emphasis is not on design, but on the properties of the materials used and the creation reliable design that can demonstrate high levels of practicality and endurance in quite extreme conditions operation. These factors determine the specific appearance of the device. Snopow M10 is far from a compact smartphone: its dimensions are 166 x 87 x 19.4 mm, and its weight, taking into account the energy-intensive battery, is 337 grams.
The body is made of protected thermoplastic, with rubberized inserts that serve as shock-absorbing material. The degree of protection complies with the IP-68 standard. This means that the shell provides effective protection against water penetration when immersed to a depth of more than 1 meter for 30 minutes. The device remains fully operational in the rain, in contact with dust, sand and dirt.
Special rubber linings and waterproof plugs on the connectors ensure the tightness of the case. Dust and water do not get into the sound speakers thanks to the protective membrane. The manufacturer took into account the fact that the presence of a membrane can affect the sound volume, and installed quite powerful sound emitters.
The front panel of the smartphone is covered with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 4. In addition, the glass is slightly “recessed” into the body, due to the sides of the side edges, which protrude a few mm above the display surface and act as additional protection.
Arrangement of elements
The earpiece, front camera, light and proximity sensors are located in the traditional place, above the screen. There you can also find an LED event indicator and an iris scanner. It is believed that a biometric iris scanner provides a higher level of security compared to other identification methods, since a unique iris pattern is almost impossible duplicate.
Below the screen there are two touch navigation buttons, a microphone hole, and in the middle there are mechanical buttons that allow you to accept/reject a call, or end the current telephone conversation. Such a solution in a modern device looks somewhat unusual, however, physical keys can often be more convenient and practical to use than their virtual counterparts.
On-screen buttons are not capable of transmitting tactile feedback, while physical buttons are tactile. The user can touch or reject an incoming call without looking at the device. Using the same principle, the manufacturer placed additional physical keys on the side faces. On the left side, in addition to separate volume controls, there is a programmable button to which you can assign an arbitrary function (for example, turning on a flashlight).
On the right side there are keys for quickly launching the camera, power/lock control, as well as a red SOS button for making an emergency call.
On top of the rear panel there is a main camera module, a flash LED and an additional microphone. Under the camera block there are paired holes with threads for attaching the connector and accessories. The strap fastening functions are performed by special loops at the top and bottom of the back panel.
Under the metal plate with the inscription IP-68 are hidden separate slots that allow for the installation of two SIMs and a memory card. To access the slots, you need to unscrew both bolts securing the metal plate, using the special “key” included in the kit.
The location of the main speaker can be determined by the perforations at the bottom of the rear panel. When the smartphone is lying on a flat surface, the speaker grille does not overlap, thanks to the protrusions on the body.
The 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting a headset and headphones is hidden under a protective cap on the top edge.
The MicroUSB 2.0 connector (with support for OTG technology), as well as contacts for connecting to the docking station, are placed on the bottom edge.
Communications and wireless communications
Snopow M10 provides the ability to install two NanoSIM cards. The smartphone is compatible with 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA mobile networks, and supports the entire 4G FDD-LTE frequency spectrum. In other words, Snopow M10 is suitable for working with most cellular operators in the Russian Federation and European countries. By connecting an external antenna and installing special software, the device is capable of performing the functions of a Walkie-Talkie (portable mobile radio).
The smartphone is equipped with Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology, as well as Wi-Fi with a set of 802.11 standards a/b/g/n/ac, which provide high connection speeds and the ability to operate in frequency ranges 2.4 and 5 GHz. The set of wireless interfaces also includes an NFC controller that supports reading and writing tags, card emulation and P2P operation. With the help of NFC, a smartphone can easily turn into a universal solution that performs the functions of a bank card, travel ticket, and even an electronic pass to the office.
The device can be used as a navigator, thanks to the support of global positioning technologies GPS (A-GPS) and GLONASS. The built-in magnetic field sensor ensures the correct functioning of the digital compass, which is necessary to obtain accurate information regarding the current direction of movement.
Battery
Judging by the results of testing autonomy in the PCMark benchmark, this model demonstrates, albeit not record, but very worthy results: more than 14 hours of continuous work in intensive mode loads Thanks to a powerful 6500 mAh battery, combined with an energy-efficient chipset, one the charge should be enough to play video for 17 hours, or for 32 hours of telephone conversations. It is promised that in standby mode the battery can last about 26 days.
The duration of operation in real conditions may differ slightly from the specified data, in depending on the operating scenario and other factors such as display brightness, type of connected networks, etc. Snopow M10 supports the OTG function, and can be used as a PowerBank to charge other devices connected via an adapter to the microUSB connector. The smartphone itself is charged using a power adapter, or using the included docking station.
Display
The device is equipped with a 5-inch IPS screen, with FullHD (1920 x 1080) resolution and a capacitive touch layer that recognizes up to 5 touches simultaneously. The display is designed for comfortable use in all weather conditions. Thanks to the high-quality matrix, wide viewing angles and a fairly high brightness reserve, the contents of the screen are clearly visible even in direct sunlight.
During rain, despite drops falling on the surface of the display, the touchscreen continues to respond correctly to input. For working with gloves, a special mode is provided that allows you to increase the sensitivity of the touch layer. Fourth generation tempered Gorilla Glass provides effective protection against scratches and abrasions due to mechanical impact from foreign objects.
Hardware platform
The first secure smartphones lagged significantly behind traditional models in terms of performance. As a result, the range of tasks performed by the device was extremely narrow. The developers of Snopow M10 did not take the path of compromise and equipped the device with a fairly powerful chipset – Mediatek MT6757, with eight 64-bit cores (with a frequency of up to 2.4 GHz), as well as an integrated video processor Mali-T880 MP2.
Of course, the hardware is not flagship, but at the same time it has the necessary performance margin to perform almost any user task. The graphics chip can handle 4K video encoding and decoding without any problems. In addition, the processor is complemented by a solid amount of RAM – 6 GB LPDDR4(X), which has a positive effect on performance and multitasking.
The built-in storage capacity is 64 GB. There is more than enough free space to install the necessary software, download custom maps, and store captured photos and videos. Additionally, the user is provided with a separate slot that allows you to expand the memory up to 128 GB by installing a microSD card.
Cameras
The smartphone is equipped with an 8 MP front camera, and a main camera with a 16 MP CMOS sensor, with autofocus and an LED flash, which can also serve as a flashlight. In the interface of the preinstalled application, you can find options responsible for activating HDR and panoramic shooting mode. It is possible to record FullHD video at a frequency of 30 fps.
Overall, the Snopow M10 is not a flagship camera, but if there is a sufficient level of illumination, the device is quite suitable for documentary and technical photography. Quickly launching the camera using a mechanical button will help out in situations where you need to quickly capture an important moment. To expand the technical capabilities of the built-in image sensor, a set of removable lenses is provided.
Software
The device runs on the Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. In addition to the standard set of software, the system has a minimum of additional applications built into it: Compass, Flashlight and Radio. The installed firmware is multilingual, has a classic shell interface and supports Google Play.
Advantages and disadvantages of Snopow M10
Pros:
- build quality and body materials;
- protection against dust and water according to IP-68 standard;
- very good indicator of autonomy;
- good display with a highly sensitive touch layer;
- large amount of RAM;
- productivity, speed;
- separate slots for 2 SIM and memory cards;
- NFC support;
- the presence of customizable physical buttons;
- data protection through the Iris biometric identification system;
- good equipment;
- possibility of connecting an external antenna and branded lenses.
Minuses:
- body dimensions;
- product weight.
Conclusion
Snopow M10 belongs to the category of niche devices that are not distinguished by their elegant design and ultra-thin body, but at the same time are significantly ahead of classic smartphones in terms of practicality and endurance. By the way, the protected housing of Snopow M10 demonstrates excellent resistance to negative external factors associated with the characteristics of the operating environment.
Thanks to programmable mechanical keys as well as touch screen features, the device can be freely used for making calls, dialing messages, talking on a mobile radio, and also performing the functions of a navigator, regardless of weather conditions conditions. What is important, Snopow M10, has a fairly productive “filling”, impressive battery life, a solid amount of RAM, a wide range of wireless communications, as well as all the capabilities of a regular Android smartphone.
First of all, this model is intended for users whose professional activities are related to specific working conditions that require uninterrupted operation of the device and the ability to always remain on communications. In addition, the Snopow M10 smartphone will be a good option for users interested in extreme sports, hunting, fishing, hiking, and for those who simply need a practical, reliable device for everyday use. use.
